Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association
Date: 11/10/2026
Location: 1400 Veterans Highway, Levittown, PA 19056
Title of presentation: Rational Detachment Skills
Goals/Objectives:
1. Define Rational Detachment according to Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) principles and explain its role in maintaining professionalism, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness during emotionally charged interactions.
2. Identify the physiological, emotional, and cognitive effects of crisis situations on helping professionals, including common barriers to objective clinical decision-making and effective communication.
3. Apply evidence-based CPI strategies to develop Rational Detachment skills, improve emotional regulation, reduce counterproductive reactions, and strengthen resilience while maintaining person-centered, trauma-informed care.
Name (s), credentials, title, affiliation, and biographical information of presenters pertaining to their background to address the objectives:
Manuel Rivera is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years of experience in behavioral health leadership, clinical supervision, and workforce development. He currently serves as Senior Director of Clinical Services for STR Behavioral Health Network, overseeing clinical operations across multiple behavioral health programs and leading initiatives in staff development, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice implementation.
Mr. Rivera has extensive experience training multidisciplinary healthcare teams on crisis intervention, de-escalation, trauma-informed care, countertransference, professional boundaries, and clinical communication. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and National Certified Counselor, he specializes in helping behavioral health professionals strengthen therapeutic relationships while maintaining clinician well-being and professional effectiveness. His interactive trainings combine practical skills, clinical case examples, and experiential learning to improve outcomes for both providers and those they serve.
Facilitator: Manuel J. Rivera, MA, LPC, CAADC, NCC
see attached resume
2.0 Credits: PDH, CE
9:30 Networking
10:00 Introductions
10:00-12:00 Presentation
12:00 Announcements
Food: Continental Breakfast provided by STR
Overview of Training:
Behavioral health professionals regularly encounter emotionally intense situations that can challenge judgment, communication, and clinical effectiveness. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) defines Rational Detachment as the ability to remain in control of one's own behavior and emotions while responding professionally during crisis situations.
This interactive training explores the principles of Rational Detachment and provides participants with practical tools for recognizing emotional triggers, managing stress responses, and maintaining therapeutic professionalism under pressure. Participants will examine the impact of emotional contagion, trauma exposure, and interpersonal conflict while learning strategies to prevent reactive decision-making, reduce burnout, and improve client interactions.
Through discussion, case examples, and skill-building exercises, attendees will leave with practical techniques they can immediately implement to strengthen resilience, enhance workplace safety, and promote compassionate, person-centered care during challenging encounters.
Mailing Address for presenter(s): 1400 Veterans Highway, Levittown, PA 19056