De-Escalation: Calming the Storm s

1. De-Escalation: Calming the Storms Presenter: Mike Paget mpaget@ed.sc.gov

2. Recognizing emotional and behavioral escalation • This presentation is based on material from the Crisis Prevention Institute • CPI provides training on topics of crisis prevention and crisis management, including physical intervention • The priorities of CPI are to ensure safety, and to prevent escalation, including physical restraint

3. Think about a situation you have been in where things were getting tense and out-of-control • What clued you in that things were escalating? • What were your thoughts? • What were your feelings? • How did you respond? • How did things turn out? • Did the experience have any after-effects?

4. CPI Crisis Development Model

5. Behaviors and attitudes of adults impact on the behaviors and attitudes of children and youth Integrated Experience Crisis Development/Behavior Levels Adult Attitudes/Approaches • Anxietynotable change or increase in someone’s normal behavior • Be supportive • non-judgmental and empathic • Be directive • give control by setting limits; • give options and choices to allow child/youth to regain rational control through appropriate self-directed behavior • Defensive • (overt behaviors) beginning to lose rationality/challenge authority • Non violent Physical Crisis Intervention (NVPCI) • non harmful control techniques used to help individual regain control • Acting out person • total loss of rationality and control • Tension reduction • decrease in energy level both physical & emotionally • beginning to regain control • Therapeutic rapport • begin to reestablish communication and regain trust

6. Experiment: Let’s play the mime game • 2 volunteers • Without words, show “anger” • “happiness” • “fear”

7. NonverbalBehavior 7% Verbal 38% Paraverbal 55% Non verbal

8. size location experience sense of control history gender age frame of mind culture personal hygiene Proxemics Definition: The area where you feel comfortable Factors influencing: Note: Personal property functions like an extension of personal space

9. eye contact avoiding staring crossed arms eye rolling clenching fists huffing pacing Signs of Anxiety shrugging shoulders punching the air clenched teeth eyebrows perspiring Kinesics Examples

10. Paraverbal Communication: Definition: • Vocal part of speech excluding words. • How we say what we say. Elements: Volume- appropriate for situation Cadence: rate /rhythm at which we speak) Tone of voice (where is the inflection)

11. Arguing • Have you ever gotten into an argument that became a real power struggle? • What makes these arguments worse? • What helps you avoid or back out of these arguments?

12. Verbal Escalation Continuum 3. Release: loss of verbal control Allow venting, isolate, focus on safety, listen 4. Intimidation (threats) Take it seriously, document, report, reflect, get help 2. Refusal- overt noncompliance Setlimits 1. Questioning Information seeking-answer Challenging Ignore, redirect, set limits 5. Tension Reduction Therapeutic rapport

13. Do: Listen Talk less Speak softly Respect privacy Remain calm Do not: Embarrass Call out in front of others Criticize Over-react Use sarcasm Fake attention Talking Tips and Techniques

14. Rational Detachment Definition: The ability to stay in control of one’s own behavior and not take acting-out personally. after before during • Debrief • Vent • Evaluate • Modify plan • Leave work at work • Calm • Breath • Team work • Humor • Follow plan • Good health • Meditation • Prayer • Training • Planning

15. Rational Detachment Don’t Do • Use calm voice • Maintain respect for child/youth • Listen • Talk less • Use privacy • Allow time • Praise when appropriate • Lose cool • Embarrass • Use sarcasm • Bring up the past • Fake attention • Touch • Become a precipitating factor

16. How the adult reacts makes matters better or worse The behaviors and attitudes of adults impact on the behaviors and attitudes of children and youth, and vice versa Anxiety ----- Support Defensive ----- Directive AOP ----- NVPCI Tension reduction   Therapeutic rapport

17. Productive Heightened senses Shortened reaction time Increase in speed and strength Unproductive Minimize freezing Overreaction responding inappropriately Adult Fear and Anxiety Fear: of the unknown – “What is happening?”Anxiety: fear of the known – “Can I handle this?” • Maximize: • understand your fears • learn techniques to protect yourself • get support: teamwork • learn physical intervention skills

18. After the storm Learning, processing, closure, moving forward C - Control O- Orient Listen to the AOP or adult P- Patterns I- Investigate and Improvement N- Negotiate G- Give

19. Are you interested in more training? • The Crisis Prevention Institute has a number of trainings primarily intended for adults who work with children and youth • CPI also has useful training material for parents and home care-givers