The Mandt System focuses on using prevention and de-escalation to minimize workplace violence. Prevention is best achieved within workplaces environments that have developed trauma informed cultures, utilize positive behavior supports, and emphasize respectful conflict resolution strategies. De-escalation is best understood as a process of self-regulation and co-regulation.
Before we can help others to de-escalate, we must first de-escalate ourselves. This is self-regulation. Self regulation requires the use of both the emotional and logical parts of our brain. In the Mandt System, we do this by recognizing and affirming our own emotions, before using the more logical parts of our brain to choose a well thought out response. Once we regulate ourselves, it becomes possible to help others to regulate themselves. This is co-regulation.
The co-regulation process begins when an individual is stimulated. If the stimulus is strong enough, the person will become escalated. At this point, the individual’s escalation frequently becomes a stimulus to us. We must affirm our feelings, choose our behavior, and utilize self-regulation skills taught in the Mandt System. Once we have regulated ourselves, we can then help the person to co-regulate until the person can self-regulate.
John Windsor – Vice President of Training
