In crisis situations, individuals are often perceived as resistant, uncooperative, or unwilling to follow direction. However, many of these behaviors are better understood as executive functioning challenges under stress. This workshop helps responders reframe common crisis behaviors through a neuroscience-informed lens, with a focus on how ADHD, trauma, and stress impact a person’s ability to initiate, process, and follow through in the moment. Participants will learn how to recognize cognitive overload, reduce demands, and adjust communication strategies to better match the individual’s capacity. The focus is on practical, field-ready adjustments that improve cooperation, reduce escalation, and support more effective outcomes.
Learning objectives:
- Recognize executive functioning challenges in crisis presentations
- Differentiate noncompliance from cognitive overload in real time
- Adjust communication strategies to match capacity
- Reduce escalation by lowering cognitive demand
- Support follow-through using structured, clear direction
Bio:
Coach Nakumbe, LPCC, LADC, ADHDCCP, is a behavioral health professional specializing in traumainformed and neuroscienceinformed approaches to crisis response, executive functioning, and complex behavioral patterns. He provides services through InsightPath Behavioral Health. He currently serves as an Embedded Social Worker within a lawenforcement crisis response continuum, working directly with individuals and families after highintensity crisis events. An international speaker, Coach Nakumbe has presented widely across Minnesota, including multiple sessions with the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health. He is recognized for translating complex behavioral concepts into clear, practical strategies for realworld application.
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 1 Lesson
- Lifetime
