De-escalation Techniques 101: Because You're Probably Gonna Lose Your Mind

Warning: This page is for emergency responders, crisis managers, and anyone who's ever had to talk down a teenager with a bad haircut.

Lesson 1: The Power of Empathy (or Not Really, We'll Get to That Later)

In a world where people are constantly throwing their hands up and shouting "I'M FED UP!", it's essential to know how to de-escalate the situation.

1. Put on a listening hat: It's like a magic ear, but instead of making things better, it just makes you hear things better.
2. Acknowledge the problem: "Yeah, I hear you. You're really upset, I get it, I'm not a monster, etc."
3. Repeat back: Repeat the problem back, but with a healthy dose of eye-rolling.

Note: This course is not a substitute for actual training or therapy.

Learn more advanced de-escalation techniques or when things go terribly wrong.