Q. Do the techniques bring about any amount of pain?
A. The Active Non Violence Group does not advocate the use of force, or the employment of any pressure across a joint or strategic application of pain. Our Secure Disengagement Techniques^TM are safety tools that increase staff’s personal safety while avoiding such pain inducing applications. All physical techniques have been subjected to independent biomechanical evaluation and are in accordance with all legal, ethical and accreditation guidelines.

Q. Can anyone execute these techniques, or do you have to be in good physical condition?
A. Our trainings have been designed to be mastered and used by all staff members, regardless of age, gender or physical fitness level.

Q. How are the Active Non Violence Group Trainings different from other trainings?
A. Most conventional trainings are disconnected from the practical, day-to-day context that most workers find themselves facing. While the interventions taught in such programs may be appropriate or effective within a limited setting, they are not usually relevant to your work environment, or congruent with your organization’s philosophy and policies. But most important, one-size-fits-all type trainings cannot filter out interventions that are inappropriate or irrelevant for you. It is our belief that this makes the translation of training into practice difficult if not impossible. Our trainings respond to and are informed by the challenges which you are required to manage within your practice. In short, we believe that training must be properly aligned with practice and that any training program must be tailored to the specific organization and population.

Q. Who are the training programs geared towards?
A. The Non Violent Response to Aggressive Behavior ^TM Trainings were designed specifically for human services providers, however they are equally valuable for anyone working with angry, aggressive and potentially violent individuals. The training is a safety tool to maintain a safe and respectful environment, be it in the retail, business or education. Since all trainings are needs specific, any and all levels of staff that work directly with service users can be engaged with training specific to their needs.

Q. Our agency policy is to never touch our service users, how can this training be applicable to us?
A. The Non Violent Response to Aggressive Behavior ^TM trainings emphasize the recognition, prevention and management of violent incidents through the use of verbal and non verbal de-escalation. The physical aspects of the trainings (The Secure Disengagement Techniques ^TM) provide staff with safe break away techniques that are used to disengage and maintain their own personal safety in the event of a physically violent incident. They do not in any way cause pain or harm to the aggressive party. This preserves the therapeutic or working relationship and reduces the likelihood of escalation. As such, the techniques enable staff to deal with the critical period between the eruption of violence and the arrival of law enforcement or security professionals.

Q. How does The Active Non Violence Group’s Trainings address individuals with special needs?
A. The Non Violent Response to Aggressive Behavior ^TM trainings address situations involving any violent or potentially violent individual, regardless of psychiatric illnesses, behavioral disorders, substance abuse, verbal or physical limitations. Moreover, since all trainings are conducted after a service specific analysis, you can be sure that the needs of your population will be addressed in depth and respected.

Q. Do any of the Active Non Violence Group’s Trainings involve restraint techniques?
A. No. Our techniques are in no way restrictive, and due to the numerous physical and psychological risks involved in restraint techniques, our trainings are designed with an aim towards the overall program avoidance or minimal use of such procedures.