Perceptions of staff members on the implementation of conflict management strategies in educational and therapeutic environments for children and youths with emotional and behavioral disorders

A common experience for staff members working in educational or therapeutic settings for children with emotional and behavioural disorders (EBD) is the lack of coping strategies in dealing with conflict and crisis situations. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether or not the training and implementation of Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI), a conflict management model, empowered the staff members in handling conflicts. This objective has been investigated by feedback forms filled in by the staff at two specific periods: (1) immediately after the LSCI training, and (2) after one year of using the LSCI method in daily practice. An in-depth qualitative analysis reveals an enhancement of staff members’ knowledge and coping strategies in handling conflicts. Additionally, they stress the need for sufficient staff resources and time to implement and sustain LSCI. Despite these difficulties, the majority of the participants strongly believe in the applicability of the method and the usefulness of the training