1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Specialized Violence: Extremist Violence is presented by Stephen D. Hart, PhD, in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

Extremist violence, also referred to as terrorist violence, is a specific form of group-based violence that is motivated at least in part by ideological, religious, economic, or political beliefs or values. In recent years, violence perpetrated by a wide range of domestic, foreign, and transnational extremists – working as lone actors or as part of organizations – has emerged as a significant threat to national security and public safety. First, this program reviews the concept of extremist violence, including its history, causes, and dynamics. Next, Dr. Hart discusses overlap with other forms of individual and group-based violence. Finally, practical approaches to assessing and managing risk for extremist violence is addressed.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe extremist violence
  • 2 Describe the causes and dynamics of individual violence
  • 3 Describe an overlap of extremist violence with other forms of individual and group violence
  • 4 Describe major approaches to the assessment of extremist violence

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for professionals who assess, manage, or seek to understand risks related to extremist violence, with a focus on ideologically motivated behavior and violence risk assessment. It is ideal for those specializing in forensic psychology, criminal justice, counterterrorism, violence risk assessment, or related fields who wish to deepen their knowledge and skills in evaluating and managing extremist threats.

    • Forensic psychologists
    • Mental health professionals
    • Law enforcement personnel
    • National security personnel
    • Criminal justice professionals
    • Corrections professionals
    • Counterterrorism specialists
    • Security and risk management professionals
    • Social service and community program staff
    • Health care providers involved in violence risk assessment
    • Educators and school safety personnel
    • Human resources professionals managing workplace safety

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in understanding and addressing extremist violence.

      Beginner: Participants new to the topic who seek foundational knowledge about extremist violence, including its definitions, history, causes, and dynamics.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals who complete this training typically work in environments where assessing and managing risks related to extremist violence is critical. These settings are often high-stakes, multidisciplinary, and may involve collaboration across agencies or sectors. The practice setting may involve direct assessment of individuals, policy development, threat management, crisis intervention, or training and consultation roles. These professionals often operate in environments that require confidentiality, adherence to legal and ethical standards, and the ability to respond to dynamic and potentially high-risk situations.

    Examples of practice settings:

    • Forensic psychiatric hospitals and mental health clinics
    • Correctional institutions and probation/parole offices
    • Law enforcement agencies and specialized threat assessment units
    • National security and intelligence agencies
    • Counterterrorism task forces
    • School districts and university campus safety offices
    • Corporate security and workplace safety departments
    • Community-based violence prevention programs
    • Social service agencies supporting at-risk populations
    • Emergency response and crisis intervention teams

Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD, Faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has been on faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University since 1990, and has held the rank of Professor since 2001. He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway between 2000 and 2021. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. He has co-authored more than 250 books, chapters, and articles. He has served as editor of two scientific journals; a member of the editorial board of eight journals; and ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including President of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He has received various distinctions for his professional work, including the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology, the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Research Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. He maintains an active practice in violence risk assessment. He has consulted with government agencies from more than 25 countries; led more than 500 training workshops around the world; and given expert evidence before courts, tribunals, inquests, review boards, and parliamentary committees in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

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Stephen D. Hart, PhD
We are proud to partner with

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

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.