Crisis Intervention and De-escalation (10 Contact Hours)

Crisis moments arrive without warning, and the first staff member on the scene often shapes what happens next. This 10-contact-hour course prepares Certified Mental Health Professionals and other behavioral health paraprofessionals to respond to crises calmly, safely, and within their role. Participants learn the tasks of crisis intervention, a triage approach to immediate safety, verbal and nonverbal de-escalation, psychological first aid, adapted responses for special situations, coercion reduction, and post-crisis debriefing and documentation.

Each module includes a clinical case study with a practice question and a hands-on tool, such as the Crisis Triage Snapshot, the De-escalation Phrase Card, and the Post-Crisis Debrief and Documentation Form. The course emphasizes calling licensed clinicians and emergency services early and does not train participants to conduct risk assessments or use restraint.