75 | Heart of STEPS: State, Source, Span & Scenario

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In this episode we move from concept to practice, stepping into the four anchors at the centre of the STEPS model: State, Source, Span, and Scenario.

Through Ari’s story, we show how to:

• Locate where someone is right now (State).
• Trace what hurts most and what values are under threat (Source).
• Map how risk ebbs and flows, and how close someone has come to crossing the ideation–action divide (Span).
• Co-create what if / if…then… plans that make the future safer and more liveable (Scenario).

We also weave in the four types of risk—static, stable, dynamic, and fluid—and explain why warning signs trump risk factors, as well as the distinctions between acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic presentations. Together, these elements shift our practice from prediction to prevention, from deficits to assets, and from TOP (The Only Professional) to TAP (Together As Partners).

You’ll learn:
 • How to integrate State–Source–Span–Scenario into real conversations.
 • Practical ways to keep the ideation–action divide open.
 • How to embed risk awareness into collaborative, values-based safety planning.

Next time, we’ll step into the HOPE framework—grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy—to explore how values can be woven into daily conversations as anchors of safety and recovery.

Content note: This episode discusses suicide. If you are struggling right now, please reach out to local crisis supports or someone you trust.

Connect with Assoc Prof Manaan Kar Ray on Linkedin
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