Threat Assessment vs. Risk, Needs, and Strength Assessment

Threat Assessment

The purpose of threat assessment is to determine whether or not the person poses a risk of violence to themselves or others. It is based on empirical indicators with a risk determination typically of low, med, or high. It is typically done using a structured professional judgment measure as discussed earlier.

Broader Assessment

Mental health specialists who are working with client in another capacity, such as providing counseling or psychotherapy over time, need to conduct a broader assessment focused on 

understanding the person’s vulnerabilities, needs, and strengths.  This can be done using a clinical interview supplemented with some assessment tools.  Conceptually, this assessment is grounded in a socio-ecological model and/or a biopsychosocial model.   

Dr. Heidi Ellis teaches how this type of broader assessment is necessary for launching successful interventions.  She focuses on three main areas of assessment:  

• Strengths and needs, which includes looking at social, cultural, relational psychological and practical factors; 
• Risk, which involves both the individual’s risk for violence but also any potential risk to the individual;
• Barriers that might impact their engagement in intervention (practical, cognitive, and emotional).

The mental health specialist should work towards developing a formulation which examines any possible relationships between these three areas.  For example, a person may have vulnerabilities related to prior traumatization and loss, which leaves them isolated and depressed, and open to the messaging of an extremist group offering them empowerment and community. 

It is especially important to consider the person’s strengths and other protective factors which could be mobilized through interventions (at any level) so as to render the person less vulnerable to involvement with an extremist organization.  For example, by strengthening their social relations with peers and helping them to feel more positive about themselves.  

Mental health specialists who are either planning for or engaging in the management and treatment of a client, should consider supplementing the more focused threat assessment with this broader assessment of strengths and needs, risks, and barriers.