Taking Action

Deescalation, Bystander Intervention, and Professional Obligation

Registration deadline 3/11/2025

Trainer:

Karinne Comenzo, MA, LICSW, LADC is the former Assistant Director of Clinical Services for the River Valley Therapeutic Residence. Prior to this role, Karinne worked for the Vermont Department of Corrections as Chief Clinical Specialist for five years. Karinne currently runs a private practice and supports UVMMC Primary Care providers who prescribe medications for Opiate Use Disorder. The majority of her human services career was providing mental health and substance abuse treatment services to marginalized populations in New York City. This included individuals experiencing homelessness, incarceration, sex trafficking, and domestic violences, among others. Karinne holds an MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an MSW from New York University. When Karinne is not focused on helping others in her work, you can find her engaged in hot exercise classes, dance class with her two young kiddos, or throwing a ball for her Australian Cattle Dog. 

Description:

This training is meant to provide behavioral health professionals with guidance on how to take action in best service of their clients and community. This will include general bystander intervention, more targeted de-escalation skills, and professional responsibilities within the workplace. This training will also allow behavioral health professionals to consider when and how to take action, to include professional obligations, along with potential ramifications or consequences.

Agenda:

Morning: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

• Welcome and Introductions
• Understanding training terms
• Overview of brain response to trauma
• Safety, Self-Efficacy, Self-Awareness

Break 10:30 – 10:45 am.

• Non-coercive approach to conflict management
• Understanding Conflict
• Assault Cycle

Lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Afternoon:  1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

• Assault Cycle (continued)
• Anger Management
• Understanding Bystander Intervention

Break 2:30 – 2:45pm.

• Programmatic Considerations
• Professional Obligations

Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Learning Objectives:

1. Define strategies to de-escalation potentially violent situations
2. Identify preliminary signs of conflict before they escalate
3. ​Identify behaviors that may agitate individuals
4. Define Bystander Intervention
5. Understand professional role and obligations in high stress situations