De-escalation Training
in Boston

Whilst there are training providers who will try and over sell potential clients on the length of time that it takes to train people in effective de-escalation, our method can easily be taught and communicated in a 90-minute presentation/lecture (if more training than this is required then it is unlikely that the information and method taught will be remembered and recalled, especially under the stress and duress of a real-life encounter - effective de-escalation needs to be direct and straightforward), with an optional 60-minute scenario-based session where attendees get to understand and practice the importance of range, posture and body-language when engaged in the de-escalation process. This part of the training is not a self-defense class and instead simply teaches the physical component(s) of de-escalation in a live/rehearsed manner; there is no actual physical contact in this session, and it is simply intended to give those who have heard/learnt the process an opportunity to practice and understand it from a physical perspective.

Part of our training process is to ensure that attendees not only know how to effectively de-escalate highly emotional and volatile incidents but also why the process they will use works. Many de-escalation programs teach a process e.g., a list of steps to follow, without explaining why the process works, and how it’s being perceived by the individual who is being verbally aggressive. We have found over the years that we have been providing de-escalation training whether it is to law-enforcement, retail staff or healthcare workers etc., that by explaining in straightforward and easily understandable ways the psychology behind our process - along with the psychological and emotional state/perspective of an aggressor - not only do individuals have more confidence in it, but they also retain the information better, and are more able to follow the process, rather than by having to learn and recall the process/steps they have been taught.

This makes our approach to de-escalation somewhat unique as it is a conceptually based approach to de-escalation rather than a list of “do’s and don’ts”, and individual steps that need to be followed in a set order etc. All of which can quickly and easily be forgotten. We also teach a method of visualization that allows those who have attended our training sessions to practice our method/approach in their own time. The benefit to this is that there isn’t a need for “refresher” sessions, involving bringing trainers back-in, scheduling time and extra sessions etc., that all involve taking employees away from their actual work.

De-escalation training sessions in Boston, Massachusetts and New England our taught by SEPS Head/Lead instructor, Gershon Ben Keren. Gershon is a criminologist who has been working in the security industry since 1990 and has firsthand experience of applying the SEPS de-escalation method in real-life scenarios e.g., he has worked in pub, bar and club security, as well as being an LPO (Loss Prevention Officer) in the retail sector. You can read more about him by clicking here.

If you are interested in bringing this type of training to your company or organization please use the form below to contact us.