De-escalation Training for Guides, Leaders & Remote Workers
Imagine dealing with a volatile client or a situation in which emotions are running wild. Think about what you might notice, how you might respond, and what you would do to facilitate the best possible outcome for yourself and those around you.
Now, imagine facing this kind of situation in a remote environment.
You are leading a multi-day trek through the Andes and a client begins to feel overwhelmed and panic. They become upset and turn on you, their behavior escalating from signs of agitation into shouting and threatening behaviors. You have radio contact with your basecamp and a satellite phone for emergencies, but this person is growing angrier by the moment and help is several hours away at best.
What do you do?
You are teaching a half-day clinic on whitewater techniques. You and your colleagues are out on a local stretch of river with three rafts and you are running safety from a personal kayak. As you paddle between rafts, you hear a commotion from the furthest one and paddle up to find several participants yelling at each other. One person swings a paddle at another’s head and several begin to stand up in the raft, the verbal arguing escalating to aggression and acts of violence. The guide sits in the back of the raft, frozen.
What do you do?
While there are many ways to respond to these and similar events, the best methods are based on professional research and evidence-based practices. Unfortunately, there are numerous “wrong ways” to respond to a person in crisis. Finding yourself in a remote area and miles from assistance is not the time nor the place to discover what works and what doesn’t.
Fortunately, Anchorpoint Response can help. After providing numerous consults and after- action reviews to outdoor groups and organizations, we have combined several best practices with lessons learned. The result is a clear, systematic approach to preparing for crucial moments and responding to escalating individuals.
Anchorpoint Response recognizes the growing need for crisis prevention and de-escalation training in remote environments. As part of the growing outdoor industry, we see the increase in people pushing their limits and setting out into the wilderness with varying levels of preparation. We do our best to manage risk and create a supportive environment, but sometimes there are bad days and moments when emotions get in the way of rational thought and decision making. These are the times when training in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques can make a world of difference.
Preparing staff with strength & skills to respond to conflict & crisis
De-escalation training with Anchorpoint Response focuses on anticipating potential conflicts that you and your team may face. Participants will review universal principles and techniques for resolving escalating situations and remaining in control without the use of physical force.
Program highlights include:
- Recognizing the signs and escalating behaviors indicative of a person in crisis.
- Selecting the best response to de-escalate a situation.
- Putting de-escalation techniques into practice with immediate feedback.
- Developing an exit strategy to protect yourself and others in a worst-case scenario.
In order to accommodate the practice session with feedback, course lengths will vary based on the number of participants you wish to enroll. As with our other training solutions, the goal of Anchorpoint Response is to meet your needs. Please contact us today to discuss how we can help your organization and determine the best solution for your team.