Thoughts from Mandt

Just because you can…

In our world of Behavior Management approaches there is an ongoing, some would say raging debate, concerning ‘use of force’

Thank You to the Worlds Calmers & Diffusers

Recently I have seen a meme floating around social media that shows two law enforcement officers smirking and the meme reads

Doing Things Differently…

We hope everyone had a chance to celebrate Independence Day 2020. Probably not in the same way you’ve celebrated in the past,

Difficult Conversations

2020 has been a strange year so far.  The Covid 19 pandemic and high profile events of excessive force and systemic racism

Video Meeting Exhaustion

Video meetings seem to be part of what’s being called the new normal. Next week will be the first in person workshop I’ve

Which Side Showing?

Every morning we wake up we have a decision to make.  Do we want to show the world a good side of ourselves or do we want

ALL People

If you follow The Mandt System at all, you know the underlying philosophy of the program is “All people have the right to be

Why Mandt is not a KIA…

When I say that Mandt is not a KIA, I am not referring to the South Korean Auto maker but to KIA the abbreviation of ‘Know It

Creative Graduations

Well, here we are. I had originally planned to write about graduations and parties and being with friends and family at the

There’s No Such Thing as “Sheeple”

Human beings are a social species.  We are not the strongest or fastest creatures in the animal kingdom.  What puts us

Unfollow, Don’t Unfriend (reprise)

I have seen several friends on Facebook expressing feelings of guilt for unfriending or unfollowing family members this

Are You OK?

So, many of us have been in quarantine for some time now.  Are you OK?  I have seen, read, and heard reports of some people

What can Covid-19 teach us about our relationships?

At the Mandt system we have taught for 45 years that ‘Building Healthy Relationships’ has to be at the foundation of

A Deeper Empathy

My guess is that you are spending a lot of time at home these days.  Unless deemed essential, you, like me, are doing

Self Isolation

Here we are. Quarantine 2020. I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been in self isolation. Actually, I’m not really sure

Living Through Life’s Questions…

“It is not the strongest species that survives, it is the most adaptable”.  I’ve been thinking about this quote a bit

In this thing together…

For all the bad news out there right now, I am inspired by the ways that I have seen people pull together to help their

Social Distance Must not Equal…

Social Distance does not mean Social or Emotional Isolation. Welcome to a strange and unusual time.  Hope everyone is

Care Virus 2020

With all the news and impact of the current Covid-19 infection it has been fascinating to observe how different countries and

Like-mindedness!!

Last week I once again attended a conference I have now not missed for over 8 years.  The Midwest Symposium for

Roll With the Punches

Have you ever had one of those really challenging training events? You know the ones...the ones where everything that could go

Had an off day?

Sooner or later, if you work in the training profession ,or any profession, really; you will inevitably experience an off

Romantic Relationships & Sexuality

Writing this blog on Valentine’s Day reminded me of several recent workshops while talking about the needs of people in their

Practising De-Escaltion

Hopefully everyone is getting what they want/need out of 2020!  The month of January proved to be an interesting travel month

Breaking up is hard to do…

So this past week Friday my home country (United Kingdom) officially left the EU and entered a 12 month period of negotiated

Goals

It’s been said that “The purpose of goals is to focus our attention. The mind will not reach toward achievement until it has

Glamorous Life

This weekend I was talking to a friend of mine and he made a comment akin to “you lead a much more glamorous life than I

Take a Second to Breathe…

Take a second to breathe…. Seriously. Just relax your jaw and your shoulders and take a deep, slow breath. Intentional

Bio-mechanical Assessment of The Mandt System Technical Skills

“A biomechanical assessment of the physical skills of the program was performed by participation in a 3 day workshop with

Listen, Understand & Support

Our planet has successfully made its way around the sun again and so we celebrate the coming of the new year. It is a time when

On Being Kind…

In October UCLA started the world’s first interdisciplinary research institute on kindness. UCLA researchers have agreed on an

Healthy Relationships in the Week Ahead

As we approach the holidays I have been hearing from friends, colleagues and my own family about the different plans that we, and

Praise Saves

I read a story recently about Willie, a little boy who was abducted in 2014 at the age of 9. Once he was taken from his driveway

The Person in the Mirror

“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a…” Change! But, change is hard. I’ve been

Know Your Limitations

Several times in the Mandt System it is mentioned that a course participant should “know their limitations and the limitations

From The Other’s Point of View

Have you ever thought about what it might be like to be a person in your program? Especially if they are in some type of service

Feedback Surveys

Students of Mandt System, Train the Trainer events have always filled out paper evaluations at the end of the course.

Letting Others Lead

In the Mandt system business we believe that part of building healthy relationships within our team, is the ability to switch up

Be A Better Supervisor

Being a supervisor is not just about watching over the people you are assigned to supervisor. It is much more about developing

Untethered

I have realized I need people. I need support. Untethered, I wander aimlessly and do not feel as supported. My anxiety rises

Aloha

One of the major perks of being part of the Mandt faculty team is the opportunity to interact with so many different

Every Interaction Matters

I was recently reading an article entitled, Positive Childhood Experiences May Buffer Against Health Effects Of Adverse Ones,

Role Modelling Mandt Principles

Some people think they only teach Mandt when they are in front of a group of students or employees. For some people, this means

Quietly Moving Mountains

This week in the Mandt System, we have begun the process of planning for a website overhaul and renewal as it has been over 5

Don’t Turn Your Back

I have been reflecting on the idea of turning your back to someone. As body language goes, I have never appreciated someone who

Your Mother’s Voice

Has anyone else ever opened their mouth and heard their mother coming out? Yeah, me too. When the heck did THAT happen? Yet,

Four Walls

Many of our instructors travel far from home to attend Mandt System instructor training. Health and travel can be tricky. As a

Don’t Just Renovate, Innovate

So now that my wife and I are moved into our new home, there are several things that we have realized we need to change. The

Living Mandt

Prior to my exposure to the Mandt philosophy I was a bit of a Type A, task master, time cruncher person who was more concerned

Applying Bandura to Social Media

Over recent months I have experienced a proliferation of social media (mostly Facebook, but some Twitter and Pinterest)

Relationships in Action

“I don’t have to like them to work with them”. Have you ever heard this statement? Maybe you have found yourself saying

Learning Styles

Many of our instructors have never been in a position of teaching other adults and the prospect can be quite daunting. We try to

Errors in Thinking & Conflict Management

In Chapter Three of the Mandt System, conflict management is discussed. To manage a conflict, one must first have an accurate

Non-Judgemental RADAR

During a recent course we were talking about RADAR and how it works. One student started providing what they thought were

I’m Tired…

If you saw my blog several weeks ago, then you know that at the time I was in the process of selling my house and purchasing a

Responses to Aggression – Reimagined

This past weekend my two youngest boys spent time hanging out and sleeping in their tree tent. Many people have commented on how

Challenged Beliefs

Working around and in the field of disability services for over 30 years now, there are certain beliefs to which I hold firm.

