Target Audience

Physicians, counselors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, addition counselors, case managers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, mental health professionals. 

Description

C3 De-escalation is provided in two sessions.  Each session is three hours. Participants must attend Session I and Session II in order to complete the training. Participants can register for sessions at any of the offered locations.

C3 de-escalation was developed in the southside of Chicago by Andra Madea where she was able to identify patterns of behaviors in escalated clients. Through research at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, she was able to link brain research on aggression to many of the same behaviors that she was observing in the community and was able to work with the ACT team in Chicago. Based on research from Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Amy Arnstein, C3 de-escalation was developed as a tool to improve safety, decrease stress, lower injury and arrest rates while empowering the client to develop better coping skills. This 6 hour course will allow you to use those same strategies and interventions to de-escalate others safely and confidently.

Purpose

The purpose of this training is to provide simple and easy to use techniques to help de-escalate clients calmly and safely. This is completed by learning about brain circuitry, adrenaline and how it affects the brain and identifying the stages of escalation to respond appropriately and safely. This training is purposefully simple so that it can be applied across a broad range of professions in a wide variety of settings.

C3 De-escalation® targets a breakdown in the brain. Stress or anger– i.e. “losing it”– causes a physical to short-circuit. Brain sections that handle self-restraint, reason and consequences essentially disconnect. This can result in outbursts of aggression, agitation or reckless behavior. We’ve all experienced this to some degree. However, someone with mental health or addiction issues is more vulnerable, often with worse consequences. C3 provides three groups of techniques to help the brain calm down and stabilize:

• Calm: Stress chemicals trigger the short-circuit. C3 provides ways to lower the stress chemicals, giving circuits a chance to re-connect.
• Circuit: Since parts of the brain disconnect, C3 provides ways to cue disconnected parts and jump-start the circuit.
• Connection: Typically, there’s a “lead time” before the actual explosion. If we notice the signs and intervene wisely, we can stop the explosion before it happens. C3 shows how to connect the dots: spot the pattern, head off the eruption.

Learning objecives

Breaking Down the Impact of Adrenaline on the Brain

• Higher and emotional brain functions and impact
• Breaking down the physical and mental signs of adrenaline overload (aka flooding) in the brain 
• What to do about flooding

Understanding Flooding and You

• Identify simple techniques to decrease adrenaline in the brain
• Recognizing signs in yourself
• Develop a way to bring yourself out of flooding and planning ahead of a stressful day

Body Language and Respect

• Recognize the importance of body language 
• Understand how to use mirror neurons 
• Listening with empathy, equity and dignity

Circuits and the Brain

• Identify techniques to re-engage the higher brain

Connecting the Dots

• Use a 5-stage escalation scale to head off aggression early
• Determine the differences between anger and hostility
• Look for patterns and create a plan 

Speakers

Marla Smith, LMHP, LMHC
Behavioral Health Coach, Heartland Family Service

Sonia Keffer, MA
Learning and Development Training Coordinator, Heartland Family Service 

Mary Beth Roskens, MFCS
Services Intake Coordinator, Heartland Family Service 

Disclosures

Relevant to the content of this educational activity, the following individual(s) have no conflict(s) with commercial interest companies to disclose.

• Marla Smith, LMHP, LMHC, Activity Director and Speaker
• Sonia Keffer, MA, Speaker
• Mary Beth Roskens, MFCS, Speaker

Relevant to the content of this educational activity, the following individual(s) have a conflict(s) with commercial interest companies to disclose.

• Andra Medea, MA, Planning Committee Member, Creator of C3 De-Escalation and receives royalties from books she has authored