What really counts as a restraint and why does it matter?

Recorded live at the FABA Conference 2025, Dr. Merrill Winston breaks down the thin line between physical prompting and restraint, the hidden dangers of misaligned motivations, and why focusing on “restraint reduction” misses the bigger picture. With over 25 years of experience as an expert witness and crisis management trainer, he shares what schools, parents, and even law enforcement often misunderstand.

Press play and learn why restraint isn’t the enemy and what the real focus should be.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:28 Welcoming Dr. Merrill Winston

01:45 Physical restraint vs. physical prompting

04:20 When are prompts turning into restraints

07:20 The truth about misaligned motivations

10:05 Informed consent vs. cooperation from parents

13:16 Malice, incompetence & real goal

15:44 How Dr. Winston got into crisis management

21:23 Lessons from 25 years of restraint cases

23:34 Police, parents, and the realities of restraint

29:06 Advice for young professionals in the field