CPI Training for Behavioral Health Care Facilities

CPI provides staff in behavioral health settings with verbal, restrictive, and nonrestrictive techniques to prevent and safely de-escalate mental health-related risk behaviors.

Rooted in a person-centered, trauma-informed philosophy, CPI's evidence-based training empowers behavioral health staff to dynamically assess risk and apply only what is reasonable and necessary — prioritizing dignity and de-escalation at every level of care. Through a train-the-trainer framework, certified instructors deliver consistent, role-appropriate training that builds a sustainable culture of safety throughout the entire facility.   

Let's Connect

The Reality of Behavioral Health Work

Behavioral health staff manage psychiatric crises, clients in acute distress, and moments that can turn physical without warning. Crisis Prevention Institute training is built for those moments.  

What brings you here today?

For Facility Leaders Training That Meets Compliance. Reduces Restraints.
For Clinical Staff De-Escalation Skills for Real-World Situations.

Behavioral Health Settings CPI Serves

Crisis Prevention Institute partners with behavioral health facilities across the full spectrum of care.  

  • Inpatient psychiatric hospitals
  • Residential treatment centers
  • Youth behavioral health facilities
  • Community mental health centers
  • Substance use disorder treatment programs
  • Crisis stabilization units
  • Dual diagnosis facilities

CPI Courses

Person-Centered Training Solutions

CPI provides de-escalation techniques for all levels of behavioral and mental health staff. Our courses teach evidence-based crisis prevention skills with a focus on the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security of every person involved. Each program is built on evidence-based crisis prevention principles, with the dignity and safety of both staff and clients at the center.

Verbal Intervention Training

Ideal for behavioral health roles that require a hands-off approach. Staff learn verbal de-escalation strategies that mitigate distressing behavior through an understanding of trauma and nonrestrictive interventions.

Explore Program

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training

Teaches mental health professionals the skills needed to safely de-escalate crisis situations through both restrictive or nonrestrictive interventions.

Explore Program

NCI With Advanced Physical Skills

Staff learn safe, advanced physical intervention techniques for situations involving individuals displaying hazardous complex behaviors. This program also teaches the less restrictive interventions presented in our VI and NCI courses.

Explore Program

Make an Impact with CPI

Core Principles of Behavioral Health De-escalation

Building a genuine culture of safety in a behavioral health setting takes more than policy. Crisis Prevention Institute training gives staff the skills and shared language to make safer responses second nature.

Understand challenging behavior
CPI’s person‑centered training ensures a consistently inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to the person displaying crisis behavior. Course participants explore the effects of trauma and the psychology of the person in crisis, fostering deeper empathy during interventions.
Manage your response
Challenging client behavior can prompt difficult emotions in staff members. CPI courses teach the importance of self-regulation before intervening. By learning to separate their emotional response from the situation, staff can safely de-escalate distressing behavior instead of engaging in a power struggle with the client.
Physically intervene if necessary
Staff members may encounter situations where verbal de-escalation techniques are not enough to calm a distressed client. In these severe cases, it’s important for a staff member to feel confident utilizing physically restrictive practices. CPI courses teach safe physical interventions that prioritize both the safety of staff and clients.

Read the Latest from CPI

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive emails with industry news, tips, and resources from CPI.

Subscribe

Our Training Approach

Our train-the-trainer framework increases fidelity and adoption and ensures the most relevant training is delivered based on roles and risk levels.

The Sustainable Impact of CPI Training

Since 1980, Crisis Prevention Institute has trained more than 17 million professionals across service-oriented industries, including behavioral health.

Our evidence-based crisis prevention programs have measurable impacts on the behavioral health organizations we serve.

 
73% of behavioral health facilities reduced restraint by 50-100% View Success Story
69% of behavioral health facilities cut workers’ comp claims by 20% or more View Success Story
55% of behavioral health facilities reduced challenging behavior by over 30% View Success Story

How Crisis Prevention Institute Training Reduces Restraint Use

What does restraint reduction mean in behavioral health?

Restraint reduction means building staff skills to resolve crises verbally and relationally before a physical response becomes necessary. Crisis Prevention Institute training prioritizes early intervention, reading the warning signs of escalating behavior, and responding in ways that reduce tension rather than intensify it.

How does de-escalation training reduce restraint use?

When staff share a common language for crisis response and have the skills to intervene early, situations that escalate to restraint occur less often.

Schedule a Consultation

Learn how CPI’s training programs can benefit your organization.