De-escalation & Mindful Breathing

This course begins with understanding and then applying Emotional Intelligence analysis in the context of a subject stop. Next students learn how Mindful Breathing is an invaluable skill for a holistic approach to a positive and productive law enforcement career. Mindful breathing starts with breathwork for self-care and self-awareness. The number one killer of police officers for the last three years is suicide. In order to successfully de-escalate a situation, one must first start with themselves to ensure they are in the right mindset; present, focused and calm, before attempting to take on an external confrontation. Failure to do so is likely to make an already volatile situation even worse.

How conscious are you about your breath and its impact on you?  In this course learn seven different conscious breathing techniques to help you maintain or regain your optimal self.  How to breath when you’re driving whether your code three in a pursuit, calming down after a hot call or stuck at a red light.  How to breath when you are in a physical altercation to give you strength and mental clarity.  Tactical breathing to keep you in the “zone”, calm yet focused, implemented in a team movement, active shooter exercise. Breath work to keep you going during a long shift, as well as breathing techniques to calm you down when you get home so you can get a good night’s sleep. Learn the science behind the breath on how to tap into your Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous Systems.  Your breath is the gateway into self-control.

De-escalation starts with you.  If you are not in complete control of yourself how do you propose you are going to be able to control someone else?  The breath techniques are a great way to gain your own self composure.  Once that is established, you can take in the big picture and evaluate how to possibly bring a volatile situation to a peaceful conclusion.

What tools or skills do you have that can be used to help de-escalate a situation?   This is an opportunity to share some of your own expertise on what has worked for you as well as learn from others on what has worked for them.  Some of the topics that will be discussed are; mirroring, reflective listening, body language, and empathy.   Specific dialogue will be introduced and practiced, dealing with giving directives and stopping disruptive behavior.