Pioneering a calmer approach to crisis

From research to revolution

In the late 1990s, Professor Andrew McDonnell began questioning the widespread use of restraint and seclusion in care settings. His research showed that aggressive interventions didn't reduce distress — they escalated it.

Out of this research, the Low Arousal Approach was born. A non-aversive, evidence-based method that focuses on reducing stress, understanding behaviour as communication, and creating environments where people can thrive.

Today, Studio 3 operates across the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and Australia. We've trained over 50,000 professionals, published three books, and built a body of research that continues to change how the world thinks about crisis management.