General
2026-09-17
Holistic Wellness for Crisis Negotiators
Explore APNN's field guide to negotiator wellbeing: preparation, support during an incident, and recovery afterwards, with a practical checklist and references.
Supporting the person behind the negotiation
APNN is sharing Holistic Wellness for Crisis Negotiators, a five-page field aide-memoire that brings wellbeing into the full deployment cycle: before, during and after an incident.
The guide presents wellness as part of operational readiness. Alongside the demands of a critical incident, it draws attention to workload, team trust and organisational culture, and the importance of making space for support and recovery.
Read the full field guide:
https://negotiatorcircle.com/uploads/news/holistic-wellness-for-crisis-negotiators.pdf
Before an incident: build readiness
The first section introduces psychological capital through hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. It covers resilience practice, breathing training, personal goals and identifying a support network before it is needed.
During an incident: stay grounded and connected
The second section focuses on recognising stress, checking readiness and supporting colleagues. Topics include grounding techniques, practical needs such as hydration and rest, planned relief and structured handovers.
After an incident: make room for recovery
The third section looks at psychological first aid, peer support, family reintegration and access to professional support. It also discusses learning through non-punitive after-action reviews and keeping recovery in view after operational demands have ended.
A checklist for individuals and teams
A dedicated wellbeing checklist brings together the guide's themes for review across the deployment cycle. A further section explores barriers to seeking support, including stigma, leadership example and organisational stressors.
The document includes a reference list so readers can explore the underlying sources. Negotiators, team leaders and peer supporters can use it as a starting point for discussion about how wellbeing is supported within their own teams.
View the PDF in the gallery below, or open the full guide using the link above.
Source: APNN / Negotiator Circle, Holistic Wellness for Crisis Negotiators - Field Aide-Memoire.
Cover image recreated from the first page of the field guide. The linked PDF contains the original document.
APNN is sharing Holistic Wellness for Crisis Negotiators, a five-page field aide-memoire that brings wellbeing into the full deployment cycle: before, during and after an incident.
The guide presents wellness as part of operational readiness. Alongside the demands of a critical incident, it draws attention to workload, team trust and organisational culture, and the importance of making space for support and recovery.
Read the full field guide:
https://negotiatorcircle.com/uploads/news/holistic-wellness-for-crisis-negotiators.pdf
Before an incident: build readiness
The first section introduces psychological capital through hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. It covers resilience practice, breathing training, personal goals and identifying a support network before it is needed.
During an incident: stay grounded and connected
The second section focuses on recognising stress, checking readiness and supporting colleagues. Topics include grounding techniques, practical needs such as hydration and rest, planned relief and structured handovers.
After an incident: make room for recovery
The third section looks at psychological first aid, peer support, family reintegration and access to professional support. It also discusses learning through non-punitive after-action reviews and keeping recovery in view after operational demands have ended.
A checklist for individuals and teams
A dedicated wellbeing checklist brings together the guide's themes for review across the deployment cycle. A further section explores barriers to seeking support, including stigma, leadership example and organisational stressors.
The document includes a reference list so readers can explore the underlying sources. Negotiators, team leaders and peer supporters can use it as a starting point for discussion about how wellbeing is supported within their own teams.
View the PDF in the gallery below, or open the full guide using the link above.
Source: APNN / Negotiator Circle, Holistic Wellness for Crisis Negotiators - Field Aide-Memoire.
Cover image recreated from the first page of the field guide. The linked PDF contains the original document.