Defusing High Conflict Interpersonal Situations in Enforcement Work and Residential Settings

An axiom of life is when and how opposition will occur not if it will. Whatever is done, regardless of how well it is done, it will be opposed by someone. This reality is particularly evident when the doing entails a negative consequence or some form of limit setting. How the opposition evolves, entirely is the responsibility of the professional.

The goal of this workshop is to equip the professional with both the knowledge and skills required to recognize and defuse a potentially dangerous interpersonal situation. The workshop is grounded in organizational specific policies and procedures related to mandate and extensive social science research concerning aggression. Understanding of oneself is a salient requirement in managing high conflict situations as well as recognising behavioural indicators that signal when danger is eminent and when conditions are de-escalating as a function of professional efforts. Case examples are used to illustrate the application of knowledge and skills. Participants also are engaged in actual physical activities in order to experience and then analyse interpersonal encounters that precipitate a hostile response.