With all the conversations surrounding police and abuse of power, I've been thinking a lot about my first day working as a therapist at an inpatient psychiatric hospital, during our required Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) training. 1/11

I have vivid memories of the trainer starting by informing everyone in the room that we should LEAVE if we thought it would be our job to physically fight patients in moments of crisis. The trainer told us, "If you are here because you think you're a badass... 2/11

and you want to beat someone's ass, the door is right there for you and I would ask that you walk out now." He was explicit in telling everyone in the room that we would face violent threats, verbal assaults, disrespect, and yes sometimes even violent physical assaults. 3/11

The trainer was forceful though in his emphasis on what our duty and response should be to this wide range of possibilities: respect for the patient who is suffering or lashing out. 4/11

We were taught techniques to de-escalate conflict and to respond to assaultive behavior safely. I encountered patients who were disruptive, who postured to fight, who grabbed me, but with the use of my skills, all situations ended safely for both myself and the patient. 5/11

Imagine the culture shift within police departments if the training led with the message, "If you're here to be a badass and beat people up, walk out that door now because you're not welcome here." 6/11

I realize the police encounter unique threats on their life that those working inside of psychiatric institutions do not, but my emphasis is on training and culture here... we must weed out the Kyle Rittenhouses BEFORE they get their badge and their gun. 7/11

This may be easier with a shift in the culture, in the training from the start. "You will encounter these difficult, life-threatening situations, but you aren't here to do damage. You're here for safety." 8/11

It isn't just the psychiatric care workers doing this every day... essential workers everywhere in grocery stores are now handling aggressive people with more care and respect than the cops in these viral videos. https://twitter.com/davenewworld_2/status/1299874056318210050?s=20 9/11

I've seen people laugh in response to stories about social workers responding to calls in place of and/or with cops to increase public safety, but this isn't a laughable proposition. We should expect more of anyone charged with the task of ensuring public safety. 10/11

It all comes down to how you view yourself and your role. Every day, I knew I'd encounter conflict at the hospital and every day I knew my focus was on de-escalation and not lashing out after a bruised ego. There are lessons here for cops and I hope they take them. 11/11