Dr. Merrill Winston at FABA 2025: Why Restraint Isn’t the Enemy

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 Intro00:28 Welcoming Dr. Merrill Winston01:45 Physical restraint vs. physical prompting04:20 When are prompts turning into restraints07:20 The truth about misaligned motivations10:05 Informed consent vs. cooperation from parents13:16 Malice, incompetence & real goal15:44 How Dr. Winston got into crisis management21:23 Lessons from 25 years of restraint cases23:34 Police, parents, and the realities of restraint29:06 Advice for young professionals in the field