Crisis Intervention With Survivors of Natural Disaster: Lessons From Hurricane Andrew

Crisis intervention has typically been conceptualized as seeking a return of clients to a state of equilibrium. However, after working with survivors of Hurricane Andrew in south Florida, the authors realized that there are several other issues that are important. In this article, they discuss the development of a proactive approach, which attempts to recognize & extend clients’ preexisting strengths. A number of pragmatic interventions, focused on children, & multicultural issues are discussed.