Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention is about understanding whanau and how we manage them, as well as how we manage ourselves. It’s a delicate balance because we can simultaneously know and not know what triggers people to become angry, frustrated, and aggressive. Good communication can avoid triggers altogether, and de-escalation skills can calm people down during tense moments. Conflict is part of human nature; certain disagreements can escalate into major incidents.

What we cannot forget is how our own lived experiences can affect our own response in these moments. As professionals and members of the community the main thing is to listen. Often people become aggressive because they haven’t felt safe or heard for long periods of time, or they’re working through some trauma from their past. Making people feel safe and heard can often lead to more positive outcomes for all parties involved and leads to calming down tense situations.

On the 7th of July Peter Thorburn ran a Nonviolent Crisis Intervention workshop, where we had a mix of about 20 professionals and community members learn how to communicate effectively and how to de-escalate tense situations. An interactive session, Peter used various scenarios and role plays for attendees to practice the new skills they’ve acquired before going out into the world.

Our Kaupapa is “Healthy Relationships in Tamaki”, there’s no room for violence cannot in healthy relationships. However, understanding that conflict is innately human but also knowing how to prevent violence with effective communication and de-escalation tactics means gathering more into our kete of knowledge to benefit our community.