Crisis Navigation Module - Distress Tolerance Skills for Coaches

The Moment Every Coach Dreads

Your client calls or messages you between sessions. Their voice is shaking. They're feeling extremely overwhelmed. Or they just had a difficult argument with their partner. Or they got disappointing news and they're having trouble regaining perspective.

They're asking: "What do I do RIGHT NOW? I can't handle this. I'm going to say something I regret. I'm going to do something destructive. I feel like I'm losing control."

And you're thinking: "I want to help, but what can I actually give them in this moment that will make a difference?"

Here's the reality: When clients are in emotional crisis, they don't need deep insights. They don't need to explore root causes. They don't need long-term strategies.

They need immediate, practical tools to get through the next hour without making things worse.

Without crisis navigation skills, your clients will:

Send emails or texts they can't take back
Quit jobs or end relationships impulsively
Turn to destructive coping mechanisms (substances, binge eating, self-harm)
Escalate conflicts that could have been de-escalated
Damage trust in relationships by acting on intense emotions
Feel helpless and out of control
Lose faith in their ability to manage difficult situations

And you, as their coach, will feel helpless too. You'll worry about clients between sessions. You'll second-guess whether you're equipped to help them. You'll wonder if you have the right tools to support them through everyday emotional challenges within your scope as a coach.

Note: Knowing when to refer clients to licensed mental health professionals is a sign of professional competence, not inadequacy. These skills help you support clients with life stress and emotional challenges appropriate for coaching contexts.

This doesn't have to be your reality.

Introducing: The Crisis Navigation Module

This module gives you 7 evidence-informed distress tolerance skills specifically designed for overwhelming moments. These aren't long-term strategies—these are RIGHT NOW tools that work immediately.

Think of these skills like a fire extinguisher. You don't use them every day, but when the moment comes, they can prevent disaster.

What Makes These Skills Essential:

Crisis navigation (also called distress tolerance) is about getting through intense emotional moments without making the situation worse. That's the key: not making things worse.

Your clients will still feel the difficult emotions. But instead of acting impulsively on those emotions, they'll have specific techniques to ride out the intensity until they can think clearly again.

These skills work for:

Intense stress and feeling overwhelmed
Strong frustration that could lead to regretful actions
Disappointment or discouragement that feels heavy
Worry about uncertain situations
Impulses to act in ways that don't align with values
Moments when emotions feel intense and hard to manage

Why This Module Commands the Highest Price:

At $57, this is the most expensive individual module—and for good reason. Crisis skills have the highest immediate value. When a client is in crisis, they need help NOW. The ability to provide that help is worth far more than the price of this module.

The 7 Crisis Skills Included in This Module

This module contains 7 complete teaching files—each one a specific skill your clients can use when emotions feel overwhelming. Every file includes step-by-step instructions, client worksheets, and real-world application guidance.

🛑 STOP Technique

The immediate intervention: Stop, Take a step back, Observe, Proceed mindfully. Teaches clients to pause before reacting impulsively. This single skill prevents countless regretted actions.

💧 TIP Skills (Change Body Chemistry)

Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation. These skills literally change the body's physiological state to reduce emotional intensity within minutes.

🎯 ACCEPTS Distraction

Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions, Pushing away, Thoughts, Sensations. Seven ways to temporarily distract from overwhelming emotions until intensity reduces.

🌸 Self-Soothing with Five Senses

Teach clients to comfort themselves using sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This skill works especially well for anxiety, panic, and emotional exhaustion.

✨ IMPROVE the Moment

Imagery, Meaning, Prayer, Relaxation, One thing, Vacation, Encouragement. Seven techniques to make a difficult moment slightly more bearable right now.

🙏 Radical Acceptance

The hardest but most powerful skill: accepting reality exactly as it is, even when it's painful. This skill transforms suffering by removing the struggle against what cannot be changed.

📋 Complete Crisis Skills Guide

Master teaching document with skill selection guidance, crisis plan templates, troubleshooting tips, and clear boundaries for when to refer to emergency services.

Plus, you get:

Crisis Cheat Sheet (printable quick reference for all 7 skills)
Personal Crisis Plan template clients can fill out in advance
Skill-matching guide (which skill for which situation)
Teaching scripts for explaining each technique
Common obstacles and how to overcome them
Clear guidance on coaching vs. therapy boundaries in crisis
When-to-call-emergency-services decision tree

Evidence-Based Origins:

These distress tolerance skills are adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. DBT is a clinically validated therapeutic approach. We have adapted these specific skills for coaching contexts, focusing on practical application for everyday stress management. Teaching these skills does not make you a DBT therapist or replace clinical training.

