Emergency and crisis intervention requires professionals who have specialized skills and experience dealing with crises. Unfortunately, most professionals lack the training and broad experience necessary to conduct competent crisis interventions. The ability to assess and intervene during emergencies is not a routine skill. Most doctors, counselors and psychotherapists have good intentions but don't realize how unstable, critical and demanding a crisis can become. Incorrect assessment, missed opportunities, unskillful behavior and mistakes can prolong a crisis, create new problems, or turn an urgent problem into a dangerous emergency. In the field of mental health, crisis intervention has the highest incidence of negligence and malpractice resulting in significant harm. Most of the negligence and malpractice in crisis intervention goes unrecognized by consumers and even professionals.

Finding a competent and caring crisis intervention professional can be difficult. Very few practitioners identify themselves as a crisis intervention professional. There is also little incentive to work with people in crisis because of the risk and the problems that arise when one works with patients who are distraught, angry and frustrated. The mere fact that a person provides crisis intervention services or is licensed in medicine, social work, counseling or psychology does not mean he or she is competent to deal with an emergency or an urgent  problem. In addition, there is a growing practice in managed health care to employ people with lower qualifications and those professionals who earn the lowest pay. Many people working in crisis intervention have no formal crisis intervention training and may have only a bachelor's or master's degree. Some are not qualified for licensure.

The following is a recommended background and the ideal characteristics of competent crisis intervention professionals.

• Has training in crisis intervention or emergency psychological services.

• Can be reached 7 days a week and 24 hours a day if necessary.

• Can arrange scheduled appointments for up to 3 hours or as frequently as 3 times a week if necessary.

• Is available for phone contact on a daily basis if needed.

• Has experience working in an emergency room, crisis or triage center.

• Has experience providing routine as well as crisis services.

• Has knowledge of medication use, side-effects, risks and benefits.

• Is experienced working with patients in a psychiatric hospital setting.

• Is licensed in medicine, social work, counseling or psychology.

Dated: December 30, 2007