‘Influencer’

I’ve slowly (okay, maybe not so slowly since it’s been happening over the last fifteen years or so) been coming to grips with

Hero’s Journey

In his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), Joseph Campbell outlined the basic structure of hero myths. He called this

Buying & Selling

My wife and I are currently selling our first home and buying our second. I’m sure many of you reading this have gone through

People Watching

I have friends who post lots of pictures online. They use their hobbies as a way to inform their online friends as to what they

Reconnecting & Refreshing

As a virtual company the Mandt System has no corporate office as such and all of us work out of our own homes in different parts

What is Our Legacy?

It was recently Mother’s Day, and, on the weekend, I went to spend time with my mom. However, as we were heading out to eat,

Reflective Listening

Reflective listening is often a difficult skill to master. As with everything - practice makes perfect! The key points to

Companion Calls & Bids for Connection

The Northern Cardinal is a fascinating bird. If you live in the eastern half of the United States, and are lucky enough to have

That is Not Appropriate!

I recently saw a short video online that asks the question, “What if people with intellectual disabilities got to decide what

Mandt For Families

Creating Positive Healthy Relationships and Climates

Anyone who has been through a Mandt training at any level has heard us talk about always treating people with dignity and respect

Strategies for Conflict Resolution

This information is from Harvard Law School’s program on negotiation. It was included in a blog written by Katie Shonk, but

Keep Moving On!

This week my head space is around the idea of perseverance. I see so many people who are tired, beat down and in many ways have

Brexit Perspective…

I have been working in London this past and upcoming week, so have seen first-hand the drama and immersion of the UK during this

The Importance of Good Neighbours

It’s important to develop relationships with the people who live and work near you. It’s also important to take this

I Need Some Ice Cream

Imagine you’re having a horrible day at work. As a result, you haven’t been as patient as normal and have said some pretty

Mandt’s General Concepts

A concept, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances. In

Technology Glitches

In Mandt we stress the “affirm your feelings and choose your behavior” concept. I had a student once count and say that

Change Starts With Us

On January 17th the Department of Education released a press release announcing an initiative to address the inappropriate use of

Smell Triggers Memories

I’m sure each of us has had the experience of walking through a store, or walking down the street and we get a whiff of

Four Horseman of Conflict Resolution

Dr. John Gottman is a psychologist and researcher that is recognized primarily for his work with marital relationships. In his

Dark Parking Garages

Imagine you’re in a dark parking garage by yourself at 2 am. You hear a noise and your senses become heightened, your heart

Tackling the 1%

As a learning and development company that delivers training programs, we are often challenged, and rightly so, to explain the

A Commitment to Culture Change

One of the aspects of the Mandt System program approach that our users says they most appreciate is the review and update of our

Generosity

I have recently been studying the idea of generosity for a children’s sermon I am to give later in the month. I have really

Communicate – every day, every way!

First off, I want to give credit for the title to Hannah Price (in her blog

Goals, Habits, and Resolutions

It’s come that time of year when people will be making resolutions for the New Year. According to an article in Journal of

Longer Days & Shorter Nights

We have just passed December 21st, the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. From now the days will slowly begin to get

What’s in your cup?

You never know from where the idea for a story or blog will come. This blog originated as a FaceBook meme. You know those

Tidings of Comfort & Joy

This past weekend in my house (and I am sure many of yours) we enacted the tradition of choosing a tree, putting it up (not too

Synchronicity in OZ

Sometimes you have to leave where you are to find where you want to go and what is truly important to you. This was the case for

Communicate – every day, every way!

First off, I want to give credit for the title to Hannah Price (in her blog

Being Thankful

I find it ironic that the day after the day we’ve set aside to celebrate thankfulness is the biggest commercial retail day of

What Makes You Happy?

A few days ago, I received an email from a Mandt Instructor that included a picture of a person served with the question “What

Surviving Holiday Stress-fest

Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! We are now in the holiday season. Halloween is past, thanksgiving is

Cultural Norms

I am currently in Australia and have been talking with associates about cultural and social norms that we may need to consider in

Empty Relational Calories

The world is a very busy place. If you don’t believe me, pay attention to how people respond when you ask them how they are

Mentoring & The Smart Phone

Here at The Mandt System, we’ve been thinking a bit about mentoring programs. A few new initiatives have started to take flight

The Four Stages of Competence

The four stages of competence theory was developed by Noel Burch of Gordon Training International. It’s a useful way to

Unfollow, Don’t Unfriend

I have several friends on Facebook that I have recently unfollowed. Not because I don’t like them anymore or no longer desire

Build Yourself Up

Think about treating everyone with dignity and respect. Think about always interacting with someone in a way that builds them up.

Preparing for the Hurricane

I am writing this blog a couple of days ahead of the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Florence. At this point the Carolinas and

Journey Before Destination

I am a big fan of fantasy. I grew up reading Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and later read series by Robert Jordan, J. K. Rowling, R.R.

Mentoring

As I write this blog I am on the road again (shout out to Willie Nelson and to all of you that understand that shout-out), but I

Getting The Most Out of Practice

In order to learn a new skill, a a person must repeat that skill for many repetitions. However, not all repetitions are the

It All Starts With Attitude

Last year was a challenging year for my wife as it was her first year teaching in a new school system and at a different grade

Start With Self Reflection

Having written a training department newsletter for 18 years, I would include the important dates each month (Direct Support

Learning from our Experiences

Like any organization, we operate with systems and process that underpin our approach to what we believe to be good business

Values

There is a famous French story entitled The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery. In the story the best friend a young

Empathy

I recently read an interesting article regarding the “Limits of Empathy” by Adam Waytz. We discuss empathy and the need for

Mastering the Basics

No matter how skilled a person becomes, it all starts with the “basics”. To develop advanced skills in any subject, a

Epidemic of Loneliness

Many people in our society are lonely. I recently read the following in an article about the rates of loneliness in the US. There

Perception Checking

I can usually find a way to connect with people, but occasionally it is extremely difficult. Of course, the toughest people to

The Necessity of Barriers

The first IKEA in Wisconsin has recently opened to much excitement locally. That excitement extended into my house, and with a

Role Model

Often times I see the worst of me through the actions of my children. It has been that way for many years. The things that

