Therapeutically intervening in Crisis (TIC) is an evidence-based approach that has proven effective in promoting safety and development for children and youth in crisis situations. This model equips child and youth care staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent, de-escalate, and effectively manage crises, reducing the potential for injury to both children and staff. Through TIC, children and youth in crisis learn to handle stressful situations constructively, significantly impacting their ability to develop positive coping skills and manage their emotions.

Providing a supportive and therapeutic environment, TIC helps children and youth feel safe and empowered to work through their challenges and build resiliency. The skills and techniques learned in TIC training also benefit child and youth care staff, who feel more confident and equipped to handle crises and provide the best possible support to those in their care.

What is Therapeutically Intervening in Crisis?

Therapeutically intervening in Crisis (TIC) is an evidence-based crisis prevention and intervention model designed to help child and youth care workers support children and youth experiencing crisis situations. The training enables youth workers to handle crises in ways that promote children’s safety and well-being while helping them learn constructive ways to handle difficult situations. TIC focuses on de-escalation techniques, using physical interventions only as a last resort, and leveraging therapeutic relationships to build trust and rapport with the children in their care.

Benefits of Therapeutically Intervening in Crisis

One of the most significant benefits of the TIC system is teaching youth workers to recognize the early warning signs of a crisis and how to intervene before the situation becomes unmanageable. This helps prevent crises from occurring, significantly reducing the stress and trauma experienced by children in care. By learning to recognize and respond to potential crises, youth workers can create a safe and stable environment for children, promoting their emotional and psychological well-being.

Another benefit of the TIC system is teaching youth workers to de-escalate potential crises. When children in care are in crisis, they may experience intense emotions such as anger, fear, or sadness. Youth workers trained in TIC know how to respond in ways that help de-escalate the situation, reducing the likelihood of physical or emotional harm to the child or others.

The TIC approach also equips youth workers to effectively manage acute crises. Even with the best prevention strategies, crises can still occur. When this happens, it is crucial that youth workers know how to respond in ways that promote the safety and well-being of everyone involved. The TIC approach provides youth workers with the tools and techniques they need to manage crises effectively, minimizing the risk of injury or harm.

In addition to these benefits, the TIC system also provides youth workers with the skills and knowledge to help children learn constructive ways to handle stressful situations. By providing children with coping strategies and emotional regulation techniques, youth workers can help them develop the resilience and self-regulation skills needed to cope with stress and adversity.

Finally, the TIC system helps create a learning circle within the organization. Youth workers trained in TIC are better equipped to share their knowledge and skills with others, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement. By working together to implement TIC techniques, organizations can create a safe and supportive environment for children in care, promoting their emotional and psychological well-being and setting them on a path toward success.

Therapeutic Care is a Maple Standard

To ensure Therapeutically intervening in Crisis is implemented in a manner that meets the developmental needs of children and promotes safety for both children and staff, Maple Youth Services ensures all its Youth Workers become certified in TIC. By facilitating TIC as a required qualification for our Youth Workforce, Maple upholds industry standards exceeding expectations. By engaging in this qualification process, all of our Management Staff and Youth Workers are able to:

  • Prevent crises from occurring
  • De-escalate potential crises
  • Effectively manage acute crises
  • Reduce potential and actual injury to children and staff
  • Learn constructive ways to handle stressful situations

By applying the principles of learning through TIC certification, Maple creates safe and nurturing environments for children that promote growth, development, and self-regulation.