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S.T.A.R.S. MATRIX®

FIELD GUIDE

“While Others React,
S.T.A.R.S. MATRIX Professional Respond”®

www.starsmatrix.org

210-920-5030

drg@starsmatrix.org

S.T.A.R.S. Matrix © 2025 Alcohol Drug Assessment Center, PLLC. All rights reserved.

AFTER 4 - S.T.A.R.S. NO MORE

Baseline Human
1

Level 1 Baseline - (Cool & Calm)

  • S Friendly Collaborative Opening
  • T Active In-Depth Listening
  • A Explore multiple options together
  • R Use detailed nuanced metaphors
  • S Develop Comprehensive Resolution Plan
Warming Up Dolphin
2

Level 2: Mild Agitation (Warming Up)

  • S Acknowledge frustration, calm tone
  • T Validate emotional experience
  • A Introduce simple alternative viewpoints
  • R Use simpler, direct metaphors
  • S Focus on immediate, manageable steps
3

Level 3: Moderate Tension (Heating Up)

  • S Prioritize safety, speak calmly
  • T Brief, focused validation
  • A Offer clear, limited options
  • R Use straightforward, grounding metaphors
  • S Establish clear, immediate boundaries
Boiling Point T-Rex
4

Level 4: High Aggression (Boiling Point)

  • S Focus solely on safety
  • T Minimal perspective acknowledgment
  • A Provide single, clear alternative
  • R Use extremely brief safety-focused metaphors
  • S Immediate safety intervention
5

Level 5: Extreme Crisis (Danger Zone)

  • S Protect life first - emergency commands
  • T NO perspective taking
  • A Minimal to no verbal alternatives
  • R NO metaphors
  • S Emergency intervention only

Key Principle: Adapt Communication to Reduce Tension

FUNCTIONS OF BEHAVIOR

O

OUT

Trying to Escape

  • Arrest
  • Detainment
  • Jail
  • Crisis

W

WATCHED

Wanting Attention

  • Influence
  • Media
  • Reactions
  • Power

L

LOCKED ON

Access to Something

  • Item
  • Person
  • Privilege
  • Job

S

Self-Soothe

Comfort Behavior

  • Pressure
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Tension

O

OUT
= Be the OUT to help them get through the situation

W

WATCHED
= Give them all the attention they need on your terms but remove their audience

L

LOCKED ON
= Be the custodian to help them get their item or person by giving them steps to follow

S

Self-Soothe
= Use the Emotional Contagion Mirror Neuro System to get them to match your calm behavior

VERBAL FRAMES

FIRST-LINE PROTOCOL (Always Deploy 1 & 2 Together)
1. S - Coordination Framing (Create a Connection of being a helper)

Script: "I can see you're dealing with a lot right now. I want to work with you to resolve this safely; I just want to help."

2. T - Deictic Frame Manipulation (Focus on understanding their perspective)

Script: "Help me understand what this looks like from where you stand. I want to understand your perspective."

3. THE CRUCIAL GATEKEEPER: CHECK FOR TSF (Transformation of Stimulus Function)

Verify these physiological success markers before using complex reasoning, metaphors, or plans:

  • [ ] Vocal Tone Normalizing: Volume lowers, speech rate slows down.
  • [ ] Physical Tension Dropping: Dropped shoulders, hands/fists unclenched.
  • [ ] Systemic Stabilization: Breathing slows and deepens, eye contact stabilizes.
THE SECOND-LINE PROGRESSION (Once Calmed to Level 1-2 & TSF Observed)

Are they in (PAST, CURRENT, or FUTURE)

Bring them to Current

If the issue is in the current, take them to the future

4. Temporal Path Creation (Explain the steps of things that will happen)

Field Script: "Let's break this down piece by piece, one piece at a time, so I can completely understand."

5. Hierarchical Path Creation (Take a large problem and break it into small pieces)

Field Script: "Let's focus on the most important issue now and work our way to the other issues after."

Metaphorical Story-Linking (SQUIRREL PEE)

Use When: Subject is locked in direct, logical arguments. (I get it, you feel like you're spinning your wheels in the mud).