When a client is experiencing frustration and multiple disorders in his/or her life, then it is called a crisis situation. "Crisis" does not refer to the actual situation, but rather the client's feelings (fear, shock, distress) regarding the disruption. In a crisis, the client's coping abilities will not work effectively as a result of the extreme levels of emotional instability, causing disequilibrium and dysfunction. The crisis may take place as a result of drug or alcohol use, such as an overdose or relapse. The crisis may also result from an event such as the death of a family member, a psychotic episode, arrest, separation or divorce from a spouse, suicide consideration, or encouragement from someone to resist treatment. The counselor should use these negative events to improve the treatment process, as well as solve the urgent problem.

The goals of crisis intervention are to relieve the pressing issues of the individual, reinstate the individual's previous level of growth, help the individual see what led him/or her to the crisis stage, instate remedial measures, enable to individual to see how past experiences relate to the new crisis, and help the individual to use coping strategies in the immediate crisis as well as in the future.

There are eight principles involved in crisis intervention:

1. Immediate intervention - the counselor must intervene immediately
2. Action - the counselor participates actively with the individual
3. Limited goals - the goals are solely based on the crisis
4. Hope and expectations - the counselor inspires the individual to continue hoping
5. Support - the counselor provides support
6. Focused problem-solving - the intervention is based on solving crisis-related problems
7. Self-image - the counselor raises the individual's feeling of self-worth
8. Self-reliance