De-Escalation Skills for Everyday Life

De-Escalation Skills for Everyday Life

Many of us are upset these days, often for very valid and understandable reasons. Sometimes we get angry or overwhelmed in public. You may not know a person or the reasons why they are distressed, but you can see, hear, or sense that they are having a difficult moment. Sometimes you may choose to keep your distance, which is understandable and can be a de-escalation strategy in itself. Sometimes - after determining that it is safe for you to interact with the person and that you have the resources to do so - you may choose to engage further.

For over a decade, I have been teaching de-escalation skills using the CELLS framework. I've worked with library staff, restaurant teams, arts organizations, health care providers, community groups, and many more. This simple, practical model requires no clinical training or particular expertise and can help you to feel better equipped to have conversations in which your goal is de-escalation and support.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

-consider contextual factors that might be contributing to a person's level of upset

-recognize the signs of escalating behaviour

-apply the CELLS communication framework in challenging interactions

-use practical de-escalation techniques in everyday situations

-enhance self-awareness in the context of de-escalation

Tighten up your de-escalation game and leave the session feeling more equipped to support others who are upset.

Join me Wednesday June 24, 2026 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Naturlandia (2237 Dundas St West) in Toronto.

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Host or Publisher Rebecca Higgins, Mental Health Workshops Toronto