Using the CLCBE framework for challenging discussions

When faced with uncomfortable or hostile situations, the instinct to fight or flee often takes over. But there’s another option. Penn GSE Professor Howard Stevenson, the Constance Clayton Professor of Urban Education, believes managing stress and regulating emotions is achievable through mindfulness and intentional practice.

Stevenson, an expert on racial literacy, trauma, and stress management, developed a framework called CLCBE — short for calculating, locating, communicating, breathing, and exhaling — to help individuals, especially young people, cope with racial insults and threatening language while managing stress in divisive debates or tense situations.

“We teach folks how to notice if they are struggling in conversations, when they’re worried and anticipating what could go wrong, and how to prepare for that with mindfulness approaches,” explained Stevenson, who heads Penn GSE’s Resilience Empowerment Collaborative and is the author of Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference.

CLCBE benefits educators, administrators, and students, and Stevenson has shared the practice with students as young as third graders. An 11th-grade class used the practice to facilitate discussions on LGBTQ+ and partner violence. Educators everywhere can use tools for support like CLCBE.

“Now is exactly the time to use these skills,” he said.

According to Stevenson, the key to success is practice — ensuring these skills are ready when needed. He shares these insights on how to apply CLCBE’s steps and help navigate challenging discussions.

Calculate

Before you react, Stevenson suggests taking stock of your emotional state. Notice your feelings and their intensity, then assign a value. If you’re stressed, rank the feeling on a scale of 1 to 10. Conversely, if you’re hopeful or relaxed, what’s that number?

Locate

Stress usually settles somewhere in our bodies, so determine where you hold tension. That could be a pain in your shoulders, a stiff jaw, or a clenched fist. Try to get as specific as possible.

Communicate

Communication is a two-step process: self-imagery and self-talk. In both ways, people guide themselves through tense situations. Self-imagery refers to images that come to mind when we flashback to past situations, while self-talk is the conversations you have internally during a problematic interaction. Notice how you react during and after these experiences.

Breath and Exhale

Modulating your breath calms the nervous system and helps regulate your mental and physical state. Practice breathing in for six seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, and slowly releasing the breath. The exhale should be longer than your inhale.

Practicing the Practice

Stevenson concluded that if you’ve resolved the tension in your body and internal conflicts to your reaction, you’re better equipped to respond thoughtfully and, if you choose, to use your voice.

“We’re taught to avoid difficult conversations, and we’re so good at it that we need to unteach ourselves,” he said. “We can use CLCBE to prevent the drain and self-doubt from mismanaging resolvable conflicts.”