Friday, September 26, 2014

Announcing the release of Brian Van Brunt's new book: Harm to Others: The Assessment and Treatment of Dangerousness


"This wonderful book is a multidisciplinary and much-needed guide for all of us working in the field of risk assessment for violence. Dr. Van Brunt blends his extensive academic and clinical skills to offer invaluable principles, concepts, and approaches.

I have worked in this field for many years and have amassed a lot of experience, and I will have this book on my desk so I can refer to it every time I get that gut-wrenching call that begins, 'I am worried that this person could act out violently. What should I do?'" (This opinion is not the opinion of the FBI. It is solely the opinion of Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole.)


-Mary Ellen O'Toole, PhD
Author, Speaker, Senior FBI Profiler (ret.), Forensic Behavior Consultant

"Brian Van Brunt has written a remarkable book. He not only provides comprehensive guidelines for evaluating dangerousness, but unlike many authors on this topic, he goes beyond evaluation to explore numerous treatment approaches for helping people at risk for violence to live safe, productive lives. This book is a unique contribution to the field of violence prevention."

-Peter Langman, PhD
Author of Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters
and School Shooters: Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators

Harm to Others offers students and clinicians an effective way to increase their knowledge of and training in violence risk and threat assessment, and it also provides a comprehensive examination of current treatment approaches. Although the text includes many examples from K-12 and college/university settings, which are particularly relevant for mental health professionals in school settings, the underlying concepts and suggestions are useful for counselors, psychologists, and social workers who face these issues in their daily practice.

In an easy-to-understand, jargon-free manner, Dr. Van Brunt shares his observations, extensive clinical expertise, and the latest research on what clinicians should be aware of when performing risk and threat assessments. In addition, he offers numerous examples from recent mass shootings and rampage violence to help explain the motivations and risk factors of those who make threats. Two detailed case examples are presented to illustrate key concepts related to assessing dangerousness. Treatment options are then described, using a variety of diverse case studies to demonstrate concrete approaches for clients who have been identified as at risk for violence following a threat assessment.



No comments:

Post a Comment