Tips to Improve Relationships

We talk a great deal about building healthy relationships, but perhaps we should go a little deeper to find out exactly how we do

Practice Self Forgiveness

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better”. These wise words from Maya Angelou capture the

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

While traveling home from my most recent workshop, my plane had a mechanical issue resulting in a long delay. Frequent air travel

End of the School Year

It’s the end of the school year and for the first time in 20 years I’m experiencing it only as a parent, not as a public

Never Stop Looking & Learning

Over the past few years, as the Mandt System program has evolved and developed, we have often been asked about its application,

Purpose

Maybe it’s my impending 50th birthday or perhaps it’s the fact that my oldest child is graduating with his master’s degree

Two Speed Thinking

In Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), he presents a model that simplifies the cognitive processes of the

Teens & Relationships

I’ve just recently finished watching the Netflix original series “Thirteen Reasons Why.” I’m not here to promote the

Supporting Change in Organizations

One of the questions that is often asked by new instructors during workshops is how to get the people in their organizations to

Setting Up Safe Classroom Environments

Schools can be really tricky with respect to crisis behaviors because so many students are triggered by non-preferred demands or

Checking Under The Hood

In my family it is my role to take care of the basic health needs of our motor cars. I have a couple of modern cars which are

It’s about Relationships

There are two topics they say you should avoid if you don’t want to offend people: Religion and politics. Well, I am not brave

Practice Makes Perfect

I’m in the middle of two fifteen year olds who are learning to drive. If my mom were still alive, I’d surely be calling her

Care For Yourself First…

People in the helping professions care a lot. Caregivers can get so caught up in caring for others, that they sometimes forget

Correcting With Respect

One of my roles at The Mandt System, in addition to training instructors, is to occasionally provide IT support to instructors

The Mandt System and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Schools

According to CASEL, https://casel.org/, the first two core competencies of SEL are self awareness and self management. Self

Valentines Revisited

My wedding anniversary is Valentine's Day. This really leaves me no excuse to forget it and each year I have plenty romantic

Night to Shine!

On February 9th, 2018 I was privileged to be a part of something I had wanted to be a part of for some time. I was given the

Where has the day gone?

When my mom was still alive, she would sometimes call me in the mornings around 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. When she would realize that

Words of Wisdom

Recently, a friend posed an interesting question on social media. He’s a somewhat introverted fellow, and decided that writing

Who Is Your Favorite Teacher?

I saw this image on social media the other day, and as I read through the comments, it appears that identifying a favorite

Defining Dignity & Respect

We use the terms dignity and respect as foundational principles in the Mandt System. But what does it mean to treat someone with

Waiting To Say Sorry

Recent media has been heavily influenced by efforts at apology. We have been witness to various Hollywood sorry, News Journalist

Building Relationships Through Mistakes

Recently I had spent several days working on a project which caused me lots of stress. Later, because of a mistake made by my

Is It Significant?

One of my workshops recently got into an interesting discussion about what constitutes a “significant loss” as presented at

Bystander Effect

On March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese was stabbed and sexually assaulted in front of multiple witnesses (Manning, Levine & Collins,

Home For The Holidays

As the song goes, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.” For many, spending time and reconnecting with family and

We Did It!

I was asked to complete a blog for an issue of the monthly Stance and Balance. In the past I’ve shared things that related to

Lessons on Vulnerability

In the Mandt System we drawn content and insight from a range of research, academic and popular cultural references to support

When Do We Abandon Training for Personal Safety?

I was asked “When do we abandon what we are taught in training to makes sure someone is kept safe?” This instructor had a

Best Foot Forward

One of my favorite recent trends on social media has been people using GIFs or other images to tell the story of how their day is

Positive Mental Attitude

Modern life is exhilarating. Technology is amazing and everything seems to move at such a fast pace. I’m as much a fan of

Trauma Informed Teamwork

You've just been called to assist with a crisis situation. Once you get to the location of the incident, things have settled

It’s That Simple

While riding in the car of the other day with my two grandsons Matt and Jeremiah, I was reminded about how simple relationships

Autumn, Winter Tune Up…

Autumn / Winter Tune up…. I recently read an article on things to do before fall and winter arrive. It was full of eminently

Mentoring Benefits

Over the years, I have had the privilege to mentor others professionally and personally. I have also been mentored by others.

Teaching at Baseline

My Godson, Elijah, is totally adorable. I mean, TOTALLY ADORABLE. His grin warms my heart and his little voice is like music to

Them and Us…

Human beings seem to have an innate ability to divide the world into “us” and “them”. We’re hardwired to have

Who Do We Train?

I was recently listening to a podcast titled, “A Whole School Approach to Behavior Issues,” where a school principal was

Need for Control

My grandson Matt many know has Downs Syndrome. He’s 25 and many mornings I’m reminded how his behavior is typical. He will

Back To School

Today I am in the position of many parents, home alone for the first time since early June, my three children have all gone off

Moving from How to Wow!

I recently attended the Global Leadership Summit. It is always wonderful to attend conferences that have amazing speakers who

Being Superman… or woman!

I recently went to Six Flags Over Georgia with several family members and some friends and all their children. I think all told

One Small Act

It’s amazing how one small act of kindness can help a person reframe their situation. I was recently in an airport waiting in

Here’s To The Teachers

I recently saw a Peanuts comic strip where Peppermint Patty says to Charlie Brown, “I wonder what teachers make.” Charlie

RESPECT

One of the central tenets of the Mandt philosophy is the concept of ‘Respect’. As a Mandt Faculty member, I have tried, for

Parenting By iPad

So, here’s the dilemma…. In order to keep kids entertained/distracted/occupied during the summer months whilst I am working

Fragile X Awareness

Though I share stories about my son Tyler in blogs all the time, I haven’t highlighted Fragile X syndrome (FXS) since 2014. As

Alone In A Crowd

I’ve just recently finished watching the Netflix original series “Thirteen Reasons Why.” I’m not here to promote the

Using Your RADAR

June was National Safety Month (Click here to read our June ‘Learning Exchange’ if you missed it). Danger can take many

Writing People Off

A year or two ago I was teaching a workshop and one of the participants shared a story about an individual who had gone through

Make time to smell the roses!

‘Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments……..’ Rose Kennedy The last six months have seen lots of milestones

Reflection

Have you ever longed for the day that you can RETIRE? Spend your days sleeping in, doing what you want, living the easy life. My

Leading the horse to water…

My guess is we have all heard the statement “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink”. The last few

De-Escalation Preference…

Kids’ favorite time of the year has finally arrived - it’s SUMMER! A couple of students in my life have been counting down

Evaluations

I’ve been thinking about evaluations lately. In particular, I’ve been thinking about the utility that evaluations hold for

Miscommunication

A few weeks ago, one of the participants in a workshop had traveled there on his new motorcycle. Let me just say that it was a

Asking…. Not Telling!

