Therapeutic Crisis Intervention

“Every moment with a child in crisis is an opportunity to help them feel safe, heard, and valued.”

Our Approach – Trauma-Informed, Compassionate, and Child-Centered

"By their example, child and youth care staff shape the behaviour and influence the growth of the young people in their care."

At New Horizons, our approach is grounded in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) – a trauma-informed, evidence-based model developed by Cornell University. TCI equips our teams to:


  • Create environments where children and young people feel safe and supported.
  • Proactively prevent and de-escalate potential crises through compassionate connection.
  • Manage acute crises therapeutically, using physical intervention only as a very last resort.
  • Support young people in reflecting on and processing incidents, building long-term coping strategies and resilience.


Meet Bernice Poole – Our Learning & Development Manager


Our Learning & Development Manager, Bernice Poole, has devoted her entire career to working passionately with children and young people with additional needs. She has served in a variety of roles, including as a support worker, in educational settings, and as the Deputy Manager of one of our children’s homes.


Today, Bernice is our in-house TCI-certified trainer, accredited by Cornell University to deliver Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training. She uses her wealth of hands-on experience to ensure every member of our team is equipped to deliver calm, reflective, and trauma-informed care.


Why TCI Matters to Us


  • TCI is more than just training – it’s a way of working that underpins our entire approach:
  • Prevention over reaction – creating safe, predictable environments to reduce the risk of crises.
  • De-escalation before intervention – focusing on emotional connection, empathy, and understanding triggers.
  • Physical intervention as a last resort – used only when there is an immediate risk of harm, and always in the safest, gentlest way possible.
  • Reflective learning – engaging young people in supportive conversations afterwards to help them grow and build resilience.


With Bernice leading our training, we combine evidence-based practice with a deep commitment to compassion, ensuring that every member of our team can support children and young people in ways that are safe, respectful, and life-changing.