Children and Youth Workshops

De-escalating Children and Youth in Crisis – Skills for Emotional Regulation

When children and youth experience an emotional crisis, their behaviours can escalate quickly and leave caregivers unsure how to respond. This training provides practical de-escalation skills to help young people regulate emotions, reduce conflict, and build safety in schools, homes, and community settings.

4.9 (12,500+ enrolled)
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Available for Private Delivery
Certificate Included
De-escalating Children and Youth in Crisis – Skills for Emotional Regulation

De-escalation Skills for Children and Youth in Crisis

If you are in a support role, it is crucial to know how to help children and youth return to calm during a crisis. When stressed, everyone’s nervous system is hardwired to react with protective patterns such as fight, flight, or freeze. Young people are especially vulnerable because their nervous systems are still developing, and they lack the self-regulation skills needed to calm down. An adult who can help them co-regulate can often de-escalate the situation.

In this workshop, you will learn a trauma-informed de-escalation framework, built on neurobiology and attachment. The role that emotions, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences play in escalating a crisis will also be explored, and you’ll gain fun and creative skills for engaging children, adolescents, and the adults who support them, including breathwork, movement, music, art, mindfulness, and play.

Learning Objectives

Describe the role of the nervous system in creating a state of crisis
Define regulation and dysregulation
Discern between healthy and toxic stress
Recognize the signs of the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses
Describe how stress responses contribute to escalation
Explain the role of attachment, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences in shaping behaviour
Discuss the biology and purpose of emotions and the benefits of positive emotions
Use tools and strategies to de-escalate children and youth in crisis
12,500+
Professionals Trained
4.7 Stars
Trustpilot Rating
500+
Organizations Served

Choose Your Format

Training options built for real-world needs.

Most Popular

On-Demand Workshop

Recorded workshop for flexible, self‑paced learning.

$149
/ per person
Start right away – no scheduling required
Learn at your own pace, in manageable sections
Follow along with a full downloadable manual
Earn a certificate and continuing education credits
Access anytime, on any device
Share access across your team for consistent learning
Start Learning

Live Virtual Workshop

Interactive sessions with experienced facilitators.

From $269
/ per person
Learn from an experienced facilitator
Ask questions and get real-time guidance
Connect and learn alongside peers
Engage in discussions and practical exercises
Earn 6 CECs per day of training
Receive a certificate upon completion
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Private Training

1 day

Personalized training solutions for your team.

Starting at
Contact for pricing
per session

Additional Options

On-Demand Webinar

Condensed training in a video format.
Manual

Standalone written learning resource.

What You'll Learn

Walk away with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful difference. The objectives below outline what you'll be equipped to do after completing this training.

Understand Escalation Stages

Learn the stages of emotional escalation in children and youth.

Recognize Early Warning Signs

Identify behaviours and triggers that signal a child is approaching crisis.

Prevent Escalation Early

Apply strategies to intervene before behaviour intensifies.

Use Verbal and Nonverbal Skills

Practice communication techniques that calm situations rather than escalate them.

Create Safety Plans

Learn how to build short- and long-term safety plans.

Support Emotional Regulation

Teach coping and regulation skills to help youth recover and grow.

Our Approach

Grounded in research, practical application, and real‑world experience.

Accessible

Clear, approachable learning without unnecessary jargon.

Applicable

Content designed for real‑world challenges and opportunities.

Engaging

Facilitators bring content to life through stories and examples.

Practical

Skills and tools designed for everyday use in your setting.

What People Are Saying

Insights from our participants.

"

It's not always easy to facilitate a six-hour session, but it flew by. Perfectly timed, packed with useful, relevant information, curated to address the unique needs of our group."

K. Decle

University of British Columbia, Office of Student Academic Services

"

This was one of the best trainings our organization has had. Staff were so engaged and came away energized and excited rather than tired and drained."

T. Etienne

Portal Youth Outreach Association

"

CTRI is a great source for learning. They were easy to work with and our facilitator presented in an engaging and interactive way that kept people interested and attentive."

J. Grimes

Optimism Place Women's Shelter and Support Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the training.

This training is for:

Mental health professionals
Social services and community‑based professionals
First responders and emergency services
Health care workers and support staff
School and post‑secondary personnel
Leaders, managers, and supervisors
Human resources and people operations teams
Employees in corporate or business settings
Anyone working in people‑centred or support roles

What does this training cover?

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This workshop teaches practical de-escalation strategies for responding to emotional crises in children and youth, including recognizing warning signs, early intervention, and helping young people regulate and recover.

Who is this training for?

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This training is designed for educators, child and youth workers, counsellors, social workers, foster caregivers, and anyone who works with young people in home, school, or community settings.

How is this different from the general de-escalation training?

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This workshop is specifically designed for working with children and youth. Content addresses developmental context, trauma-informed responses, and age-appropriate regulation strategies.

Does this training address the role of trauma in escalation?

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Yes. Trauma is a central lens throughout this workshop. Participants learn how trauma histories affect behaviour and how to respond in ways that promote safety rather than further distress.

Is this training available online or privately?

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Yes. CTRI offers this workshop in live, on-demand, and private formats. This is a popular training for schools and youth-serving organizations. Contact us to arrange a private session.

Does this training help with safety planning?

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Yes. Participants learn how to develop short- and long-term safety plans that can be used with individual young people and their support networks.

Build Skills to De-escalate Youth in Crisis

Learn evidence-based strategies to reduce conflict, increase safety, and support emotional regulation in children and youth. Explore training options or bring this workshop to your team.

Start Learning View Upcoming Dates

Available for Private Delivery

Certificate Included

Private Training

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Custom Training for Your Team

We can deliver any of our training for your group, on your schedule.

How it works

  • Step 1 — Contact us to discuss your needs and choose a topic.
  • Step 2 — Talk pricing, and we'll work out a detailed proposal.
  • Step 3 — Confirm the details such as the facilitator and training date.

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