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Psychosis & De-escalation

CE Hours 2

About this course

In this educational session, participants will examine the varied ways psychosis can present, with a focus on recognizing hallucinations and different types of delusions in real-world contexts. The session will also introduce practical, evidence-informed de-escalation strategies tailored to diverse situations. Topics include approaches for managing emotional dysregulation, navigating power struggles, and responding effectively to crisis scenarios, with an emphasis on promoting safety and therapeutic engagement.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the different types of hallucinations and evaluate their potential impact on functioning and safety.
  • Identify common types of delusions and recognize how they present in clients.
  • Explain evidence-based approaches for intervening with individuals experiencing psychosis-related escalation and other behavioral health conditions.
  • Assess the effectiveness of techniques used in de-escalation.
  • Identify situations that require de-escalation strategies, including emotional dysregulation, power struggles, and crisis scenarios.

Learning Levels

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Jeff Thorfinnson, LPCC, LADC, NCC

    Jeff is a mental health professional with EOSIS. Jeff had been with EOSIS, formerly Meridian Behavioral Health, for the past 8 years. Jeff is currently the manager of clinical administration at Northern Plains, a high-intensity MICD inpatient treatment facility. Previously, Jeff was the adult treatment director at the high acuity mental health hospital Red River Behavioral Health System. Jeff has worked with adults and adolescents with substance use disorders and high acute mental illnesses. Jeff has a passion and experience of working with psychosis disorders, PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and cluster B personality disorders.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
  • Caton, C. L., Hasin, D. S., Shrout, P. E., Drake, R. E., Dominguez, B., Samet, S., & Schanzer, B. (2006). Predictors of psychosis remission in psychotic disorders that co-occur with substance use. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 32(4), 618-625. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbl007
  • Connecticut Women's Consortium. (2023). Trauma-informed de-escalation strategies for behavioral health professionals. The Connecticut Women's Consortium. https://blog.womensconsortium.org/trauma-informed-de-escalation-strategies-for-behavioral-health-professionals
  • Cottrill, F. A., Bond, K. S., Blee, F. L., Kelly, C. M., Kitchener, B. A., Jorm, A. F., & Reavley, N. J. (2021). Offering mental health first aid to a person experiencing psychosis: A Delphi study to redevelop the guidelines published in 2008. BMC Psychology, 9(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00532-7
  • Crisis Prevention Institute. (2026). Top 10 de-escalation techniques to handle conflict with calm and respect. Crisis Prevention Institute. https://www.crisisprevention.com/en-GB/blog/general/cpi-top-10-de-escalation-tips/
  • Hasmi, L., Pries, L. K., Ten Have, M., de Graaf, R., van Dorsselaer, S., Bak, M., Kenis, G., Richards, A., Lin, B.D., O'Donovan, M.C., Luykx, J.J., Rutten, B.P.F., Guloksuz, S., & van Os, J. (2021). What makes the psychosis ‘clinical high risk’state risky: psychosis itself or the co-presence of a non-psychotic disorder?. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 30, e53. https://doi.org/10.1017/S204579602100041X
  • Jia, X., Wang, J., Jiang, W., Kong, Z., Deng, H., Lai, W., Ye, C., Guan, F., Li, P., Zhao, M., & Yang, M. (2022). Common gray matter loss in the frontal cortex in patients with methamphetamine-associated psychosis and schizophrenia. NeuroImage: Clinical, 36, 103259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103259
  • Kelleher, I. (2025). Annual Research Review: Psychosis in children and adolescents: Key updates from the past 2 decades on psychotic disorders, psychotic experiences, and psychosis risk. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 66(4), 460-476. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14088
  • Kendler, K. S., Abrahamsson, L., Sundquist, J., & Sundquist, K. (2024). The nature of the familial risk for psychosis in bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 50(1), 157-165. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad097
  • Mental Health Academy. (2024). Working with aggressive client behaviour. Mental Health Academy. https://www.mentalhealthacademy.com.au/blog/working-with-aggressive-client-behaviour
  • Ostinelli, E. G., D’Agostino, A., Shokraneh, F., Salanti, G., & Furukawa, T. A. (2019). Acute interventions for aggression and agitation in psychosis: Study protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 9(10), e032726. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032726
  • Shapero, B. G., Abramson, L. Y., & Alloy, L. B. (2016). Emotional reactivity and internalizing symptoms: Moderating role of emotion regulation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 40(3), 328-340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-015-9722-4
  • Spiteri-Staines, A. E., Yung, A. R., Lin, A., Hartmann, J. A., Amminger, P., McGorry, P. D., Thompson, A., Wood, S., & Nelson, B. (2024). Non-psychotic outcomes in young people at ultra-high risk of developing a psychotic disorder: A long-term follow-up study. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 50(6), 1279-1286. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbae005

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    2 parts
    • Shared Screen With Speaker View(CC)
    • Audio Only
  • Joint Accreditation

    Joint Accreditation (JA)

    In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

  • American Psychological Association (APA)

    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive up to 2 clinical continuing education credits.

  • New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #0060.

  • New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Creative Arts Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #CAT-0008

  • New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.

  • New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts (NYSEDLP)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychoanalysts as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #P-0031.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #PSY-0016.

  • New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

    CE Learning Systems, LLC  (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MFT-0045.

Psychosis & De-escalation
You Have Completed This course
$10
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    2
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    May 1st, 2026

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