Dealing with Aggression course

In this course you learn to adopt a professional attitude towards verbal and physical aggression. You practise de-escalating conversation techniques and strengthen your self-knowledge and self-control.

8.5 from 31 reviews 4,6 on Google NRTO quality mark

Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.

For a team or department? Arrange your own group, at your premises or ours. In-company for your team

In brief. Dealing with Aggression is a 2-day classroom course. You can take it in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague among other locations, or online, in a group of no more than 8 participants. The price is € 1250,- excl. VAT per participant, including course materials, lunch on location and a certificate of participation. For a team or department we also deliver this course in-company.

  • You are stronger in the face of aggression
  • De-escalating with a professional attitude
  • Insight into your own pitfalls
  • Practical conversation techniques that work
  • Buddy support and support from colleagues
ElzoGarbrandWouterJeroen

Your trainer: Elzo, Garbrand, Wouter or Jeroen 289 evaluations in total, with an average of 8,7. View the trainers

Angry customers, demonstrators or people behaving aggressively: in almost every profession you will encounter them. In this course you work on self-knowledge, conversation techniques and a professional basic attitude that enables you to de-escalate threatening situations.

Description

In Learnit's Dealing with Aggression course you learn how to stand your ground in the face of verbal and physical aggression at work. You work on a professional basic attitude that allows you to de-escalate threatening situations consciously, rather than being led by your emotions.

You gain insight into your own behaviour and pitfalls, and you learn to assess situations better on the basis of your profession, the context and your personality. You also practise various de-escalating conversation techniques, such as listening, summarising, asking follow-up questions, responding assertively and setting boundaries.

The course alternates between theory, practical exercises and reflection on your day-to-day working practice. Before the course you have an individual intake in which you formulate your personal learning objectives. On that basis we tailor the programme to your situation. We also pay attention to peer support (buddy support) and the importance of reporting incidents.

Topics

During the Dealing with Aggression course, the following topics are covered, among others:

About aggression and conflict

  • Different types of conflict
  • Different types of aggression, including verbal, physical and digital aggression
  • The physical and mental effects of aggression

Dealing with aggressive behaviour

  • Carrying out a problem analysis
  • Different views of the same conflict: facts or interpretations?
  • Conversation skills: listening, summarising and asking follow-up questions
  • Responding assertively and choosing the right timing
  • Preventing frustration
  • Solving problems
  • Setting boundaries
  • Dealing with criticism and staying calm
  • Taking on confrontations

The organisational side of aggression

  • Raising awareness and creating an open culture
  • Giving and receiving support from colleagues (buddy support)
  • The purpose and importance of reporting incidents

Result

After the Dealing with Aggression course, you will stand your ground more firmly in the face of verbal and physical aggression at work. You recognise different types of conflict and forms of aggression, and you know what causes underlie them. Think of conflicting interests or clashing interpretations.

You make a sharp analysis of the problem and consciously choose the right approach. You apply de-escalating conversation techniques, work in a solution-oriented way and know how to prevent frustration and set clear boundaries. In threatening situations you adopt an open, professional attitude.

You will also know your own pitfalls and be able to separate your emotions from the other person's behaviour. This allows you to stay calm under pressure and makes you less vulnerable. You know when it is time to call in help, and you recognise the importance of support from colleagues and buddy support after an incident.

Target audience

The Dealing with Aggression course is intended for anyone who wants to learn to de-escalate threatening situations, verbal and physical, with a professional basic attitude. Think of care workers, social workers, municipal officials and other government employees. Bailiffs, shop staff and people working on a helpdesk or in customer services also get a great deal out of this course.

Teaching method

In the Dealing with Aggression course we alternate between experiencing, experimenting with behaviour and techniques, reflecting and exploring theory. This dynamic means you immediately experience the effect of new behaviour. We continually invite you to reflect and to make connections with your day-to-day practice. In this way you gain more and more insight and become better at recognising which techniques work for you. That increases the chance of genuine behavioural change and helps you take ownership of your own development.

Prior knowledge

This course requires no specific prior knowledge. It is useful, however, if your work or daily life involves situations in which aggression may occur. That way you can get straight to work during the course with recognisable examples.

Comments


Practical information

Number of days
2 days
Course times
from 10 am to 5 pm
Teaching hours
12 hours
Education level
Suitable for all levels
Preparation time
None
Included
Course materials and lunch on site
Certificate
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance
Cancel
Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)

Language

The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote More about Dealing with Aggression in-company

All start dates

2 training days. Confirmed dates first, then in order of date.

