Getting Out Alive: Communication for Psychological Emergencies
What do you say when a person believes they’re Joan of Arc, or sliced their abdomen to
cope with abuse, or thinks that they are wearing a 3 piece suit walking down main street and
they are naked? What you say and do may be the difference between making things worse,
finding compliance, or getting out alive. This course will examine several techniques to effectively
communicate and engage individuals who present with psychological and/or behavioral
emergencies. Communication for psychological emergencies will present several tools, to include but not limited
to active listening skills, grounding techniques, proxemics, body language, resistance and
collaboration and keys to effective tactical communication. These skills will be applied to and for
the paranoid person, delusional person, suicidal, developmentally delayed, and emotional crisis.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to effectively communicate with those
who present with and/or in a psychological, behavioral crisis. Participants will also acquire
an understanding, sensitivity and awareness when de-escalating a critical situation involving
psychological issues. The knowledge acquired in today’s workshop will enhance the safety for
both the first responder and the patient.