A new study published in the Community Mental Health Journal finds that during a crisis, service users seek professionals who treat them with respect, offer individual support, and view their crisis as a solvable situation.
Led by Larissa Steimle of Brandenburg Medical School, the study emphasizes that a meaningful therapeutic relationship during crisis depends on fit: between the service user, the professional, and the structure of the service itself. Notably, the study also found that service users’ preferences for the type of professional relationship varied depending on their access to social and psychological resources.
While people with access to many resources preferred a distant relationship focused exclusively on their crisis, those with less access to resources preferred a close relationship and support around the crisis and life in general.
“In this study, it was found that people experiencing an acute crisis seek professionals who are there for them, recognize the crisis both as an emergency and a solvable situation, treat them with respect, and offer individual support,” the authors write. “Additionally, a general fit between professionals, support services, and service users is crucial for establishing a supportive relationship.”
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