Criss Model and Verbal Escalation Continum

​CPI Crisis Model

​Crisis in an Integrated Experience

​CPI Crisis Model

​When someone is in crisis, how others respond will impact the behavior being displayed in either a positive or negative way.

​CPI Crisis Model

​Understanding the level of crisis behavior being demonstrated helps identify how to properly respond.

​CPI Crisis Model

​Understanding the level of crisis behavior being demonstrated helps identify how to properly respond.

​Crisis Development Model

1. Supportive

2. Directive

3. Safety Interventions

4. Theraputic Rapport​

​Staff Attitudes/Approaches

1. Anxiety

2. Defensive

3. Risk Behavior

4. Tension Reduction​

​Behavior Levels

​Stressed out

Worried

Shutdown

Crying

Withdrawn​

​​Anxiety

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​Be empathic

Acknowledge

Listen (no problem solving)​

​​Supportive

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​Stressed out

Worried

Shutdown

Crying

Withdrawn​

​​Defensive

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​Be empathic

Acknowledge

Listen (no problem solving)​

​​Supportive

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​Stressed out

Worried

Shutdown

Crying

Withdrawn​

​​Risk Behavior

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​Stay Calm

Quiet voice

Sideways stance

Open palms​

​​Safety Interventions

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​Calm

crying

sleeping

upset​

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​​Tension Reduction

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​re-establish relationship

Create a sense of calm

address any immediate concerns​

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​​Theraputic Rapport

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​People not only demonstrate physical behaviors, they also display verbal behaviors that occur in a predictable pattern. Understanding these will also help you to determine where your student is in the Crisis Development Model.

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There are 5 stages of the verval Escalation Continuum:

Refusal

Questioning

Tension Reduction

Intimidation

Release​

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​​The Verbal Escalation Continuum

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Example: "No! I am not doing that!"

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Response (Intervention): Set limits, provide redirection. Offer "If..then" statements.

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​Refusal: Person in crisis refuses to do the requested task.

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​Examples: "You cannot make me do it!" or "If you do not leave me alone, I am going to hurt someone!"

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Response or Intervention:​ Threats are to be taken seriously and reported immediately. Seek backup if the level of aggression warrants.

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​Intimidation: ​​Person in crisis attempts to seek and control the power.

​​Examples:

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Information-seeking: "What is the purpose of this assignment?"

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Challenging​: "Why do I have to do this anyway?"

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Response or intervention: ​Respond without reaction. Be clear and concise.

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​Questioning: ​Person in crisis could ask questions that are either information seeking ​ or challenging.

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​Example: Person in crisis is screaming, yelling, cursing, threatening themselves and or others.

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Reaction or intervention: Call for help, take a support stance in order to protect yourself. If the behavior posses a threat to others, get them to safety and wait (if able) for help to arrive.

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​Release: ​Person in crisis displays verbal and emotional outbursts

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​Person in crisis finally appears to be in a calmer state or is transitioning down, body language shifts, at times can be apologetic or upset. At times they can be tired and even want to sleep.

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Reaction or intervention: Re-establish rapport, offer theraputic support. ​

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​Tension Reduction

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​Images and Clipart were all collected free from Google image searches. None of the images used were labelled as propriety.

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The Crisis Prevention Institute. (2020. CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervenion Training. 2nd Edition​

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​References