I work with teens Michael Brown's age and the number one rule is

[gwheezie]

17. I tend to agree with you

I've worked with that age group for decades although the fellas I see are usually high or psychotic. They are agitated and not rational when I meet them.
Sometimes when we decide who will intervene it is me who talks to them because I am not challenging them. Although I have excellent male staff with wonderful skills sometimes a little old lady is clearly no threat.
I talk very softly. Address them as sir. Tell them I'm very sorry this is happening and ask them to tell me what's going on so we can resolve the crisis. I don't get angry and I don't let their fear and angry get me escalated. And I sometimes point out I'm an old fat white woman and smoke 2 packs a day and have a bum knee so I don't want to fight them because that would maker stupid. My repeat clients have been calling me grandma Wheezie for years. I treat them fairly. I care what happens to them. I don't lie. Over years I have built up some relationship with them. Unless you lock someone up for life if you work in the community you are going to run up with them again. What happens the next time depends on how you handle the 1st time. One thing I found is a try to have gum or mints on me. I take out a stick of gum for myself and offer one to the client. It's not what they expect and it's not threatening. It sets the tone. The professional has to set the tone of the intervention.