A colleague recently sent me an email letting me know that they were not going to be able to complete one of their required job

Keeping the Peace…. between Teenagers!

As the parent of an eleven, fourteen and seventeen year old, it is not uncommon to find myself mediating over arguments,

The Value in Understanding the ABC Model

Tara had been working with a young man, TG, in a residential setting for quite some time. They had developed a positive

Easter Memories

Many years ago, I was able to drive my grandparents to North Dakota to visit family - my aunt and uncle and three cousins. It

Nature is a Powerful Teacher

I spend a lot of time in the great outdoors with my kids. Nature is a powerful teacher, and can provide wonderful opportunities

The Official or The Coach: Which Are You?

I came across this picture online recently and it caught my interest. It was taken during the 1967 Boston Marathon. Katherine

Dream Big

Christopher Reeve’s aka “Superman” once said” So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable,

Mandt Student Academy

The Mandt Student Academy is a Return On Investment(ROI) opportunity for organizations with Mandt System® instructors. Become a

A Shout Out to Harris County Juvenile Probation!

I had the opportunity to train the 2017 material at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department recently and wanted to share

Electronic Intrusion In Our Lives

A colleague and I were chatting this week about the different strategies we have developed to create acceptable family practice

The Importance of Friends

So, my friends from “back home” recently tried to surprise me for my birthday (it was a milestone birthday - this isn’t

Co-operation vs Compliance

Most people are familiar with the comedian and actor Jim Carrey. He has done several interviews over the years talking about

The Ultimate Relationship

My grandson married the girl of his dreams on January 7, 2017. He’s the first of our grandchildren to stand at the front of a

What’s Real?

With the current furor over fake news, reports of electoral interference and leaking of real or false intelligence it can be hard

Valentines…. every day

According to history.com, Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated each year on February 14 by the exchange of cards, flowers,

The Impact of Scents

In Building Healthy Communication, The Mandt System teaches how we use our senses to understand and react to the world around us.

Building People Up

My brother in law has Cystic Fibrosis. As the result of deteriorating lung capacity, he received a lung transplant about 2 weeks

Family

Family has always been important to me. Recently, we added a new granddaughter to the family. Blake Paterson married Sarah

Posting Abuse on Facebook

The recent live ‘Facebook’ streaming of four individuals physically and emotionally abusing a young man with ADD and a Mental

Safety….not risk management

This story was offered by Lela Kennedy, STEP, Inc., Montana as the class discussed Chapter 6, Legal and Liability Issues and

A Sweet Surprise!

IF YOU READ TO THE END, THERE’S A SWEET SURPRISE! I’ve been told that a good blog post is just a couple of paragraphs in

Thank you for the work you do

I was having dinner last week with a workshop participant and his wife. As we were talking about some of the experiences we’ve

Joyous Holiday Season?

The holiday season is here!! Our family enjoys lots of time together celebrating the joys of the season. We are truly thankful

Getting Ready for the Holidays

At this time of year it seems that everyone is publishing their guide to the holidays. I have already seen blogs on items such

Are We Friends?

In Chapter One, Building Healthy Relationships, there is a specific slide about appropriate boundaries. Typically, this

Happy Thanksgiving

Like many of you, I woke on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 with a sense of somber responsibility. Each task that I completed was

Being A Safe Person

One of the things that I have appreciated most about The Mandt System since I became an instructor seventeen years ago and

Life Animated

One of the perks of flying a lot is that on some planes I get to watch movies, and I look for unusual movies I’ve not seen

Best Laid Plans

We have all heard about the best-laid plans, and the fact they never work out as expected. Therefore, we should just plan that

United Flight 283 LAX to ORD

Last week I was at the departure gate for my home bound flight when the dreaded announcement was made by the gate agent "Flight

A FRIEND IN NEED: Practical Application of Maslow

This blog comes from the “teach back” performed by M.L. during a Nebraska event. It was an excellent narrative which helped

Turning into your parents…

Has anyone else ever opened their mouth and heard their mother coming out? Yeah, me too. When the heck did THAT happen? I

The Remarkable Resilience of Children

An article recently appeared in my new feed about a refugee center in Germany where children uprooted by war in Syria, Iraq, and

Today is a gift…

Last weekend, a 17-year-old young man lost his life in a car accident. I didn’t know him or his family, but from the

To err is human….

In 1711 the English poet Alexander Pope published his first major work which included the line #525 “….to err is human; to

The Value of Documentation

This blog is offered by a certified instructor in an attempt to share information on the value of documentation. In The Mandt

Positive Stress Triggers?

My niece (actually two of them) recently graduated from high school. Those of you who have been through a high school graduation

Washing Machines & School Attendance

I have seen quite a few articles and videos over the last year or so talking about the connection between school attendance and

Setting Boundaries

Robert Frost wrote in one of his poems that “good fences make good neighbors.” There is no fence between my house and my

One Event, Many Perspective’s

In the Olympic news this past week there has been a focus on the US team swimmers and their alleged experience of robbery in Rio.

Mistakes are often simply mistakes…

Mistakes are often simply mistakes and forgiveness is key. In teaching Building Healthy Relationships, The Mandt System teaches,

In This House…

I’m from a large family. Like, unusually large. My seventieth (70th) cousin is due to be born in August. I’ve not come

Trauma from Social Media?

While social media provides us with the ability to stay connected and aware of the events happening in the lives of friends and

Protecting Our Children…

Protecting Our Children From All Harm and Other Impossible Parenting Tasks Last week, as a family from Nebraska enjoyed the

Saying Sorry

So this was a week of apologies on the political landscape. Ruth Bader Ginsberg (US Supreme Court Justice) and Boris Johnson

This Mandt stuff works?!

This blog is offered by Rachael Martin, one of the awesome instructors I met recently. It clearly indicates the value of

Belated Fathers Day

Happy Belated Fathers Day. I know many may not know ,there may be many who would prefer not to know this. We know according to

Why Lunch Ladies Are Heroes

I was watching a short TED Talk this week entitled, “Why Lunch Ladies Are Heroes.” In this talk, the speaker describes the

Compassion First

I’m actually writing this blog on the heels of three really tragic events in the Orlando, FL area. First was the shooting

When I am Me

Following a medical diagnosis last summer I was treated and then placed on a variety of painkillers to manage my symptoms during

It’s the Little Things…..

