Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training® (Certification)

A Few Of Our Crisis Intervention Training Client Testimonials

“A highly recommended course, 10 out of 10. I am much more confident in my ability to handle verbal confrontation, and even violent individuals since attending this course. Excellent information, very clear, concise, easy to understand, and easy to implement program. Learning de escalation training online was a big time saver for me.”

-B. Collins, Probation Officer, VA

“Simple and respectful. The physical techniques taught will work in real crisis situations due to the ability to stabilize and control the aggressive and violent person. It maintains the sense of security for the individual and doesn’t impede their ability to breathe and calm down. CCG techniques are much better than those I learned in other programs.”

-A. Remley, Substance Abuse Counselor, VA

“Techniques were simple to perform, and are respectful to client and staff. It is a great new focus on handling crisis. Appropriate amount of time spent on stressing verbal intervention and safety, rather than going immediately to physical intervention. I thoroughly enjoyed the practical role-plays and learning to apply the techniques in real situations. I was looking for training online, and found this program to be extremely helpful.”

-P. Schneeman, Training Coordinator, VA

“This is one of your recent students from your Train-The-Trainer course in CA. Frankly, you have your program on lock and are truly awe inspiring. Brendan, it’s obvious that you’re really on to something great here with CCG. Having your background, being as young, talented and as bright as you are, is definitely to your advantage. Your experience gives you a high level of credibility which is especially essential in training peace officers and professionals in the field of corrections.You represent the “new guard,” the future. “Old school” ways and knuckle dragging mentality no longer have a place or safe haven in DJJ. Your innovative, fresh take on tried and true principles, anchored with effective, safe techniques that are easy to learn, is like a breath of fresh air. Your emphasis on intrinsic change as opposed to punishment and compliance is right on point. You have been able to motivate even the most jaded staff to “think outside the box,” to be team oriented, confident, safe and in control during crisis situations with youthful offenders. Yours is a very powerful message indeed, one that is long overdue. Have a safe trip back home. Be well.”

-Karette F, Youth Corrections Counselor,CA

“I was looking for nonviolent intervention training online and found your crisis intervention certificate course to be exactly what I needed. Your crisis intervention course for staff is crisis intervention training certification that is second to none!”

-Allan Johnstone

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Excerpt From Our E-book “Preventing Aggressive Behavior With Your Words” by Brendan King

Crisis Intervention Training – Give Respect, Get Respect

A number of years ago, we were conducting crisis intervention training and certificate training sessions with a particular client in the upper northeast. We were discussing power, control, and possibly violent situations. We were, specifically, going over the type of situation where people felt they had to draw a line or “make a stand” so to speak.

One gentleman made an interesting comment.  “You know Brendan,” he said, “When it comes to the kids here, I don’t give them respect until they earn it.”

At the time my first thought was, Wow! Sounds like a real bundle of joy to work with.  His attitude surprised me quite a bit, as you might imagine, as one of the first things we learn in dealing with people in a hospital or treatment setting is to treat them with dignity and respect. I knew in that moment that my work was cut out for me.  This gentleman was a supervisor, and had been at the facility for a long, long time. It was apparent that he was very set in his ways. Regardless of the fact that my company had been brought to this organization by the State to help fix their emergency response, his attitude was clear that he didn’t think he had much to learn, and already had all the answers.  As I quickly gauged the other faces in the room (about 25 or so), it was clear that most of the rest of them didn’t agree with his comment, though they were not free to speak up out of fear of retaliation from this supervisor.

It made for an interesting next 30 minutes as I opened the conversation up and gently let him know I thought his attitude towards non dignity and non respect was not helpful, and likely led to the issues they currently had, and that we were called there to fix.  Let’s just say, I wish I had that conversation recorded.  Anyhow, this attitude within him had developed to this point for whatever reason. He had been in the industry a long time and maybe he was just burned out. I don’t know the reason, but he’d come to a point where he felt he didn’t have to show respect to anyone until that person had earned it.  This is not the type of crisis intervention training that we teach. I wonder how many others feel that same way. Do you?

Whether you learn crisis prevention training online (CIT near me) or in one of our classrooms these are the type of valuable lessons you can expect to learn from our courses. The CCG Crisis intervention course is the proven way to learn to handle aggressive and violent individuals with a non threatening technique. When you get your crisis intervention certificate online you will have a new skill set to deal with the challenges of De-Escalation.

