Pastoral crisis intervention: a word of caution

Pastoral crisis intervention may be thought of as the functional integration of crisis intervention and pastoral support. In effect, the practice of pastoral crisis intervention largely represents the use of faith-based interventions refined and augmented through the use of an emergency mental health delivery context. The value of pastoral crisis intervention seems apparent in situations involving death, serious injury, mass disasters, and cataclysmic events such as war. However, as with any form of crisis intervention, or even psychotherapy, there is a potential for harm. This paper explores this notion.