The Mandt System utilizes Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to help caregivers understand the impact unmet needs can have on how

Tupperware Party

This month I’ve been facing a new challenge in my life. It’s a challenge I’ve actually faced previously, but has proven to

Making Peace

You Make Peace with Your Enemies, Not Your Friends If you’re a Game of Thrones fan and watched last Sunday’s episode, the

Finding Something to Give

My daughter just returned from her 5th trip to Guatemala where she served as cook for a team of high school students who were

A Single Choice?

Well what an interesting week in the political arena of the Republican nomination in the US. One candidate left out of a field

You Get What You Give

The Mandt System® teaches that consistently treating individuals receiving services and other caregivers with respect and

The Image We Project

After the recent New York primary election results it has been interesting to read, and listen to the pundits and journalists

‘Work Family’ versus Acquaintances’s

Sometimes we refer to our work colleagues as our ‘work family’ and certainly for us in the Mandt System, as a small company

Empathy is Concern for Others

The last couple days I have been spending time over in England with a friend and co-worker. I really enjoy these times as we sit

How My Time Flies

It was 2 years ago this month that I left the company where I had been working for 21 years and joined The Mandt System faculty.

Looking For Independence

All parents want their children to grow up to be happy independent adults, that contribute to society in a meaningful way. That

Running Toward the Fire

In the Mandt System we, as employees try as far as possible to act and behave in ways that mirror and are consistent with what we

Faith Builds Strength

Sometimes as service providers or caregivers we become so focused on the behaviors that are demonstrated by someone in our care

Teamwork

Several weeks ago I was in Portage LaPrairie, Manitoba, facilitating an Mandt workshop. When I landed in Winnipeg, I knew it

What is your Quest?

What is your “Quest” in your Question? I believe questioning is an important skill to teach people for their own growth and

Building Team Relationships

Many years ago when I was a manager, I remember a team building activity that my administrator organized for the managers on our

What’s Happened to Responsibility?

Recently, President Obama grew emotional when making a passionate plea for gun control; many people believe it was fake. I really

Building Up, Not Tearing Down

So much of the recent news, Presidential nomination campaigns, Flint water contamination, Oscars award controvosies etc.. has

Connecting For Growth

The Mandt System, Inc. is grateful for this submission from Linda Logan, a certified Mandt instructor. The message reinforces the

Trauma & The Need for Healing

I’m a college football fan. Not really any other sports, but I love college football. This blog is going to be a tough read for

Are You Safe?

I was in Brownsburg, Indiana this week teaching a one-day workshop on supporting people with complex behaviors at ALPHA, a

Managing Safety vs Managing Risk

When my son was born, I used to joke that my wife would make him wear protective gear someday to go to the refrigerator. She is

The Difference Between Surviving & Thriving

As I write this it is the last day of 2015. Christmas has come and gone and the world is preparing for a celebration of the New

It’s A wonderful Life

As I sit at my mother’s house on Christmas morning watching one of my favorite movies, It’s A Wonderful Life, George has just

Whats Important?

I recently read an article from Richard Branson CEO of Virgin about his secrets to hiring great people. His focus was on the fact

What Defines Us?

This past week the press and media have been making much of the comments made by individuals seeking the Republican presidential

Healthy Relationships – A Tool For Healing

In our train the trainer workshops, Chapter 4 focuses on trauma and a good deal of the chapter discusses a study that was

The Shock of the Fall

I love to read, and have the good fortune to have a job where I get paid to sit in airports, airplanes and restaurants where

Trauma Informed Staff

I was reading an article this afternoon about the increased level of violence in the city of Chicago and how it is affecting many

Lightsabers, Winnie the Pooh, and All Things Awesome

Recently, while doing a training, the subject came up around age appropriateness. The organization I was doing Autism training

Change

With the anniversary of 9/11 a few week ago, I had a conversation with my 16 year old granddaughter about how airline travel has

Learning to Let Go

Those of you that have been in workshops that I facilitate are likely aware of my unique family. I was honored to be a surrogate

A Shout out to Mandt Instructors

Often in our classes, instructors comment that it must be great to be a TMS faculty member. It certainly is, but not necessarily

Balance In Relationships

A Personal Perspective I planned, during July this year to repaint a large Bay Shaped window on my home in prep for the winter.

Workplace Violence – Still Increasing in Healthcare

In 2011 the Bureau of Labor Statistics published data on the incidence of injury and death in American workplaces. The data

Honesty

This week while driving to a training event I was listening to the radio personalities discuss a study recently published on

People First

Some of you may have seen the monologue given by Miss Colorado in the talent portion of the recent Miss America Pageant. For

Distracted Driving

In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers (which includes texting and using a

The Perspective of Others

Many of us with school age kids will or have been going through the ritual of the ‘return to school’. My three went back

Importance of Relationship Building

As a Social Worker new to the State Hospital, my goal was to get to know the individuals I serve so I can best support and help

Keeping Relationships Real

For many years The Mandt System has referenced a study done by Albert Bandura which states that 17 out of every 20 interactions

Listen, Engage, Protect

Last year I came across a book called Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorious. This is an autobiography, and tells the story of a boy

Nothing Beats Live!

We live in a day and age where you really don’t need to leave the comforts of home and venture out into the big scary world.

There IS a reason

I was recently reading an article about how the city of San Antonio, TX has been working to reduce the truancy rates in it’s

Building Consistency

Consistency is extremely important for individuals with special needs. I know for my grandsons changes in routine can really

POSITIVELY SPEAKING!!!

17 out of 20 interactions are negative according to the study by Albert Bandura in the 1960’s. I first learned about this

The Heart of the Matter

This week I was diagnosed as having a Heart Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) following a trip to ER last weekend whilst in

Happy Birthday, America

I’m sure each of us is looking forward to the mid-point of the summer this weekend. Whether you plan to celebrate with a

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is a term that many people have difficulty defining. In most cases, it is easier to know what mental health is

Worthy of my Friends

Today as I write this blog I turn 47 years old. I think, like every year, my birthday is a time of reflection. Another year has

Love At Work

Some of you may have heard in the news last week about the Nobel Prize winning scientist who got himself in some trouble. It

The Dress Phenomenon

A few months ago, a picture of a dress sparked a huge debate from sea to shining sea! Some people saw a blue dress with black

Judging By Appearance

The impact of uniform clothing has a well documented psychological affect on the behavior, actions and attitudes of those seeing

Words Can Hurt You

When participants come to a training event for their first time, they often approach the class with a certain amount of

That Darn 7%

A few years back I fell ill while on the road and ended up spending about a week in the hospital. As chance would have it,

It’s Just a Dash

Recently my Father-in-Law passed away. As I was walking in the cemetery I was suddenly struck that all of a person’s life is

Leadership In Change

It always amazes me how some companies can continuously be on top while making very few changes in appearance to their products

What Are You Made Of?

