Crisis Interventions

Course Overview

Many people who experience a traumatic event will go on with their lives without lasting negative effects, while others will experience traumatic stress reactions.

The Crisis Interventions micro-credential will introduce you to the application of various methodologies and intervention strategies in different and unique crisis and trauma situations.

This 6-week introductory course will enhance your knowledge and understanding of crisis and trauma as you explore various crisis and trauma interventions and learn how to apply them to different and unique crises.

Crisis and trauma counselling is a specialised targeted intervention that provides a framework to identify which methodologies are most effective in their application. During this course you will gain an understanding of the rationale behind methodologies that are appropriate to use in different crisis and trauma counselling scenarios.

TRIGGER WARNING: This course includes readings, media and discussions around the topic of crisis and trauma, including rape trauma and partner violence. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and triggering to some. We encourage you to be mindful of your own well-being as you process the content.

Note: Counselling skills training is required to assist people in crisis and trauma. This course does not address counselling skills training. It focuses on the context of crises and trauma.

What You’ll Learn

Over the course of six (6) weeks, through videos, readings and discussions, you will explore the following topics:

• Week 1: Crisis and the Process of Assessment
• Week 2: The ABC Model and Triage Assessment System
• Week 3: Psychobiological and Emotional State Assessment
• Week 4: The Six-Step Model and Psychological First Aid
• Week 5: Brief and Strength-Based Interventions
• Week 6: The Narrative Approach and Wits Trauma Model

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define the term ‘crisis’ and the way it can impact an individual or community.
• Describe assessment in relation to crisis management.
• Assess the severity of a crisis and apply the ABCs of assessing a crisis.
• Understand the triage assessment system for suicide or self-harm.
• Explore psychobiological assessment.
• Assess a client’s current emotional functioning, alternatives, coping mechanisms and support systems.
• Apply the Psychological First Aid intervention technique for crisis management.
• Learn the six-step model of crisis intervention.
• Describe the use of Brief Intervention techniques in crisis Intervention.
• Understand the use of strength-based crisis intervention strategies in crisis management.
• Describe a narrative therapeutic approach to crisis intervention.
• Discuss the Wits Trauma Model and its application.

You will have also created an invaluable portfolio of evidence, which you can use to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of Crisis and Trauma methodologies and intervention strategies.

Certification

Upon completion, you will receive a digital certificate of competence and badge. Your certificate and badge can be shared on 100+ social media platforms, allowing you to share your achievement with a single click.

Stackable Credentials

Stack specified combinations of micro-credentials and they can be recognised as equivalent to a module within the Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree at SACAP. Intro to Crisis & Trauma can be stacked with Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma and Crisis Interventions and Effective Crisis & Trauma Management, and if you meet the minimum entrance criteria, you can enrol for the Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree and apply for module exemption.

Dates

• Class of 2026 September: 7 September – 18 October
• Class of 2026 October: 12 October – 22 November

There are no online classes. Course content is released on a weekly basis.  This will allow you to work through the course material at a time that is most convenient for you, while still meeting the weekly targets on time.

FAQs

The Team

The SACAP Global team brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience across various disciplines. Our expert short course developers and dedicated support team are passionate about sharing their insights to help you get the most out of your online learning journey.