Crisis Intervention Training – Trust your Instincts

You’ve heard before that you should trust your instincts. You’ve heard it from self-defense pioneers, you may have heard it from a guy by the name of Gavin de Becker, and you’ve even read his book, The Gift of Fear.  This is often addressed during our certification online and certificate instructor training.

Trust your instincts. Your body has a built-in survival system. A gentleman, who I deeply respect and admire is Tony Blauer. He’s the founder of Blauer Tactical Systems Personal Defense Readiness Spear System. Check him out on YouTube, it’s fantastic stuff. He teaches a personal defense system that takes what your body wants to do naturally (in an ambush type situation) and converts that action into a combative application for self-defense.

If you have any interest in that subject, or need a certificate near that area, please look him up.  Also in his system, he talks about how your instincts and your body will let you know when something is off. When you walk into the unit of a facility or correctional institution and feel something isn’t right. There’s a tension in the air. You can feel it. You can almost taste it. Those of you with crisis intervention training  experience know what I’m talking about.

As you gain experience in the industry, you realize there are certain behaviors you pick up on. These may be things you see happening out on the unit or right in front of you, and you recognize that something’s not right; something’s off. The only thing I ask you to do in those cases, is to trust it. You can go through all kinds of crisis intervention training and other really cool stuff, you can read all kinds of great books, but the reality is that your body has a built-in survival system, and if something feels wrong, it probably is wrong.

Interestingly, women are usually better at this than men. As an example, you go out on a blind date. How quickly can you tell that the date should have never happened? The appetizers are not even out yet, and you’re sure you’re not going to make it to dinner. How long does it take? Most women will say, “About ten to fifteen seconds, maybe a minute or two at the most. I don’t want this person near me.” They know almost immediately that something is wrong/off.  Men are a bit more optimistic in those situations, and the conversation goes a bit more in-depth even if only internally.  That hesitation can cost us our life in other scenarios.

I encourage you to use that same concept when you’re dealing with someone in crisis and edging towards or near violence. If you feel like you’re too close, if it feels a little uncomfortable, if it feels like the position you’re in is not safe for the situation, get out of there. Move. Get to a better spot.  We like to say in the tactical world “Get off the X!” The “X” is where you are right at that moment, which is making your vulnerable or off-balance, or distracted due to that uneasy feeling. Move to a different place. Instead of staying put and not doing anything, use that feeling as your signal to move and change it up.

Nonviolent Intervention Training – You’re in Good Hands

“You’re in good hands.” It sounds good when it comes from the gentleman announcing the commercial, doesn’t it? It sounds reassuring. Well, the beauty of that statement is that it is reassuring. It gives you the feeling that, “Hey, somebody’s looking out for me.” In the case of the commercial, there’s been a car accident and the pressure of taking care of the car after the accident is on somebody else’s shoulders. You can relax. You can lower your anxiety. Someone else will take care of everything.

The same is true in crisis intervention certification online training. You’re in good hands, even when you’re dealing with somebody in crisis and they’re upset. I remember that I am in good hands along with the knowledge that the outcome is assured. What? The outcome is assured? How can you say that? I hear you thinking. You’re right, the situation could go in a million different directions. Maybe somebody gets injured or somebody gets into a physical hands-on situation. Maybe it gets de-escalated. It’s true that we have no guarantees but having your online crisis intervention certification will go a long way in ensuring that you are prepared. However, when I approach a situation I remember that I have effective training. I’ve trained to the best of my ability for this given situation. I rely on that training, just like you will learn during our training once you receive your crisis intervention certificate.

In addition, I have a group of co-workers with me who are going to be supportive. They are going to help me through this situation. Hopefully, I work for an organization that’s also trying to help me to do a better job for those consumers with whom I’m working. So, if I put all those things together, I can walk into a situation and say, with confidence, “The outcome is assured.” In potentially any situation, I’m able to recognize that I may not know, exactly, how it’s going to turn out, but I know I’m going to be okay. I’ve got a team with me and, together, we’re going to deal with whatever happens. Whether it’s a simple de-escalation, or something that may become physical, the team and I are going to deal with it using our crisis intervention training.

