Our Program

Positive Communication Skills: Our Foundation-

We understand the need for effective communication skills.  All of our behavior is reflected in the way we communicate to those around us. Because of this, our central focus in all our programs is to help our clients develop the skills of verbal and non-verbal communication. 

These communication skills are then practiced to create the 3Rs: Respect, Rapport and Relationships.  It is our goal to use the 3Rs with everyone we interact with, clients and staff alike. Effective communication skills are crucial in creating our de-escalation and crisis intervention tool box. These communication tools are used with every interaction had with clients. 

Communication is a necessity before, during and after a physical intervention occurs. Communicating with fellow staff members and the client, when a client acts out with violence, helps to keep everyone safe. We teach that our communication should be used at all times, even through a physical intervention from the staff members.  A physical intervention to control violence is used a last resort, and then only if it is an issue of safety towards the client or towards someone else. 

Positive Communication Systems (PCS) Physical Skills -  

Force is not the answer when needing to use a physical intervention. We understand the physical structure of the human body and how to use safe structural restraints which are very effective and safe when we need a gentle option. 

The PCS physical skills programs have been created and designed specifically for interacting with and connecting with the troubled youth of today. Building from our understanding of leverage and body mechanics, the Positive Communication Systems physical skills are used to stop actions (both preventing violence from happening and stopping violence from occurring) which would be dangerous to the client and others. This approach is safe and gentle, allowing staff to quickly control the client to re-establish the therapeutic environment necessary for their treatment.