My daughter recently added a tag line to her email that caught my eye, “The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens

Why Do Our Staff Keep Leaving?

I recently read an article entitled “Revolving Door Of Teachers Costs Schools Billions Every Year” which discussed many of

Recognizing Workplace Incivility & Bullying

This past week I have been spending time with colleagues and friends and we got around to talking about our respective work

Changing the Future, Not Punishing the Past

When my oldest son was attending Junior High School, he had a bit of a struggle. Very early in Junior High he was labeled as

Landmines

Back in February I attended church with my cousins in Peachtree City, Georgia (Southside Church) and their guest speakers were a

Happy Birthday, PBIS

Positive Behavior Support is celebrating its’ 25th anniversary this year as a concept. Writing with Rob Horner were Glen

Advocacy Starts With Us

It’s that time of the year again! Nope, not March Madness, state basketball tournaments or the NFL draft predictions. Its

Which Would You Choose?

Imagine for a second that you walk into a meeting or classroom and as you enter the room you are asked to choose between two

Spending Time

A new year has begun. 2015 – has it really been 15 years since the whole world collectively sang Prince’s 1999, and secretly

Down For Routine Maintenance

This last Friday we had a banner on our Mandt System website notifying users that we had an upcoming maintenance scheduled for

Data Sharing – A Win-Win

Each service sector is required by regulatory or accrediting entities to collect data. However there is no way to share

Mandt Value in a Personal Context

Back in December I had a really beautiful email exchange with an Instructor I had the privilege of working with in November of

The Power of the Story

Ted talks are amazing. If you’ve not heard of them, go to https://ted.com/talks. One of these talks is by Chimimanda Ngozi

Grieving

This week was a hard week for me. Last year my father passed away after suffering for a period of time with lung cancer. It was

Importance of Parks & Recreation

Last month I was able to spend a week in my home town, Virginia Beach, VA, teaching a workshop to a group of folks most of whom

“Data Tells, But Stories Sell”

“Data tells, but stories sell.” That old adage is repeated over and over, and when you research this online, there are

New Year – New What?

At this time of year it is hard to avoid resolutions, predictions and reviews. It seems every news outlet and current affairs

Teaching Mandt – A Certified Instructors Perspective

(Location and names have been withheld, due to privacy of those involved) I teach both the Relational and Technical skills of

Controlling Christmas

We’re all guilty of throwing our weight around from time to time and attempting to control things. Holidays are probably a

I Care, We Care

In my last blog, I wrote about the 4th International Conference on Violence in Healthcare, and shared the ICARE model developed

When Working Alone

Unfortunately, not everyone has the benefit of working with other team members present at all times. In some cases, though a

The Power of Positive Feedback

In my Oct. 12 blog, I referred to a TED talk by Rita Pierson entitled “Every Kid Needs A Champion” where she tells the story

Dignity & Respect

Washington Post writer, Michelle Singletary, recently posed the question “If you pay good money for an airline ticket, should

By Invitation

This past week myself and a colleague were presenting to a State Department on who the Mandt System are, how we want to connect

Raking Leaves

The last two weekends have been busy in my house with the necessary chores of getting ready for winter. In our village we have a

Making Lemonade…

We’ve all heard the saying that when life hands you lemons you should make lemonade, right? Well, I was handed several lemons

Violence in Healthcare

This past week I was in Miami, at the 4th International Conference on Violence in the Health Care Sector. The conference is

I hear you…

We all want to be heard. Our students want to be heard too. Validation is a simple tool we can use liberally to let our

Building People Up

In a TED talk given by Rita Pierson entitled “Every Kid Needs A Champion”, she tells the story of a child in one of her

Tips To Manage Stress

People who work in the human services field are no strangers to stress. In fact, human service workers such as nurses, direct

Finding Our Seat On The Bus

Many of you will be familiar with the Bus seat analogy used by Jim Collins in his book ‘Good to Great’. It is a handy tool

Least Amount of Interaction

Least Amount of Interaction - What Does that Mean? The RCT curriculum of The Mandt System, teaches the crisis cycle and provides

Cheat Sheet For Improved Workplace Relationships

If you realize that communication is the ultimate vessel to creating optimal workplace relationships you understand how vital

Communicating Credibility

As I was doing research to update our management training program, Supporting Successful Leadership, there were a few things that

Pruning & Relationships?

It is approaching that time of year when folks that are gardening oriented begin to think about pruning or cutting back their

Why Early Trauma Matters

Premature death. Alcoholism. Heart disease. Depression. These are just some of the reasons childhood trauma matters. Students

Supporting Staff

In a recent Mandt Workshop, we were having a discussion about secondary trauma and the need to support folks who are experiencing

Our Family’s Inspiration

This month, I wanted to share a message from my daughter about my grandsons. A little insight into our family’s inspiration.

Hope, Healing, and Rock ‘n Roll

This week I was in Austin with a few of my colleagues, re-shooting videos for our PowerPoint® presentations and the new blended

PBIS – A Practical Example

Jill is a 16 year old female who has been in special education since she was 3 years old. Her behavior was at times challenging

Conflict, the Healthy Choice?

I recently read an article about teams and some common misperceptions about teams. The article

New Relationships

Having just recently joined the Mandt family as a faculty member, I have been reflecting on the new relationships I am developing

Feeding The Good Wolf

In June I had the opportunity to present at the Inaugural Symposium on the Neurosequential Model of Treatment (NMT), developed by

Why should We Blog?

Well, that time in the blogging rotation has fallen upon me once again. As I sat and thought about what topic I should cover

Teachers – Heroes & Champions

This week I had the opportunity to spend some time with counselors from the Regina Public School system in Regina, SK, Canada –

The Value of Relationships

MS’s Story Frequently in class instructors share stories that exemplify the concepts taught in The Mandt System. During an

Reaching For The Stars…..

…Unless You Don’t Own a Ladder Recently, my oldest daughter, her daughter, son, and husband served together on a mission

Running a Successful Staff Retreat

Staff “getaways”, “get together”, or “retreats” are necessary events in the course of any successful organization.

Creating Healthy Relationships – CJ’s Story

One of the struggles articulated by individuals who are becoming Mandt instructors is how to move from the conceptual information

Violence in the ER

Violence in our emergency departments is an ever growing problem and healthcare workers are at increased risk as the violence

Evening News Live – Are You Worried?

