Thursday, March 20, 2008

Keeping Your Cool with Challenging Youth & Adults

We can often see a crisis brewing, but we may be afraid to intervene, may not notice the warning signs, or may simply hope it goes away.

The goal of this workshop is threefold: 1) obtain a crisis prevention "mindset," 2) provide a structured response to challenging behavior, and 3) consider the many decisions that must be made during a crisis and recognize your options. Many crises can be averted by assessing risk, determining possible escalation scenarios, and finding specific strategies, tailored to the person you're working with, to minimize risk. Acting-out behavior is occurring much more frequently and staff are being confronted and tested on many levels. Obtain techniques for responding to difficult behaviors, learn how to defuse hostility, de-escalate conflict, and recognize the importance of depersonalizing the situation and setting limits. Every crisis situation has a natural evolution as it escalates and being able to model calm in the face of challenging behavior helps the person in crisis gain control over the specific situation.

Challenging behavior can elicit anger in us, leave us frightened, overwhelm us, or result in us being over-involved or under-involved. These feelings, when not acknowledged and processed, can create inappropriate or ineffective responses. Find out how to stay positive when dealing with “difficult” people. Examine the defenses that staff may employ and identify personal triggers and biases that can lead to negative interactions. Through this workshop, participants will:

• Learn a variety of ways to evaluate risk and possible escalation scenarios and act accordingly to decrease risk
• Obtain techniques to remain calm and "keep your cool" when directly challenged
• Identify crisis intervention strategies

This workshop will be of interest to those working in mental health, child welfare, and schools. Workshop format includes lecture, discussion, case examples, and role plays.

Instructor

Daniel B. Jacobs, Psy.D., M.B.A., is a licensed psychologist in private practice at Andover Mental Health Associates. He was previously Director of the Adolescent and Adult Partial Hospital Programs at Salem Hospital. Dr. Jacobs trains and consults nationally for schools, mental health agencies, and residential programs. He has worked with youth, adults, and families at all levels of care, helping people learn to manage emotional pain and crisis situations. Dr. Jacobs believes hope is always an option.