From the District Training:
Assess & Progress: Spotting & Stopping Threats

Violence is inherently self-centered.

A student on the path towards violence is not concerned about the school, the victims, or the consequences. If they were, they wouldn’t be planning harm. 

They’re focused on one thing only and that’s what the violence gives them.

Power.
Control.
Relief.
Recognition.
Revenge.
Escape.

To them, violence is the solution to a personal problem.
Therefore, our approach to prevention must also be personal—to the student. 

Threat assessment interviews often focus just on questions: 

Questions are good and should be used. 

But to a broken mind, sometimes questions can feel like traps and shut down the conversation. Consider adding statements (observations) as another tool in your toolbox to help get students to open up. 

For example: 

The key advantage to a statement is that if you’re wrong, they’ll correct you and for many people making a correction is easier than trying to explain a feeling. 

If you’re right, they’ll open up.
Either way, they talk and that’s good for us.
Talking gives you more insights and facts. 

All of which are crucial for making a great threat assessment. 

10 examples of how you can reword a question into a statement: 

1. You don’t seem like yourself today.
2. I don’t think you want this to end badly.
3. I’ve given several options, but none of them seem right to you.
4. You seem really worried.
5. It sounds like you don’t feel understood (loved, respected, cared for).
6. This must be really difficult for you.
7. Your mom (dad, grandmother, friend, teacher) seems to be the most important person in your life.
8. It sounds like your life feels pretty overwhelming right now.
9. It sounds like school (home, relationships, pressure) is causing you the most stress.
10. I’m afraid I’m not helping you.

Use statements in support of questions.
They can get the student to open up and lead to even more questions. 

Students on the path to violence may not be committed to helping you craft a plan so everyone is safer. But they do want to be seen and understood or at least the feelings driving their actions.

Always make it person.