What This Means for You and Your Clients

For You as a Coach:

Confidence in Crisis: Know exactly what to offer when clients reach out in emotional emergency
Reduce Worry Between Sessions: Clients have concrete tools to use instead of calling you in panic
Prevent Client Dropout: Clients who feel supported through crisis stay in coaching longer
Differentiate Your Practice: Most coaches can't provide immediate crisis support—you can
Appropriate Boundaries: Clear guidance on when to use skills vs. when to refer to emergency services
Support Ethical Coaching: Know when to use skills and when to refer clients to appropriate professional support
Sleep Better: Stop worrying about clients acting impulsively between sessions
Build Trust Faster: Clients who see you can help in their worst moments trust you in their best moments

For Your Clients:

Survive the Moment: Get through overwhelming emotions without making things worse
Prevent Regret: Stop sending texts, making calls, or taking actions they'll wish they could undo
Physical Relief: TIP skills provide immediate physiological calming
Feel Less Helpless: Have a plan for crisis instead of feeling out of control
Build Self-Trust: Prove to themselves they CAN handle difficult moments
Reduce Anxiety About Future Crisis: Knowing they have tools reduces fear of future overwhelm
Accept the Unacceptable: Radical acceptance transforms suffering into manageable pain

Real-World Impact: One client using the STOP technique before sending an angry email to their boss. One client using TIP skills to manage overwhelming stress during a difficult work presentation. One client accepting a painful reality instead of spiraling into despair. These moments add up to transformed lives—and they all start with the skills in this module.

Note: These skills are for managing everyday stress and emotional challenges. For medical emergencies, serious mental health crises, or situations involving safety concerns, clients should always contact emergency services (911) or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Crisis Navigation Skills Module

Individual Module Coming Soon

This module will be available for individual purchase soon at $57.

In the meantime, get immediate access to Crisis Navigation skills as part of the Complete Emotional Resilience Toolkit.

Get the Complete Toolkit Now →

Complete Toolkit: $397 | Includes all 4 modules + 11 additional skills + lifetime updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I teach these skills to ALL clients, or only those in crisis? ▼

Teach these skills BEFORE crisis happens. Think of it like a fire drill—you practice when things are calm so you know what to do when things aren't. Most coaches introduce crisis skills early in the coaching relationship as part of building a client's emotional toolkit. That way, when a crisis does occur, clients already have the tools ready to use.

What if a client is in immediate danger? Are these skills enough? ▼

No. These skills are for emotional crisis, not safety emergencies. The module includes clear guidance on when to use skills versus when to refer to emergency services (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 911, etc.). You'll learn the difference between overwhelming emotions that need skills and dangerous situations that need professional intervention.

My clients are high-functioning professionals. Do they really need crisis skills? ▼

Absolutely. High-functioning people experience emotional overwhelm too—they're just better at hiding it. The executive who's about to send an angry email to their board. The entrepreneur facing business failure. The professional dealing with unexpected personal loss. Crisis doesn't discriminate by success level. These skills work for everyone.

How quickly can I start using these materials with clients? ▼

Immediately. All files are ready to use as soon as you download them. You could introduce the STOP technique in your very next session. Most coaches spend 1-2 sessions on crisis skills initially, then reference them as needed throughout the coaching relationship.

What's the difference between crisis skills and coping mechanisms? ▼

Crisis skills are healthy, intentional strategies designed to get through intense moments without making things worse. They're temporary tools for specific situations. Unhealthy coping mechanisms (substance use, self-harm, avoidance) might reduce intensity but create new problems. These skills are evidence-informed alternatives that actually help.

Can I use this module if I'm not a trained therapist? ▼

Yes. These are coaching skills, not therapy interventions. The module is specifically designed for coaches and includes clear guidance on staying within coaching scope. You're teaching clients practical techniques, not treating mental health conditions. That said, the module also includes guidance on when and how to refer to therapy when needed.

Is this module standalone or part of a larger system? ▼

This module stands alone—you can purchase and use it independently. However, crisis skills work best when combined with mindfulness (present-moment awareness) as the foundation. Many coaches start with the Present-Moment Mastery module, then add Crisis Navigation, followed by Emotion Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness for comprehensive emotional wellness support.

What if I buy this and never use it? ▼

You're covered by our 14-day money-back guarantee. If you purchase the module and decide it's not right for your practice, email us for a full refund. That said, we're confident you'll use these skills—crisis happens to everyone eventually, and when it does, you'll be glad you have these tools ready.

✓ 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Try the Crisis Navigation Module with your clients for 14 days. If these skills don't prove valuable in your coaching practice, email us for a complete refund. No questions asked. We know these tools work—we've seen them prevent countless regretted actions—but we want you to feel completely confident in your investment.

Be Ready for Your Clients' Hardest Moments

Crisis doesn't announce itself. But when it comes, you can be the coach who has exactly what your client needs to get through it.