  • Wed 27 Jan & Wed 10 Feb 2027Certain to go ahead Groningen · 10:00–17:00 · trainer GarbrandFree cancellation until 30 December Enrol
  • Fri 6 & Fri 20 November 2026 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 9 October Enrol
  • Fri 20 Nov & Fri 4 Dec 2026 Utrecht · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 23 October Enrol
  • Tue 1 & Tue 15 December 2026 Online · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 3 November Enrol
  • Tue 22 Dec 2026 & Tue 5 Jan 2027 Arnhem · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 24 November Enrol
  • Wed 27 Jan & Wed 10 Feb 2027 Online · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 30 December Enrol
  • Wed 27 Jan & Wed 10 Feb 2027 Zwolle · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 30 December Enrol
  • Wed 10 & Wed 24 February 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 13 January Enrol
  • Mon 22 Mar & Mon 5 Apr 2027 Eindhoven · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 22 February Enrol
  • Mon 12 & Mon 26 April 2027 Rotterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 15 March Enrol
  • Tue 25 May & Tue 8 Jun 2027 Utrecht · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 27 April Enrol
  • Mon 2 & Mon 16 August 2027 The Hague · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 5 July Enrol

No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.

This course for your team?

Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.

  • Your date and location
  • Tailored content
  • Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
  • More than 25 years' experience
Request a quote No obligation, an adviser will be in touch shortly How in-company works

What others say about this course

8.5
Dealing with Aggression course: average 8.5 from 31 reviews

“It is a good course from which everyone can take away points and methods to improve their own communication skills in situations where aggression occurs or may occur.”

J. van den Oever - Enexis Groep8.8

“Very practical and pleasant course in which theory and practice complement each other well.”

Joey Wiegman
Versluisgroep B.V.
8.9

“It's a very practical training course, immediately applicable. The theoretical side was interesting too and reinforced the practical part. Practising with an actor was nerve-racking but incredibly instructive. I think I can handle aggression better now.”

Andrea Dijkman-Stam
INOVA
8.5

“Good course with a perfect balance between theory and practice, and what you learn is easy to apply in your daily work.”

P.C. Klink
Fides Wonen
9.0

“Instructive course that I can do something with in my work.”

P. Prins
Fides Wonen
8.9

“I found it a very instructive and also enjoyable course. Good exercises that you can certainly do something with! I found the aggression course very interesting. For learning to deal with certain circumstances, but also for getting to know a part of yourself! I really enjoyed doing the course!”

A. Tauran
Ad Hoc
8.9

Training formats

Classroom

2 days€ 1250,-
  • Pleasant venue with a good trainer
  • Small groups
  • Inspiring and motivating
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Online

2 days€ 1080,-
  • Online with a trainer
  • Personal
  • Practical and interactive
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In-company

Bespoke trainingOn request
  • 100% for your group
  • Bespoke training
  • At your place or ours
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Workshop

Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request
  • Suitable for events
  • Interactive and inspiring
  • Large groups too
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Private training

At our place or yoursOn request
  • 100% just for you
  • Achieve a lot in little time
  • Whenever you want
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Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel free of charge?

Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.