The fact that I have confidence in my crisis intervention training, confidence in my team, and confidence in the organization for which I work, means I can go into the situation with much less anxiety, much less stress, much less worry, and the confidence that the outcome is assured. I’m in good hands, I’ve got a good team, and we’re going to take care of this situation. Of course, everything I do to lessen my own anxiety will be communicated and visible to the person I’m trying to help. Our de-escalation training online course teaches you these principles and more.

Achieve: Crisis intervention certificate online

I can already hear you saying, “Whoa, I work in a facility! Hold on! Wait a minute! We can’t touch anybody, it’s a hands-off facility.” I hear that and I understand. Bear with me.

Unfortunately, some people who wind up in treatment centers, or similar type emergency environments, have never had anyone provide appropriate physical contact with them. Years ago, I worked on the children’s unit in a locked psychiatric hospital. I actually worked on the adolescent sex offenders unit for about a year. These kids were charged offenders, but, as you can imagine, the way they got to the point where they became one, was awful. At some point in their early lives, they had done to them the things they later did to someone else. It was a difficult population to work with. But, the reality was that they–most of them, anyway–had never known what it was like to experience appropriate touch and positive physical connection. Here is what I leaned and teach in our crisis intervention training program.

By this I mean something as simple as placing a hand on someone’s shoulder, and telling them, “Hey, I understand. I understand you’re upset, who about we walk over here and try to talk this out.” Gentle, appropriate touch. Again, you have to figure out whether it falls within policies and procedures, and whether it’s appropriate for that situation. Obviously, you have to be very careful, because even a slight touch might be taken as an assault, or seen in the wrong way, thinking that it’s more than what is intended. Be professional, be respectful of boundaries, and use an appropriate gentle touch, kind escorting, if you will.

Sometimes just gently saying, “Okay. Alright, sir. I understand. Let’s step over here,” and putting out your hand to simulate what you want them to do. You don’t even have to place your hand on the person’s shoulder. Just put your hand out to tell them, Hey, let’s go over here.
For example, while working as a law enforcement officer, I was called to a car accident. There were people freaking out. There was a gal who had been in one vehicle involved who was hysterical, half screaming and half sobbing. Had I quietly tried saying, “Please Ma’am, step over here. Please step over here. Let’s get out of traffic.” Wouldn’t have worked. I had to be a bit more forceful in my tone, and body language saying; “Okay. Okay, I know. I know. Ma’am, let’s go over here; let’s step over here so we don’t get hit by any traffic.”. I put my hand up in the air near me her body to gently persuade her to step off to the side. These are the types of powerful lessons you will learn with our crisis intervention training online certification course. That added physical gesture was appropriate for the situation considering the emotional overload going on. Always keep in mind that you have to do this very carefully. You have to be professional, tactful, and use appropriate touch. That positive contact, either feigned or actual, can make the difference for someone in crisis. When you obtain your crisis intervention certificate through CCG you will posses the best de escalation training certification available today.

The Language of non-violent Reassurance – Crisis Intervention Training

How often are you using reassurance in your non violent verbal de-escalation? One of the most nonviolent & powerful things you can do to de-escalate somebody in a critical situation is to let them know that the result of their positive action–calming down, taking a few steps back, whatever it is you’re asking for in that crisis–will result in a positive outcome for them. All crisis intervention training should teach you this fact.

How do we let them know that it will be a positive nonviolent step in the right direction? We do it through reassurance.
For example; “Sir, I know you’re upset. I understand you’re really angry about this, but here’s the thing, I’m asking you to lower your voice and we can step over here and talk about it. I guarantee you we’re going to work through this. We’re going to find a good solution.”
Sounds pretty convincing, right? “Ma’am, I know you’re upset. I understand what is going on. I’ve heard everything you’ve said, and here’s the thing, I want to tell you that at the end of this, everything’s going to be alright. We’re going to figure it out together. We’re going to get through this in. We’re going to get to the other side. We’re going to resolve it.”

Again, in my crisis intervention training, I’m using the language of non violent and non aggressive reassurance. I’m letting this individual know that, “Hey, this is only a moment in time, and we’ll get past it. You’re upset, you’re angry, you’re frustrated . . . whatever it is . . . once we get past it, on the other side is success.” Reassure them that on the other side of the situation is a calm, peaceful non violent resolution to whatever their problem might be.

