Public Safety
Preventing Targeted Violence (PTV)
Preventing Targeted Violence is an umbrella term that includes mass casualty incidents, active shooter events, attacks on locations, and assaults on individuals who represent something to the assailant—whether that’s a group they hate or a grievance they carry. While this was once seen primarily as a federal government responsibility, it has become clear that prevention is really a community-based effort. The most effective solutions lie with parents, schools, frontline public safety workers, and behavioral health providers.
Colorado has unfortunately experienced several of these incidents since the Columbine High School shooting, which has positioned our state as a hub for research and the development of best practices to stop these tragedies before they occur.
Dr. Nielsen has been a leader in this field, particularly from a behavioral health perspective. She continues to support prevention efforts in Colorado and beyond through direct case management, threat assessment, therapy, family support, professional consultation, training, and public speaking. Her work has helped shape strategies at the state level and strengthened the collective response to targeted violence.
Behavioral threat assessment management:
Dr. Nielsen presenting on Info Sharing in BTAM at the 2025 NTAC Symposium.
Through Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, many potential attacks have been prevented—and just as importantly, many individuals have received the support they needed to address the underlying issues that were leading them down a pathway toward violence.
Wellness & resiliency
Critical Incident Debrief
Psychoeducational Training
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Wellness Screening
Following the format created by Dr. Nielsen, these Wellness Screenings serve as an alternative to traditional pre-employment screenings. They are especially recommended for new hires, helping establish a positive association with behavioral health early in their careers. It can also be administered following a critical incident or on an annual basis. The initial assessment provides a baseline, with subsequent assessments allowing for meaningful comparisons over time.
Each assessment includes a structured interview covering 10 domains of wellness, along with four standardized screening measures for depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and trauma.