From Dodgeballs to De-escalation: A CPI Trainer’s Journey

Kelly Modine
6 min readMay 2, 2024

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If you are looking for CPI Certification the two best programs are:

Crisis Consultant Group certification — $139

Crisis Prevention Institute certification — $1,849

Let me tell you, the transition from dodging flying dodgeballs to calming heated situations wasn’t exactly what I had planned. But for the past ten years, I’ve been a CPI trainer, and let me just say, it’s been more rewarding than you might think.

Back in the day, I spent my Saturdays reffing middle school dodgeball tournaments. Now, don’t underestimate the chaos of a gym full of hormonal teenagers wielding rubber balls! It definitely gave me a crash course in managing high emotions. But then, a friend who worked at a local mental health facility mentioned CPI trainer. Now, this was something completely different.

CPI stands for Crisis Prevention Intervention. Basically, it’s a set of skills that helps people deal with potentially dangerous or out-of-control situations. We’re talking about folks who might be verbally aggressive, agitated, or even physically violent. The goal? To de-escalate the situation and keep everyone safe.

Intrigued, I signed up for the training myself. And let me tell you, it was eye-opening. We learned how to recognize warning signs, how to communicate effectively in tense situations, and even some safe physical intervention techniques (as a last resort, of course).

But CPI training is about so much more than just techniques. It’s about understanding why people might be acting out in the first place. Maybe they’re scared, frustrated, or in pain. By acknowledging those feelings and approaching the situation with empathy, we can often prevent things from escalating.

So, I became a trainer myself. Now, I get to share these valuable skills with all sorts of people: teachers, nurses, security guards, social workers, even parents. It’s a real mix, and that’s what I love about it. Everyone can benefit from learning how to de-escalate a tense situation.

Here’s a typical day in my life: I might start off at a school, teaching a group of teachers how to handle disruptive students. We role-play scenarios, practice verbal de-escalation techniques, and talk about how to create a safe and calming classroom environment.

Later, I could be at a nursing home, training staff on how to manage residents who might be experiencing confusion or agitation due to dementia. Here, the focus is on patience, clear communication, and understanding the specific needs of the elderly population.

The best part of my job is seeing the “aha!” moments. When someone finally grasps a concept, or when they share a story about how they used their newfound CPI skills to defuse a potentially volatile situation, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, though. There can be challenging situations. People come into the training with different backgrounds and experiences. Some might be skeptical, some might be worried about intervening physically. That’s where my experience comes in. I try to connect with each person, address their concerns, and show them how CPI training can benefit them in their everyday lives.

Here’s the thing: CPI training isn’t just about restraining people. It’s about building relationships, de-escalating conflict, and ultimately, keeping everyone safe. It’s about empowering people with the skills and confidence to navigate challenging situations.

Think about it. How many times have you found yourself in a situation where someone was upset or angry? Maybe it was a disagreement with a co-worker, a frustrated teenager at home, or even a heated exchange with a stranger on the road.

CPI training can help you approach those situations differently. It can give you the tools to communicate calmly, set boundaries, and hopefully, prevent things from escalating.

So, if you’re interested in learning how to handle difficult situations with more confidence and keep yourself and others safe, then CPI training might be for you.

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Kelly Modine

I'm committed to keeping us safe at work, ensuring a secure environment where we can thrive and succeed without worries. Your safety is my priority.