How do the goals of long-term therapists differ from those of crisis interventionists?

Long-term therapists typically aim for comprehensive personality change, which involves deep exploration and transformation of an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors over an extended period. Their focus is often on underlying issues, patterns, and persistent challenges that a client may face, leading to a more profound and lasting change in personality and behavior.

On the other hand, crisis interventionists work in a more immediate context, primarily focused on restoring pre-crisis functioning rather than facilitating long-term change. Their goal is to help individuals navigate acute distress, provide support, and enable them to return to their previous level of functioning as quickly as possible. The immediacy of crisis intervention necessitates a different approach than the more gradual and in-depth techniques used by long-term therapists.

This distinction highlights the different contexts and objectives of each role, as crisis intervention is about stabilization and immediate support, while long-term therapy seeks to instigate deeper psychological changes over time.