On the benefits of using elements of mediation in the area of crisis intervention

Abstract

The area of social support, especially in overcoming crises and the availability of social services, is undergoing continuous development in Poland. In recent years, much attention has been paid to strengthening the availability of crisis intervention and mediation services. Both services have many references in common, as well as the potential to complement each other. The aim of this paper is to analyse the potential which may be connected with using elements of mediation in the practice of those institutions of the social assistance system which deal with crisis intervention. Interdisciplinary reflection on the common features of crisis intervention and mediation leads to the conclusion that both fields, despite noticeable differences, have to some extent convergent goals and assumptions, and what is more, they are based on similar scopes of knowledge, mainly from the field of psychology and social work. Moreover, they can complement each other and complement aid processes.