Conflict De-Escalation Techniques Flashcards

A client in a conflict begins to use contemptuous language (eye-rolling, mockery). The therapist's first priority should be to:

Answer: Name the behavior and its impact on the process without shaming the client

Naming contemptuous behavior without shaming interrupts it, while ignoring it signals implicit permission and allows further escalation.

The principle of 'minimal sufficient response' in de-escalation means:

Answer: Applying only as much intervention as needed to reduce the immediate tension

Minimal sufficient response means matching your intervention intensity to the level needed — over-intervention can itself escalate conflict.

A client reports that during arguments at home they begin to feel physically unsafe. The therapist's de-escalation plan must prioritize:

Answer: Safety planning before any conflict resolution techniques are introduced

Physical safety is always the prerequisite — no de-escalation skill is appropriate to teach when violence risk is present.

Which listening technique involves reflecting the emotional content of what someone has said rather than its factual content?

Answer: Empathic reflection

Empathic reflection mirrors the feeling behind the message, which is central to de-escalation because people need to feel emotionally understood.

In the LARA model of conflict de-escalation, the 'A' steps stand for:

Answer: Acknowledge, Add

LARA (Listen, Acknowledge, Respond, Add) has two 'A' steps: Acknowledge feelings and Add new information to move the dialogue forward.

A mediator notices that both parties have become entrenched in their positions. The most effective de-escalation move is to:

Answer: Shift the conversation from positions to underlying interests

Moving from positions to interests (Fisher & Ury) opens solution space and reduces the zero-sum dynamic that fuels entrenchment.

When using de-escalation in a group therapy context with interpersonal conflict, the therapist's role is best described as:

Answer: Neutral facilitator who maintains safety while guiding productive dialogue

In group settings, the therapist holds a neutral facilitation role, keeping all members safe and channeling conflict toward growth rather than harm.