Who is the Dealing with Aggression course suitable for?
The Dealing with Aggression course is suitable for anyone who encounters verbal or physical aggression at work. Think of care workers, social workers, police staff, bailiffs, employees of local authorities and other government bodies, and people working at a reception desk, helpdesk or customer service department. No prior knowledge is required; you start with an intake in which your own learning objectives are central.
Which topics are covered in the Dealing with Aggression course?
The Dealing with Aggression course covers three main themes: aggression and conflict (types of conflict, forms of aggression), dealing with aggressive behaviour (problem analysis, listening-summarising-asking further questions, assertiveness, setting boundaries, staying calm under criticism) and the organisational side (an open culture, buddy support, reporting incidents). You practise with situations from your own working practice and finish with an action plan for collegial support.
Do you receive a certificate after the Dealing with Aggression course?
Yes, on completing the Dealing with Aggression course you receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. To qualify, you attend both course days actively and take part in the practical exercises and reflection sessions. The certificate confirms that you have been trained in de-escalating conversation techniques, setting boundaries and dealing professionally with verbal and physical aggression.
What is the teaching method of the Dealing with Aggression course?
The Dealing with Aggression course is taught in a classroom setting, alternating between experiencing, practising behaviour, reflecting and exploring theory. You work with real situations from your own job, so that you immediately notice the effect of new behaviour. Beforehand you have an intake meeting in which you formulate your personal learning objectives. On that basis the trainer determines the final programme.
Can the Dealing with Aggression course be taken in-company or as a bespoke course?
Yes, the Dealing with Aggression course is available as an in-company course and as a bespoke programme. You always start with an individual intake interview in which you formulate your personal learning objectives. The final programme is determined on that basis, tailored to your profession, practical situations and prior knowledge. This way, the course matches exactly the threatening situations you encounter in your work.
How do I know whether the Dealing with Aggression course suits my situation, or whether I would be better off choosing another course?
This course suits you if you regularly have to deal with verbal or physical aggression in your work and want to strengthen your basic attitude and conversation skills. Think of care workers, support workers, bailiffs, reception staff and civil servants at organisations such as UWV, SVB or a local authority. The focus is on de-escalation through conversation techniques (listening, summarising, asking follow-up questions), self-knowledge and setting boundaries. If you work in an environment where physical restraint or arrest techniques are central, a specific resilience or physical intervention course is more appropriate. If you mainly want to learn to deal with difficult customers without aggression, a course on customer conversations is a better fit. Still in doubt? In the individual intake you determine together with the trainer whether your learning objectives fit within this course.
What will I learn in this course that I cannot get from a book or an online video about de-escalation?
The difference lies in practising with your own behaviour under pressure. You can indeed read up on the theory of aggression and de-escalation, but the Dealing with Aggression course is about experiencing, experimenting and reflecting in a classroom setting. You practise conversation techniques such as listening, summarising, asking follow-up questions and setting boundaries on situations from your own practice. A trainer and fellow participants give you direct feedback on your body language, timing and tone. You will not get that from a video. You also work on self-knowledge: you learn to recognise your own pitfalls and triggers, so that you can separate emotions from the situation. Following an intake, the programme is tailored to your profession and learning objectives. Self-study is useful as preparation; changing behaviour requires practice with real interaction.
What is the difference between this course and a physical resilience course or a self-defence course?
Learnit's Dealing with Aggression course focuses on de-escalating threatening situations through conversational skills, self-knowledge and a professional attitude. The focus is on verbal techniques such as listening, summarising, probing, setting boundaries and responding assertively. You learn how your response can prevent a situation from escalating. A physical resilience course or self-defence course, by contrast, focuses on physical techniques for the moment when aggression has already turned physical. This course does cover the physical and mental effects of aggression, but it does not teach you fighting techniques. If you work in a role in which physical confrontations occur regularly, this course is a good addition to a physical resilience course, not a replacement for it.
How quickly can I apply what I learn in this course in my work, and how long does the effect last?
You can try out the de-escalation techniques (listening, summarising, asking follow-up questions, setting boundaries, responding assertively) in your work straight after the first course day. There is deliberate space between day 1 and day 2 to practise in your daily work; on day 2 you reflect on those experiences and adjust your approach. For lasting behavioural change, repetition and conscious practice are needed. The course encourages ownership of your own development process, so that you continue to develop afterwards as well. Part of the course is an action plan for buddy support, allowing colleagues to keep supporting each other in the workplace. Compared with a one-off workshop, the effect is more lasting because you work with cases from your own practice and personal learning objectives from the intake.
What happens if, during the course, I notice that a specific situation from my work really affects me. Is there room for that?
Yes. The Dealing with Aggression course starts with an individual intake in which you put forward your personal learning objectives and situations from your own practice. The programme is determined on that basis. During the course, experiencing, experimenting, reflecting and theory alternate, and your own cases form the starting point for the exercises. This means that a situation that affects you can literally be discussed and practised. Explicit attention is paid to the physical and mental effects of aggression, to your own pitfalls and to separating emotions from the situation. At the end, you jointly draw up a plan for collegial support (buddy support), so that you are not left alone with what you experience in the workplace after the course either.
How does this course compare with an e-learning course or webinar on handling aggression. What does the classroom format add?
The Dealing with Aggression course is classroom-based. The difference with an e-learning or a webinar lies mainly in practising behaviour under pressure. In an e-learning you get theory about types of conflict, forms of aggression and conversation techniques such as listening, summarising and asking follow-up questions. What you don't get there: practising live with a trainer and fellow participants, direct feedback on your body language and voice, and experiencing your own reaction when someone is standing in front of you. It is precisely that experience that determines whether your techniques also work in a real situation. A webinar is suitable for building up knowledge beforehand; the classroom course is suitable if you want to change your basic attitude and your pattern of reaction. An intake interview takes place beforehand, so that the programme matches your own working practice.
What does the Dealing with Aggression course cost and how long does it take?

You can find the current price at the top right of this course page, along with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

Confirmed: Wed 27 Jan & Wed 10 Feb 2027 in Groningen, can also be attended online

This date already has enough participants. Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.

€ 1250,-excl. VAT · confirmed on Wed 27 Jan
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