Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families program

All children become upset, frustrated, angry and experience loss or hurt to various degrees. One of the most critical skills for parents/carers is to teach their children how to manage and express these feelings in more socially and developmentally appropriate ways.

The Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families (TCI-F) program gives parents/carers the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to help their children in times of emotional distress through crisis prevention and de-escalation. Managing these emotions teaches children how to avoid losing control now and in future times of emotional crisis and to express their feelings in developmentally appropriate ways.

Program objectives

  • To present strategies for dealing with upset children to prevent and de-escalate potential emotional crises/challenging behaviours 
  • To teach methods to help adults avoid power struggles and enlist a child's cooperation 
  • To show how an emotional crisis can be an opportunity for the child to learn new coping skills

TCI-F program details

The program course is held over six sessions of 4.5 hours each, with some ‘homework’ set for some days.

Participants must commit to attending all sessions.

This program is more successful when all parents/carers for the child attend.

The program includes

  • The latest ideas on trauma/emotional hurt, attachment and brain research
  • Techniques to:
    • build relationships
    • listen, prevent and manage challenging behaviour
    • negotiate and problem solve with a child or young person
    • show sensitivity to a child or young person’s needs

Unfortunately children cannot attend these sessions and there is no supervision available at CAHDS.

Session details

Session 1

  • Effects of trauma/emotional hurt (how it affects brain development and how it influences the way children think, feel and behave)
  • Preventing a crisis by creating a safe and secure environment
  • The importance of emotional competence

Session 2

  • Stress model of crisis 
  • Assessing the situation 
  • Knowing the child and our selves 
  • Managing the environment effectively

Session 3

  • Intervention approaches 
  • Effective communication / Active Listening 
  • Identifying and responding to your child’s feelings

Session 4

  • Negotiating rules and expectations 
  • Behaviour support techniques 
  • Using consequences

Session 5 

  • Effectively assessing what the child feels, needs, or wants 
  • Emotional First Aid
  • The power struggle

Session 6

  • Non-verbal communication 
  • Elements of a potentially violent situation 
  • Crisis intervention 
  • The life space interview

Unfortunately, as we are unable to provide crèche/supervision for any children they are not to be brought to CAHDS if you are attending these sessions. 

Last Updated: 17/01/2023