Navigating Conflict & Challenging Conversations

November 20, 2025, 12:30 - 4:00pm CST
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $15 members; $30 partial members; $60 nonmembers
Continuing Education Hours: 3.50

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Course Description

Crisis workers must often manage conflict and tackle difficult conversations during times when emotions are running high. Community partners, individuals in crisis, and/or their family supports may question their decisions, become argumentative, and even make threats about liability. Over time, this can lead to a loss of confidence or feelings of "imposter syndrome". In this training, crisis responders will learn a proven model for having crucial conversations. It will include crisis-specific scenarios for practice of skills. Content will include discussion of role clarification; boundary setting and self-advocacy; the importance of collaborative relationships with law enforcement and medical staff; the role of peers and natural supports; and appropriate use of clinical supervision/consultation when needed.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand the role of crisis responders.
• Understand the role of community partners and supports.
• Gain knowledge on the skill sets identified in the Crucial Conversations model.
• Demonstrate an ability to apply the Crucial Conversations model to crisis settings and situations.

Tess Parker, LMSW

Tess Parker is an accomplished trainer, clinical therapist, and educator. As a former program director in behavioral health, she leverages her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver in a career dedicated to serving individuals experiencing mental health emergencies in both outpatient, and residential settings. Tess believes authenticity and vulnerability are at the core of human connection, and this belief is the foundation of her clinical and consultative approach. Tess has an uncanny ability to strategically identify critical gaps in care and then create programs to bridge those gaps and truly save lives. She is also an avid writer, a minimalist at heart, and values meaningful connections with persons served, customers, and her community.

Adam Graham, LPC-MHSP

Adam Graham, LPC-MHSP, loves helping interdisciplinary groups find new solutions to challenging problems. From the medical, psychological, recovery, and law enforcement communities to government to the private sector, Adam has gained invaluable experiences and insights that, in dialogue, can move mountains to serve people experiencing a mental health crisis. Trained as a clinical therapist, Adam has served these groups in his 14 years in the community mental health system as a clinician and emergency psychiatric services director, as well as in the roles of professor, threat assessment consultant to federal law enforcement, and international volunteer aid worker. Based in Nashville, TN, he joyfully fulfills the local obligation to be a musician, as well as an experienced trainer, presenter, problem-solver, and leader.