Development and application of emotion regulation skills with distressed clients or colleagues

Professions that interact with people and situations where there are high levels of stress will necessitate at times, responding to clients or colleagues in emotionally dysregulated states.  The skill set to navigate heightened emotional reactions, while simultaneously managing your own response, is key to keeping you and your client or colleague safe.

Many approaches advocate an ‘outside-in’ perspective to manage challenging interactions; ‘What is the other person doing and how should I respond?’ In part one of this two-part training, we approach from an ‘inside-out’ perspective; ‘How are my internal responses influencing my interaction with the other person, and how can I respond more effectively?’

In part two, you will learn strategies to assist a client or colleague to soothe and calm themselves (co-regulation), what will help, and well-intentioned responses that may inadvertently heighten distress.

An ‘inside-out’ approach does not make you responsible for how another person behaves. Rather, it empowers you to respond in ways that builds skills and confidence to be in control of a call, interview, or other interaction, navigate difficult conversations and set clear and appropriate boundaries. A further benefit is these skills can be effectively applied in personal relationships!