When my daughter started working in the human services field, I told her to imagine that every interaction was being videotaped.

Better Ways To Say Sorry

I recently read (with a lot of interest) an article that was making its way around Facebook regarding teaching children how to

The Crisis Cycle – Concept to Practice

It’s one thing to talk about concepts like RADAR, de-escalation and the crisis cycle. It is more challenging to put the

Reducing Classroom Stresses for Children with Bipolar Disorder

Educators can significantly reduce classroom stresses for children with bipolar disorder, thereby allowing them to succeed in

Our #1 FAQ

One of the most commonly asked questions we receive is, how do we differ from other programs? This is always a difficult

Teamwork

Team work is vital when involved in a crisis situation, but the formation of the team and its leadership qualities must be in

How to Choose a Mentor

In my last blog I wrote about the benefits of having a mentor in ones life. Mentorship provides efficiency in an individual’s

Instruction Time

One of the questions asked most often is, “How much time should I schedule”? We appreciate the diligence manifested by

Why Work In Human Services?

Why do we work in Human Services? A Philosopher by the name of Albert Schweitzer once said. "I don't know what your destiny will

Relational Lifeboats

I really struggled with landing on a topic for the blog this week. I tossed a couple of ideas around in my head. One of them

Healthy Inviting Learning Environment

Before 1975, public schools had few obligations to children with disabilities. Most children with disabilities, especially those

Mentoring Relationships

Here is a simple fact: Most people will not make true change outside of a relationship. Stop and think about that for a minute.

Listening For The Real Message

When you communicate (verbally) with a specific person, are you hearing the real message being conveyed? If your focus is on

What & Where Without Your Employees?

In today's economy, we all inevitably know friends and family who have been unemployed for long durations over the last five

The Helpful Art of Presence

In Chapter 1 we talk about different ways to help situations de-escalate, and one of the strategies that we mention is the

A Matter of Perspective

According to Webster’s dictionary perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something. After working in

Relationships & Virtual Communities

As a person who teaches building healthy relationships, I am always leery of "virtual relationships" and social communities were

When Tragedy Strikes Your Class

It is a rare event when all the participants registered attend according to the schedule, particularly when the class meets over

Sacred Lakota Children

In the Lakota culture, we consider our children to be very sacred. They are a gift from the creator who hold the future of our

Talking or Texting?

An article appeared recently on several social media sites and ultimately ended up on the big three television networks as well.

Twas the night before Christmas…

I’m attempting to write this on Christmas Eve morning in a house filled with people, animals, cooking, laughter, and a general

A New Leadership Approach

In recent years a number of things have converged to make doing "business as usual" not practical. Many companies like Mandt

Which Way Do We Go ?

As caregivers we sometimes encounter situations where the person in our care becomes “upset” or “agitated”, perhaps

Perception, another view

Perception is one of the foundations of our society. It's what causes the stock market to reach fantastic heights or, as we have

Checking Our Perceptions

This week I was in Chicago for an RCT workshop and the extreme traffic I encountered was a daily reminder in perception checking.

Tis the Season

Thanksgiving is about family, friends and gratefulness. Those who work in the human services field often must spend their

Teaching Through Cultural Differences

My two most recent workshops took place in Hawaii and Alaska back to back. I know, I know, a tough gig and you feel bad for me.

Equality of Worth, Difference of Role

There are many things I like about Australia, but what I like the most are the people. I guess I could say that about every

Another View of Non Verbal Behavior

In communication without words, the face is used a great deal. Hand signals, shrugs, head movements, etc. are all used. It is

Being Calm Before We Can Calm

This week I viewed a video clip regarding a woman who was described as “having a meltdown.” Of course, those words were used

Controversial Adult Learning Classrooms

Online courses, virtually unheard-of a few years ago, are now part of the higher education mainstream. This year, the number of

Promoting Self-Maintenance

Many people take better care of their cars then they do of themselves. Every 3,000 miles they take their car to get the oil

Balancing Rights – Service Receivers and Providers

Individuals who are receiving services and service providers have rights that are established by laws and regulations.

Importance of Physical Presence?

We as caregivers should always keep foremost in our minds what type of impact we may have on the people we serve when we become

Sensory Defensiveness

Many of us are sensitive to certain sights, sounds, or smells. Sensory defensiveness is a term used to describe more extreme

Self Management When Under Pressure

Tips & Techniques We spend the most amount of time in The Mandt System looking at ourselves and the impact our behavior has on

Thinking the Impossible is Possible

In 1950, a group of parents chose to unite and view their children differently. They had been told from the day their son or

Learning Retention

A few weeks ago, I was in Iowa visiting family and friends, as Iowa is my home state. Whenever I am “on vacation” somewhere,

Connecting with Youth – Strategies for Relationship Building

When we as adults/professionals are attempting to connect with a youth and build a healthy relationship, we must be very careful,

Tips for Intervening Alone

There are many things that may cause a person to become upset and begin using their behavior in dangerous ways. In our training,

Being The Trigger

Throughout our training, we often make reference to “affirm your emotions and choose your behavior.” The bigger picture here

Fragile X Awareness Month

Some blogs are easier than others to write. This week trying to figure out a topic was a piece of cake: Fragile X Awareness

Using A Hierarchy of Interventions

THE IMPACT OF OUR CHOICES: When we are supporting individuals who sometimes exhibit challenging behavior, caregivers must

Practice Makes Perfect

According to Mirriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word practice means “to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become

‘Don’t Take it Personally’

'Don't take it personally' - Easier said than done......Let’s think a little bit about how easy it is to take something that

Defining Last Resort

There are instances when caregivers, family members or paid professionals, are in situations where someone they are responsible

A Non-verbal Crisis Cycle

The very basic form of communication is the giving and receiving of a message. Some messages are received loud and clear, others

Motivating Staff – Cash, Care or Both?

The ideas and theories behind what motivates and attracts employees appear to be as diverse as the employees themselves. Looking

Restraint – Always a Last Resort!

