Who we support
At Studio 3, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, especially in moments of distress. As the originators of the Low Arousal Approach, we walk alongside you, bringing clarity and dignity to complex systems of care.
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Training Services
Training that builds calm, confident and safer responses
Studio 3 delivers practical training that helps people respond to distress with calm, clarity and confidence.
From Low Arousal Approaches and Managing Signs of Distress to Crisis Management and Train the Trainer programmes, our courses are grounded in real situations and real pressures.
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"Simply the best training and support system for developing effective and ethical staff capabilities in Low Arousal interventions."
The impact
we make
A large adult service in Nova Scotia was relying on physical interventions and seclusion to manage distress. Staff injuries were rising. Crisis was escalating, not reducing.
The organisation committed to the Low Arousal Approach, embedding it through leadership, training and sustained support.
Over five years, everything changed.
Reduction in
behaviours of
concern
40%
Reduction in staff injuries caused by aggression
69%
Reduction in staff time lost due to injury
68%
Reduction in
staff injury
claim costs
96%
Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Clinical support that brings stability, safety and clearer direction
Studio 3 provides specialist clinical support to organisations working with children and adults in situations of high complexity, distress and risk.
Our work focuses on understanding what sits behind behaviour, reducing escalation and helping services create safer, more sustainable environments.
"Studio 3 have been part of our business for 15 years, offering help and guidance, mainstream and bespoke training as well as thorough and expert assessments for a range of conditions."
Organisations we work with
Submit Referral
If you would like to refer an individual for support, please select the appropriate referral form below. Once submitted, a member of the Studio 3 team will review the information and respond as soon as possible.
From Reflection
to Action
Our podcast, hosted by Professor Andy McDonnell, explores low arousal practice in the real world.
Honest conversations with practitioners, leaders and partners about what helps, what gets in the way and how thoughtful approaches lead to better outcomes for people and teams.
Practical. Grounded. Human.
FAQ's
No. Services for families are designed for anyone supporting a person at home.
No clinical experience or prior knowledge needed.
Yes. The Low Arousal Approach focuses on understanding distress, not on labels. Many families come to us before, during, or without a formal diagnosis.
Training gives you practical skills and strategies to support someone day-to-day. A clinical assessment provides a formal evaluation - autism, ADHD, trauma, and more, with tailored recommendations. Many families use both.
Yes. Live online training runs regularly and is accessible from anywhere. Clinical pathways include both online and in-person options depending on location.
Start with the contact form or a referral submission. A member of our team will point you to the right pathway based on your situation.
5 common questions
It's a values-led, evidence-based approach to supporting people in distress. Developed by Professor Andy McDonnell in the late 1980s, it focuses on reducing stress and avoiding crisis, starting with how supporters behave, not just how the individual does.
Studio 3 are the originators. Professor Andy McDonnell developed the approach over 30 years ago, and Studio 3 remains the only organisation that officially trains people in it.
No. The approach applies across learning disabilities, mental health, education, residential care, acquired brain injury, and family settings.
Rarely, and only as a last resort. The approach is built on prevention, de-escalation, and changing the supporter's response — not controlling the individual's behaviour.