Which technique focuses on helping individuals identify their feelings during a crisis?

• A. Empathetic responses
• B. Co-regulation strategies
• C. Self-talk
• D. Reactive aggression

Answer: (A)

Empathetic responses are crucial in crisis situations as they help individuals articulate and identify their feelings. When someone is in distress, they might struggle to express what they are experiencing emotionally. By using empathetic responses, the caregiver or intervenor validates the person's feelings, which can help the individual recognize and understand their emotions better.

This technique encourages open communication, allowing the individual to feel heard and supported. By reflecting feelings back to the individual or asking open-ended questions that prompt them to express how they feel, caregivers can facilitate emotional recognition and processing. This is vital for de-escalation and helps in guiding the person toward more constructive coping strategies as they feel understood in their emotional state.

The other techniques mentioned, while valuable in different contexts, do not primarily focus on helping individuals identify feelings. Co-regulation strategies involve calming techniques shared between individuals to manage emotional responses together. Self-talk refers to internal dialogue that individuals use for self-regulation but isn't as effective as empathetic interaction for identifying feelings. Reactive aggression is a response to perceived threats and does not assist in emotional identification, often leading to escalation rather than resolution.