We must remind ourselves everyday that the ethical dilemma resulting from physical restraint is the clinician’s value or

Teamwork: Relationships in Action

In January of this year, Aaryce Hayes wrote a blog on Building Positive Relationships in which she emphasized the elements of

UBUNTU Updated

One of my favorite points in Chapter 1 is the reference we make to Ubuntu “the essence of being human” (Archbishop Desmond

The Role of The Skills Coach

Organizations utilizing the Mandt System within their workplace often ask us to share the factors that we believe most

Refining Our R.A.D.A.R for Reliability

According to the dictionary reliability is the ability of a person or system to perform and maintain its functions in routine

The 7 L’s of Leadership

Max De Pree says, “Leadership is a condition of indebtedness." I firmly believe that to be true. Over the years I have become

Providing a Healing Environment

The environment in which a person receives services is as important as the services being provided. We must be sensitive to

Performance Management & Strategic Goals

In any organization, the struggle is to find the balance in how all the systems work together. If the goals are set and a

Caring Through Catastrophe

Simple Reminders In light of the recent happenings in Boston where once again our country has been exposed to a terrible act of

Thoughts On Professional Advocates

I am not saying they do not exist. I am not saying they are not out there. What I am saying is I would like to see more. What

Dignity and Respect = Actions, Attitudes, and Acceptance

An increase in random shootings in schools, theaters, and society in general has raised the question of why. Many people are

Exciting New Research for Autism and Fragile X

Four years ago my son Tyler was diagnosed with fragile X and last year he qualified for an autism label while being tested in

Debriefing – An Aid To Healthy Relationships

When an incident occurs that involves the use of a restraint technique, regulations often require that staff meet with designated

The Perils of Email

Over the last few years person to person verbal communication has been often substituted for other modalities such as texting and

Workplace Violence, Bullying and Threats

Employers’ responsibility to prevent, manage and mitigate the consequences of workplace violence is a major issue for all

From Policy to Practice: Five Things To Keep in Mind

The task of developing a policy for an organization can be time-consuming and require focus. However, the ultimate objective is

Identifying a Culture of Bullying

Having an understanding of bullying is vital in the work place. Though bullying has become more talked about in recent years in

Integrating Policy & Training

The most valuable asset in an organization is a set of shared values and expectations (Kouzes, & Posner, 2012). Often these

Employee Retention

Retention of employees is key to organizations that provide care and services to others. Vital to good care is consistency and

Reinforcement Schedules

By definition, reinforcement will increase the likelihood that behavior will be used again in the future. As service providers

Prevention In The Classroom

One of the absolute best things about being a National Faculty Member for The Mandt System is the opportunity to meet so many

Building Positive Relationships

When people are engaged in a positive relationship with someone , whether the relationship is personal, professional or public ,

Dignity, Respect & Excellence in ER

On Friday, November 16, 2012 I experienced a sudden and rather debilitating headache. I was in a hotel room (as I so often am)

Service Support to Individuals with Dementia

One of the first things service providers do in serving individuals diagnosed with dementia is to determine who is in charge of

The Mandt System & PBS

In our training, we tell people that “the ultimate goal of The Mandt System® is to build healthy relationships in the

How to Break Bad News

Everyone struggles with breaking bad news, whether on a personal level or in the workplace. Most of us try to avoid the

Increased Confidence & Competence

Increased Confidence and Competence is Key to De-escalation Years ago I participated in a noncommissioned officer leadership

Focus On Prevention

As a former direct care professional, I remember how frustrating it can be during the debriefing process to come to the

Safety & Security in School

School security is one of the most sensitive issues facing school staff, administrators, and parents today. No one wants a

Sustaining Relationships & Staff Turnover

A few years ago I received a call from a parent whose son received services from my community behavioral health agency. She

Thinking About First Responses

When I was an EMT (many years ago) we were taught to determine if a scene was secure and safe before we entered to make sure we

Angry and Aggressive Parents

“It is important to understand that there is a difference between anger and aggression” (stolen straight from the Mandt

Customer Care – Escalation Skills

As a learning and development organization we are often asked to provide curricula support to staff that function in some

Real People, Real Stories, Real MANDT

I have been an advocate of the Mandt System since I was first a student in a local class in 2005, and even more so when I became

Developing Trust in Teams

In the Mandt System, there is a lot of talk and discussions throughout the workshops about the importance of building and

The Toll of Stress?

To be human is to experience stress. At best it is disruptive, and at its worst it is destructive, During our training we

Promoting Healthcare Efficiency

This past week the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a new study in which they identify that the US Healthcare System wasted

Communication & Mental Illness

Sometimes I’m asked to teach on how to talk with a person with a diagnosis of a mental illness. My reaction is to say

Emergency Rooms – Avoiding Assaults from Patients and Relatives

Hospitals in general, and emergency departments in particular, are feeling the effects of increased demand coupled with shrinking

Practicing Behavior Response Plans

We are all familiar with this frequently posed question, “How often do you practice a fire drill, and how many fires have you

Creating Safety Through Risk Management

When human service providers hear the term “risk management” they almost always have similar responses involving the flight

Trauma & Families

With all the data regarding physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect which occur in home settings, it is easy to assume

Partnering for Success

As staff of the Mandt System we believe in the concept ideal of 'partnering with organizations' rather than simply serving as

Duty of Care – In Human Service Settings

Wikipedia defines Duty of Care, in tort law, as a legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they adhere to a

The Smaller Crisis Response Team

Dr. Strong to the psych unit...Dr. Strong to the psych unit!! We need the BIT (Behavior Intervention Team) to Mr. Johnson's

CONFLICT IN TEAMS – Promoting Leadership Understanding

Conflict amongst people is as old as Adam and Eve and Cain and Able. As long as human beings are together there will be conflict

Seclusion – Who Does It Help?

The use of seclusion is a highly emotionally charged issue. It is argued that the use of seclusion is often in the best

Teaching by Yourself: Strategies for Sanity

This week I am teaching a Mandt System® class, and have the pleasure of having teachers from middle and elementary schools. One

Tips for Lone Workers in the Community

….“Social Worker stabbed to Death,” “Workers and Patients Taken Hostage,” “Worker Making Home Visit Injured”

Partners in Care – Medical & Security

Last year I had the opportunity to do a Mandt System® workshop at which several security staff from a hospital were in

Self Injurious Behavior – Can We First Do No Harm?

Many caregivers, both personal and paid, find themselves involved with individuals who sometimes self injure. Information and

Teacher Appreciation Week

Lets start by saying that if you are reading this, you should thank a teacher! Without them, you would not have the ability to

Anti-Social Behavior

There is no precise definition of anti-social behavior. Broadly speaking, it is acting in a way that causes or is likely to

Tips to Avoid Conflict

This may be the shortest blog you have ever read. Tips to avoid conflict – you can’t. You may be successful for years in

Reducing Restraint

No matter what part of the human services field in which you work, reducing the use of restraint is one of the major goals. In

Use of “Reasonable” force…

It seems that most weeks we read stories covered in the media reporting on issues around the use or misuse of force for all

When Our Use of Language Lets Us Down…

Most of us will recall awkward moments when we were unable to find the right words to express ourselves and our failings led to