Suicide Risk Assessment and Management
one day workshop for psychotherapists and counsellors
10am to 4pm
By the end of this workshop you will be able to:
Learning Objectives:
- Define what is meant by suicidality and the spectrum of suicidal risk
- Identify common risk factors and pathways to suicidal behaviour
- Identify the therapeutic challenges of working with the suicidal client
- Describe the basic steps of a suicide risk assessment using a variety of assessment tools
- Identify the appropriate steps to take to manage suicidality, according to level of risk
Workshop content:
- Overview of suicide trends and statistics in the UK and across the world
- Emerging themes and risk factors
- Clinical definitions of suicidal behaviour
- Spectrum of suicidal risk
- Relationship between suicide and mental health diagnosis
- The psychology of suicide
- Understanding ambivalence and suicidality
- Joiners Interpersonal Theory of Suicidal Behaviour
- Further clinical features
- Relationship between suicidality and self-injury
- Practical issues for therapists
- Risk assessment: basic principles, actuarial and clinical approaches
- Risk assessment: brief assessment tool; CAMS framework
- Risk management: high, medium and low risk options, safety plans, crisis management, problem solving, distress tolerance
- Support for therapists: self-care resources
Workshop methods:
- Information sharing
- Group discussion
- Small group work
- Practical exercises
- Role play triads
- Handouts and electronic resources
Training fees:
- One day course: £750 (6 hours) inclusive of materials.
- Half-day course: £400 (3 hours) inclusive of materials.
- Travel outside the M25 area will be charged at standard rail fare.