In this Anti-Oppressive De-Escalation Skills training, we explore ways to center clients and help them in ways that don’t perpetuate or exasperate power inequities. 

We will look at ways to self-regulate, hold space for clients that may be displaying aggressive behaviours, and learn ways to de-escalate intense situations.

Approaching clients in this manner helps nurture and foster relationships where people feel safe, happy, and housed. This approach provides the stability and safety needed for clients to work on the areas of their lives they identify as needing work.

Some of the main things we’ll cover include:

• Centering clients
• Low-intensity situations
• High-intensity situations
• Prevention of escalation
• Relationship building
• Self-awareness

Training Location: Japanese Hall; 487 Alexander Street Vancouver

Instructor: Randene Wejr 

Randene has been the Executive Director of Turning Points since 2017. Under her leadership, the organization has grown tremendously in staff, programs offered, geographical service area and clients served.

Randene is deeply committed to collaboration and community building and has created strong connections in new communities. As such, she sits on numerous community committees and working groups spanning several communities, ministries, and multiple layers of government.

For the past twenty-two years, Randene has worked in roles supporting and championing marginalized individuals within Federal and Provincial governments and non-profit organizations. She’s worked as an executive director for several organizations in Canada and internationally (India). She worked in Northern BC for fifteen years, and during that time, she had the opportunity to work and develop relationships with numerous diverse communities.

Randene has a Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Business Administration. Both degrees focused on non-profit leadership; additionally, She’s been accepted into the prestigious Wharton School of Business executive leadership program. 

Randene describes her experience growing up in Enderby as a member of the LGTBQ2S+ community and tragically losing a loved one to suicide as experiences that have changed her forever. She has a profound personal understanding of trauma, mental unwellness, and marginalization as a result.