1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Violence Risk Communication is presented by Kelly Watt, Ph.D., in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

This program provides an overview of the basic elements and core virtues of risk communication when considering both written and oral reports. How the findings and opinions of violence risk assessments are communicated with others has major implications for helping evaluators to justify decisions, to manage liability, and to prevent violence.

Conducting a violence risk assessment to reach findings and opinions is only the first step in the process of assessing and managing violence risk. How the findings and opinions of this assessment are communicated to others is what is most likely to contribute to the prevention of violence.

This program also discusses key issues influencing risk communication, including the tension between an individual’s right to privacy and a professional’s or organization’s duty to protect.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe an overview of the basic elements and core virtues of risk communication
  • 2 Describe findings and opinions of violence risk assessments
  • 3 Describe major implications for helping evaluators to justify decisions, manage liability, and to prevent violence
  • 4 Describe key issues influencing risk communication, including the tension between an individual's right to privacy and a professional's or organization's duty to protest

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for professionals at all career stages who conduct or communicate the results of violence or sexual violence risk assessments. It is suitable for those specializing in risk assessment, forensic evaluation, or threat management, and is relevant across a wide range of professional environments. The program is appropriate for individuals working in health care, criminal justice, victim services, security, social services, education, and human resources. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced-level clinician, this training will enhance your skills and knowledge in violence risk assessment.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Setting

    • Health care professionals

    • Criminal justice professionals

    • Victim services providers

    • Security personnel

    • Social service workers

    • Education professionals

    • Human resources professionals

    • Anyone involved in risk assessment, forensic evaluation, or threat management

Presented By

Kelly A. Watt, PhD

Dr. Kelly A. Watt works as a Threat Assessment Specialist at Protect International and is a member of the Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute at Simon Fraser University in Canada. Dr. Watt is the editor of the Intelligence newsletter which is disseminated on behalf of threat assessment professional associations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific, and that provides recent advances in research, practice, and the law related to threat assessment around the globe.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Kelly A. Watt, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Provide an overview of risk communication

  • Findings and opinions of violence risk assessment

  • Implications for justifying decisions, managing liability, and preventing violence

  • Key issues influencing risk communication

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.