De-escalation techniques are essential tools for promoting positive behaviour and reducing conflict, particularly in environments like schools, healthcare settings, and residential care. Positive Behaviour Supports (PBS) emphasizes proactive strategies to support individuals and encourage positive behaviours.
Here are 10 de-escalation tips aligned with PBS:
1. Stay Calm and Maintain Composure
- Why it helps: Your calmness will help to model the behaviour you want to see. It also prevents the situation from escalating further.
- Tip: Speak slowly and in a calm, neutral tone. Avoid reacting emotionally to the situation.
2. Use Active Listening
- Why it helps: Actively listening helps individuals feel heard and validated, which can reduce feelings of frustration or anger.
- Tip: Give the person your full attention, nod in acknowledgment, and refrain from interrupting while they speak.
3. Establish and Maintain Personal Space
- Why it helps: Respecting personal space can reduce feelings of threat and anxiety, preventing the situation from escalating.
- Tip: Stay at a safe distance and avoid crowding the person. Pay attention to non-verbal cues to gauge their comfort.
4. Use Positive Body Language
- Why it helps: Your body language can communicate support and openness, which can help de-escalate tension.
- Tip: Keep your hands visible, avoid crossing your arms, and use a relaxed posture. This can signal to the individual that you are non-threatening.
5. Offer Choices and Control
- Why it helps: Providing choices gives the individual some sense of control over the situation, which can reduce power struggles and defuse tension.
- Tip: Instead of dictating, offer two or more reasonable options (e.g., “Would you like to sit down or take a break?”).
6. Keep Communication Clear and Simple
- Why it helps: When individuals are upset, they may struggle to process complex instructions. Clear, simple communication is more effective.
- Tip: Use short, direct sentences and avoid complicated language. Make sure your instructions or requests are easy to understand.
7. Validate Their Feelings
- Why it helps: Validation acknowledges the person’s emotions, which can prevent them from feeling ignored or misunderstood.
- Tip: Use phrases like, “I can see that you’re upset” or “I understand this situation is frustrating for you.”
8. Use Distraction or Redirection
- Why it helps: Shifting attention away from the issue at hand can provide a mental break and prevent the escalation from intensifying.
- Tip: Gently redirect the conversation to a neutral topic or suggest an engaging activity that might calm the individual (e.g., “Would you like to talk about something else for a while?”).
9. Maintain a Positive and Supportive Attitude
- Why it helps: A supportive approach fosters trust and collaboration, rather than confrontation, which is crucial in de-escalating a difficult situation.
- Tip: Express empathy and reinforce that you want to help, using supportive language like, “I’m here to work with you, let’s figure this out together.”
10. Know When to Give Space
- Why it helps: Sometimes, giving the person time to cool down is the best way to de-escalate.
- Tip: If the person becomes too agitated, offer them a quiet space or time to themselves to regain composure, and assure them you will be available to talk when they’re ready.
Summary
These strategies, when used consistently, can create an environment that supports positive behaviours and reduces the likelihood of escalation.
Transform Life is a NDIS registered organisation that provide support for your autistic child, as well as support to you as a parent to best navigate the challenges your child and family face on a daily basis.
Book your consult with an experienced Therapist at Transform Life to explore how OT, PBS and Speech Therapy can support you and your family.
