NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY - A COMPREHENSIVE CASE STUDY ANALYSIS - VIRTUAL

NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY - A COMPREHENSIVE CASE STUDY ANALYSES - VIRTUAL

 Presenter: Sherie Hawkins, PhD, LPC, NCC, CPCS             

Clinicians frequently encounter clients who present in a heightened emotional state of dysregulation, often requiring immediate and skillful intervention. This workshop will provide Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs) with evidence-based strategies for de-escalating crises, maintaining safety in clinical settings, and fostering strong partnerships with community resources that can assist in these efforts. Through comprehensive case study analyses, participants will develop a deeper understanding of how to recognize early warning signs of agitation, apply verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques, and implement proactive safety planning for both clients and themselves. Additionally, the workshop will explore the importance of collaborating with external support systems, including law enforcement, crisis teams, and social services, to create a robust safety net for clients while mitigating risk for clinicians. This workshop will equip clinicians with the necessary skills to navigate high-intensity situations confidently, ensure safety in their practice, and enhance the continuity of care for their clients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. **Apply Effective De-Escalation Techniques**  Participants will learn how to identify early signs of agitation, employ verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques, and create a calm and structured therapeutic environment to support clients in distress. Strategies will include active listening, empathetic validation, and maintaining an open body posture to reduce tension and encourage constructive dialogue. Seemingly basic counseling skills become the clinicians greatest tool for de-escalating clients who may seem unable to self-regulate. Determining how to recognize the need for prioritizing clinician safety in the moment of conflict is an important part of this learning objective.

2. **Develop Proactive Safety Plans for Clinicians and Clients**  This objective will focus on creating structured safety protocols to prevent crises, including assessing environmental and interpersonal triggers, establishing physical safety measures in clinical settings, and implementing clear boundary-setting strategies to protect both the client and clinician from harm.

3. **Strengthen Collaboration with Community Resources**  Participants will explore how to integrate external resources such as mobile crisis units, law enforcement, and social service organizations into their treatment protocols. This will include strategies for effective communication with emergency responders, navigating ethical considerations, and advocating for client-centered crisis interventions to enhance overall safety and treatment outcomes.