Rachel Nielsen’s Tips for Addressing Concerning or Threatening Behaviors

Rachel Nielsen created these helpful tips for you to address concerning or threatening behaviors. Please review the image below.

Tips for Addressing Concerning or Threatening Behaviors:

1. Approach the situation with a tone of curiosity, wanting to learn more about the person and understand what is occurring.

2. Avoid getting into a debate about the ideology or belief system itself.

3. Find out more about what is important to the person to leverage strengths.

4. Listen about their struggles and hardships that could lead to a “grudge.”

5. Ask about the important people in their life who could be a positive influence.

6. Show empathy and compassion for their emotions while being careful not to condone dangerous or violent behavior.

7. Be aware of your own beliefs and expectations that could impact your perception of the situation, the level of risk, and your actions (or choice not to act).

8. Explore their sense of identity and belonging, or whether this is a need.

9. Identify their talents, skills, resources, and connections that could be nurtured and provide prosocial outlets.

10. Determine if their basic needs are being addressed and provide resources.

11. Consider your role and what help you can offer to the individual, family, or system.

12. Express concern about what would happen to the individual and others if the person acted in a violent way.

13. As early as possible, be clear and transparent about your role, expectations, potential consequences of working or refusing to work with you, reporting and information practices, and other relevant policies and procedures, laws, rules,

Created by: Dr. Rachel Nielsen

Download PDF HERE