I’m not taking away any limit setting, or any line in the sand that I’ve drawn for this individual. I’m just saying, “Hey, once we figure out this issue, and once we get through it, we’re going to both be happy on the other side.” We’re painting that grass is greener picture for them. I’m letting them know that we’re going to get there by using a nonviolent reassurance in our crisis intervention training. Getting through an emergency is going to take a lot of work so you’ll want to remind them of that throughout the crisis, so they don’t get discouraged along the way. If it’s a real crisis, and this person is upset, it’s going to take a great nonviolent effort, it’s going to take coordination, communication, all the while you should be reminding them, “Hey, I know we’re not there yet, but once we get through this, it’s going to be great, things are going to get better.” The CCG crisis intervention certificate course covers these intense situations and teaches you the skills necessary to get through them in a positive and non-violent way.

We Teach Crisis Intervention Training To Be Taught

I was explaining this non-violent concept of crisis intervention training to a group I was teaching recently. I was letting them know that I was not only humbled and honored to be teaching them our  intervention course system, but that, in truth, I end up getting as much, and sometimes more, back from the students than they’re getting from me. When you get experience teaching, after many years, you realize that through the act of teaching you gain so much value. You face fears of getting up in front of a group. You are stretched both mentally and physically. You ability to deal with frustration, challenges, disagreements, are tested regularly. You are pushed to understand your material far beyond what anyone in the course currently understands. These things are some of the gifts of teaching crisis intervention training. Not even mentioning the pride and sense of accomplishment you get when you see someone learn something that you taught them, and see them grow and succeed.

I want you to think of an emergency situation in that same way. Try to think about what it is that you stand to gain from that experience. Look for something you can take away from the experience that will improve your ability to deal with it more effectively and in a non aggressive non-violent way the next time. Did they hurl a bunch of insults at you, and you just stepped aside, using that bouncing technique that you learned earlier? Was it a situation where they opened your mind to a new perspective that you hadn’t thought of previously? Or was it that you intervened and said something in such a way that you now, after the fact, say, “Man, I’ve got to use that again next time! That worked really well.” Think of that crisis encounter as something from which to learn. If you go into your intervention thinking to yourself, I’m looking for opportunities to pick up something that will help me. It, very often, will increase your odds of de-escalating the individual in the best non violent way. You will learn all about these techniques in our Crisis Intervention Course.

If you have the opportunity to teach other people some crisis intervention training with non violent skills non aggressive, do it. Do it with so much passion that you get to the point where you’re looking at the crowd, and that group that you’re teaching is teaching you. Get to a point where you can see that you are gaining from that teaching process. Get to the point where, in fact, you’re often going to end up gaining as much, if not more, than they’re getting from you.  Our crisis intervention  certification teaches you these principles and much more.  Get your crisis intervention certificate online today!

CCG Crisis Intervention Training Online

The vital thing we learn in crisis intervention training is to remember during a crisis is just simply saying to that person, “Johnny, I know you’re upset. I promise you, whatever you need to tell me, whatever you need to say, go ahead and get off your chest. It’s going to stay right here between you and me. That is unless you say something to make me believe you’re going to hurt yourself or somebody else. Then of course, I have to go tell somebody, but anything else, man, if you need to talk about it, I’m here for you.”  Our Nonviolent Intervention Training Courses cover all of these scenarios. 

In that moment, we’re laying the groundwork letting them know that they can trust you. Your letting them know the rules right up front, “If you give me anything that has to do with self-harm, or harming somebody else, then of course, I have to share it.” You’re telling them that you’re going to listen to them, you’re going to reserve judgment as best you can, and you’re going to make them feel as though the conversation is between the two of you. In that moment, you’re letting them know that, if somebody else isn’t there, they don’t really have a right to know exactly what you’re talking about. If you can express to this individual, through your crisis intervention training, that you are going to do the best you can to create a safe environment for them to speak, that is, hands down, one of the best tools available for de-escalation.

In short, quality training, a quality team, and a quality organization equals effective de-escalation where the outcome may not be known immediately, but it can be assured. Get your de escalation training certification today to be prepared and meet your crisis intervention certification requirements.