Skillfully Responding to Distress

Training Date: Ongoing

Delivery Format: Online-Live, In-Person

Training Swap: Yes

This half-day session explores how to skillfully respond and de-escalate emotional distress. It can be customized to the needs of your organization, and is relevant for any staff or volunteers who interact in person, online, or on the phone. At the end of the session, participants will be able to: – Describe the stress response, polyvagal theory and the nervous system, and the way these impact how a person responds to distress – Outline and apply a crisis intervention and de-escalation model – Identify tools to facilitate the development of short-term coping plans – Apply strategies for boundary setting, emotional regulation, and self-care for the responder Who is it for? This training is most suitable for organizations with staff who have little to no formal training in crisis prevention and de-escalation skills or who require a refresher. Typical participants include employees in roles that involve responding to challenging situations, such as social service workers, medical assistants, insurance client representatives, youth workers, call center staff, and administrative personnel, among others. The Facilitator This session is facilitated by skilled professionals with backgrounds in counselling and mental health. Testimonials “Full of practical suggestions and relevant tools. All of it was paced well, relevant info and not too overwhelming.” – Support worker, “I think this workshop should be offered to every new employee as it is crucial for our daily work.” – Vancouver Participant, June ‘23