Agitation and Coregulation: Working with People During a Crisis

Course overview

This interactive training explores how professionals can effectively respond to agitation and escalation in workplace- and client-facing settings by focusing on coregulation and nervous system awareness. Participants learn how physiological states, unmet needs and organizational pressures contribute to crisis behaviors. Through reflection, discussion and roleplay, attendees explore de-escalation strategies grounded in compassion, clarity and connection. After completing this training, participants will be able to: 1. Define coregulation and its role in de-escalation. 2. Recognize how hunger, exhaustion and scarcity affect behavior. 3. Identify early indicators of agitation. 4. Apply nervous system awareness to improve responses during crisis. 5. Use nonverbal and verbal techniques to promote safety and connection. 6. Engage in reflective exercises to better understand their role in escalation or regulation.