CRISIS PREVENTION & DE-ESCALATION

SAMA training

Satori Alternatives for Managing Aggression teaches practical skills to prevent, de-escalate, and safely manage aggressive behavior — reducing the risk of workplace violence while protecting safety, dignity, and respect.

SAMA helps with
Verbal de-escalation
Crisis prevention
Managing aggressive behavior
Protecting self and others
Workplace violence reduction
WHAT IS SAMA?

A structured response to situations that escalate fast

SAMA is a training program built for personal and professional situations that can quickly escalate out of control. The goal is teaching participants to prevent and manage aggression while reducing the chance of workplace violence.

SAMA meets or exceeds critical attributes defined by the Texas Behavior Support Initiative (TBSI) and other accrediting agencies for verbal and physical de-escalation.

Practical, respectful, safety-focused

SAMA emphasizes dignity, safety, empathy, and appropriate response. The training helps professionals respond with confidence while protecting both the person in crisis and everyone around them.

WHO IT'S FOR

Built for teams who work with people in crisis

SAMA procedures adapt to a wide range of populations and professional settings.

Healthcare teams

Hospital staff, clinic teams, mental health workers, patient care staff, and healthcare support personnel.

Schools & youth programs

Teachers, school staff, child and adolescent programs, foster care providers, and youth support teams.

Social services

Professionals working in mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, recovery, and support services.

Safety & response teams

Law enforcement, workplace safety teams, crisis response staff, and others serving high-risk populations.

Children & adolescents

Supportive approaches for youth-focused environments.

Mental health

For professionals supporting individuals in crisis.

ID / DD services

Intellectual and developmental disability settings.

Recovery services

Substance abuse and recovery care environments.

Geriatric care

Adaptable for older adults, patients, and families.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Four programs, built in sequence

SAMA is delivered through four video-driven, facilitator-coached experiential programs. Each one builds on the last.

Program 1
Assisting Process

Program 1 focuses on de-escalating volatile situations. The Assisting Process uses a logical, sequential format to guide a person in crisis from the reactive part of the brain toward the reasoning part, and resolve the activating situation.

De-escalating volatile situations
Understanding what drives anger and aggression
The five principles of SAMA
Critical beliefs that underlie SAMA
Exercises for developing empathy for those served
Program 1 can be taken by itself.
Request Program 1
Program 2
Protection of Self & Others

Program 2 builds on the Assisting Process and teaches skills for protecting yourself and others from aggressive acts — strikes, kicks, pushes, wrist grasps, chokes, hair pulls, bites, and other threatening situations.

Protection from strikes, kicks, and pushes
Response to wrist grasps and aggressive contact
Protection from life-threatening acts
Ground protection skills
Techniques that avoid pressure points and joint locks
Requires Program 1.
Request Program 2
Program 3
Containment

Program 3 covers the Assisting Process and skills for physically holding someone who is actively trying to harm themselves or others when no less restrictive alternative is available.

Physical holding only when necessary
Used when no less restrictive option exists
Body mechanics instead of muscular force
Avoids pressure points and joint locks
Designed to protect both individuals
Requires Programs 1 and 2.
Request Program 3
Program 4
Object Recovery

Program 4 covers the Assisting Process and skills for retrieving objects when a person is threatening harm, or actively causing harm, with an object.

Object recovery in high-risk situations
Safety-focused response skills
De-escalation before and after intervention
For threatened or active harm with an object
Requires Programs 1, 2, and 3.
Request Program 4
THE GOAL

Move from reaction to reasoning

SAMA's Assisting Process gives participants a framework for responding to a person in crisis. The aim is to reduce escalation, support safety, and help the individual move toward resolution wherever possible.

It applies not only in obvious crisis situations but in everyday professional interactions where anger, frustration, fear, or confusion starts to build.

Recognize escalation

Identify early signs before the situation becomes unsafe.

Use de-escalation

Apply communication and assisting skills to reduce tension.

Protect safety

Support the safety of the person in crisis, staff, and anyone nearby.

Least restrictive response

Physical intervention is used only when necessary and appropriate.

WHY ORGANIZATIONS CHOOSE SAMA

One shared language for hard situations

Reduce workplace violence risk

Practical skills to prevent escalation and respond confidently when aggressive behavior occurs.

Improve staff confidence

Structured ways to communicate, protect themselves, and support safety during crisis events.

Support dignity & respect

Safety first, while protecting the dignity of both staff and the people being served.

Useful across settings

Healthcare, education, social services, foster care, law enforcement, and workplace safety.

Structured program options

Programs build from verbal de-escalation to self-protection, containment, and object recovery.

Group training available

Request SAMA for teams who work with individuals in crisis or challenging situations.

REQUEST SAMA TRAINING

Let's talk about your program

Interested in SAMA for yourself, your staff, or your organization? Send these details and we'll come back on program options, prerequisites, availability, and group scheduling.

Which program you need
Your group size
Your organization type
Preferred dates or deadlines
Email SAMA request Call or text now
Contact Rhythm Savers CPR
CALL OR TEXT
(936) 676-6446
SERVICE AREA
East Texas — Wells, Pollok, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, and surrounding communities.
SAMA FAQ

Common questions

What does SAMA stand for?

Satori Alternatives for Managing Aggression.

Who should take SAMA?

Healthcare workers, educators, social service professionals, foster care providers, mental health workers, and safety-focused teams.

Can Program 1 be taken alone?

Yes. Program 1, Assisting Process, is available as a standalone course.

Are there prerequisites?

Yes. Program 2 requires Program 1. Program 3 requires 1 and 2. Program 4 requires 1, 2, and 3.

Does it include physical intervention?

Some programs include safety-focused physical skills, but SAMA emphasizes de-escalation, least restrictive response, dignity, and safety.

Can we request group SAMA training?

Yes. Contact us to ask about SAMA group training options, availability, and scheduling.

Build safer crisis response skills

Request SAMA training (936) 676-6446