THE CRISIS APPROACH TO THERAPEUITC INTERVETION IN WIFE ASSAULTS IS BASED ON A BROAD RANGE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR THEORIES. THE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE FACTORS INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A CRISIS: (1) ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, (2) CURRENT ADAPTIVE CAPACITY, (3) OVERALL PERSONALITY ADJUSTMENT, AND (4) LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MATURITY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. UNDERSTANDING PRECIPITATING EVENTS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROCESS OF CRISIS RESOLUTION. A GENERAL PROBLEM-SOLVING MODEL WHICH IS PRESENTED INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING STEPS: INPUT, FILTERING, COGNITION, PRODUCTION, AND EVALUATION. REFERENCES TO THIS PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO WIFE BEATING CONSIDERS THE DAMAGE, DEGREE, AND FREQUENCY OF PHYSICAL ASSAULTS. SOCIETAL PRESSURE IS VIEWED IN THE FORM OF CULTURAL NORMS, THE SEXIST ORGANIZATION OF SOCIETY, AND THE FAMILY SYSTEM. ATTITUDES AND THE SOCIOECONOMIC FRAMEWORK SUPPORTING VICTIMIZED WOMEN MUST BE UNDERSTOOD TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE REASONS VICTIMS STAY IN A CRISIS SITUATION. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE COUNSELOR THAT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF REMAINING CALM, ASSESSING THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, AND MAKING DECISIONS FOR TEMPORARY AND SATISFACTORY ALTERNATIVES IS PROVIDED. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDES A RESOURCE LIST (COMMUNITY AND WIFE ASSAULT), ORGANIZATION CHART, CLIENT ACTIVITY FLOW CHART, CRISIS CALL FLOW CHART, ONCALL COUNSELOR GUIDE, INTAKE AND INTERACTION FORMS, AND INITIAL CLIENT CONTACT FILE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (JCP)