4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Advanced Threat Assessment and Management is presented by Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program focuses on threat assessment for targeted or intended violence. Content includes differences between threat assessment and more traditional violence risk assessment, data on affective (reactive) v. predatory (instrumental) violence, a theoretical typology of warning behaviors--accelerating patterns of risk in such cases--and some confirmatory empirical data, and specific findings from various domains of targeted violence, such as stalking, lone-actor attacks, radicalization, and domestic terrorism. The program includes a review of the relevant language, ethnic, cultural, and racial differences applicable to the process of threat assessment. Several structured assessment methods to manage threats across a variety of settings are reviewed. The program identifies emerging empirical research on threat assessment and reviews multiple management strategies tailored to the reduction of threats. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe key behavioral, emotional, and biological differences between reactive/expressive and proactive/predatory violence
  • 2 Describe the relevant components of an effective threat versus risk assessment protocol
  • 3 Describe and operationalize proximal and distal warning behaviors
  • 4 Describe a process of how to integrate relevant cultural, racial, and ethnic factors as well as language differences within a threat assessment protocol
  • 5 Describe available structured professional judgment tools for threat management and intervention purposes
  • 6 Describe key elements for threat assessment across contexts, such as stalking, and lone-actor, including domestic terrorism, workplace, and K-12 settings
  • 7 Describe concrete strategies of how to orally and in writing communicate with referral source and follow-up for long planning/management

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for psychologists and law enforcement or security personnel who are responsible for conducting threat assessments related to targeted or intended violence. It equips participants with the skills to distinguish between reactive and instrumental violence, recognize warning behaviors, and apply structured assessment methods. Attendees typically have backgrounds in forensic or clinical psychology, public safety, or security operations.

    • Psychologist (forensic, clinical, or public safety)
    • Law enforcement officer (police, detective, threat assessment unit)
    • Security personnel (corporate, institutional, or private sector)
    • Public safety or community threat management professional
    • Mental Health Professional

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in threat assessment for targeted or intended violence.

    Beginner:
    Participants new to threat assessment or with limited experience in differentiating between threat assessment and traditional violence risk assessment, and those seeking foundational knowledge of warning behaviors, structured assessment tools, and the integration of cultural, racial, and language factors.

    Intermediate:
    Participants with some prior exposure to threat assessment concepts who are looking to deepen their understanding of behavioral, emotional, and biological differences in violence types, apply structured professional judgment tools, and enhance their ability to communicate assessment findings across diverse settings.

    Advanced:
    Participants with substantial experience in threat assessment who seek to refine their skills in operationalizing warning behaviors, integrating emerging empirical research, and managing complex cases involving stalking, lone-actor attacks, radicalization, or domestic terrorism.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where the assessment and management of potential threats are critical to safety and security. These settings often involve multidisciplinary teams and require collaboration between mental health, law enforcement, and security personnel. Workplaces may include government agencies, law enforcement departments, corporate security offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and community organizations. The environment is often high-stakes, requiring discretion, adherence to legal and ethical standards, and the ability to respond to dynamic and potentially volatile situations.

    • Police departments or specialized threat assessment units
    • Forensic or clinical psychology practices within hospitals or correctional facilities
    • Corporate security offices managing workplace violence prevention
    • University or school threat assessment teams
    • Public safety agencies or community threat management programs
    • Private security firms serving high-risk clients or institutions
    • Mental health clinics collaborating with law enforcement on threat cases

Presented By

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP, Associate Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Kostas A. Katsavdakis, Ph.D., ABPP is board-certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, is an Associate Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and is in independent practice in New York. He has evaluated defendants charged with violent sexual and violent non-sexual offenses. Dr. Katsavdakis also conducts threat assessments for the United States Attorney’s Office Work Trauma Services.  In addition to his forensic work, he also treats adults and juveniles.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Kostas A. Katsavdakis, PhD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Content includes differences between threat assessment and more traditional violence risk assessment

  • Data on affective (reactive) v. predatory (instrumental) violence

  • Theoretical typology of warning behaviors--accelerating patterns of risk in such cases--and some confirmatory empirical data

  • Specific findings from various domains of targeted violence, such as stalking, lone-actor attacks, radicalization, and domestic terrorism

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.