Crisis Intervention Counseling

A mental health crisis can overwhelm your mind, making it difficult to think clearly, cope safely, or manage everyday responsibilities. Julie Smith, PMHNP, and the team at Royal River Psychiatric Care in Yarmouth, Maine, provide crisis intervention counseling to help patients address urgent emotional or psychiatric concerns. Their compassionate assessments help to determine appropriate next steps that ensure you weather the storm. If you need crisis intervention counseling, call Royal River Psychiatric Care or use the online booking form to request an in-person or telehealth consultation today.

What is crisis intervention counseling?

Crisis intervention counseling provides focused support if you experience severe emotional distress or a sudden worsening of mental health symptoms. The goal is to reduce your immediate distress, assess your safety, identify what triggered the crisis, and create a practical plan for moving forward.

A crisis may develop because of:

• Severe anxiety or panic attacks
• Intense depression
• Suicidal thoughts or self-harm concerns
• Trauma or overwhelming stress
• Rapid mood changes
• Psychotic symptoms
• Substance use
• Relationship or family problems
• Major losses or life changes

The Royal River Psychiatric Care team works with you to understand what’s happening and identify the safest, most appropriate level of care.

What happens during a crisis assessment?

Your provider may begin by asking about:

• Previous psychiatric history
• Current symptoms
• Recent events
• Medication adherence
• Substance misuse
• Your support systems

They may also complete a risk assessment to identify concerns involving suicide, self-harm, impulsive behavior, or harm to others.

The assessment helps determine what support you need right away. Some people benefit from counseling, medication adjustments, increased follow-up, or help accessing additional services. Some require an emergency evaluation if they face an immediate threat to their safety.

Can medication help during a mental health crisis?

Medication may help when a crisis involves symptoms like severe anxiety, depression, mania, agitation, or another psychiatric condition. Your provider can review your existing medications, assess whether they’re working as intended, and make adjustments when clinically appropriate.

Medication management can also include:

• Reviewing dosages
• Monitoring side effects
• Checking possible drug interactions
• Evaluating missed or stopped medications
• Coordinating with other prescribers

The aim is to stabilize symptoms while considering your broader treatment needs.

What happens after the immediate crisis passes?

Follow-up care can help reduce the chance of another crisis and address the issues that contributed to it. Your provider may develop or adjust a longer-term treatment plan involving medication management, individual psychotherapy, counseling, and lifestyle support, for conditions like:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Addiction and substance use disorder

With your consent, Royal River Psychiatric Care can also coordinate with therapists, primary care physicians, specialists, or family members. If you require hospitalization, the team can assist with discharge planning and ongoing psychiatric care.

If you’re struggling with a sudden or severe change in your mental health, contact Royal River Psychiatric Care to discuss crisis intervention counseling. Call the office or request an appointment online today.