Crisis Intervention: The Nuclear Task Approach

Failure to perform certain life tasks adequately contributes to crisis development. Occupational therapists frequently treat individuals in crisis. The state of crisis disrupts normal activity patterns, adding to the individual’s sense of helplessness and disequilibrium. Activities may play a crucial role in the process of recovery. “Nuclear tasks” are activities that promote adaptive resolution of crisis elements and spur active problem solving on the part of crisis patients.