Assessment and Treatment of Suicide: A Strengths-Based Approach

[6 Credit Hours]

Online and In-Person Tickets Availble! 

• Make sure to select the correct ticket based on how you choose to attend.
• If after you purchase a ticket you wish to change how you attend, send us an email at trainings@watersedgecounselingnwa.com

CE Credit will not be awarded to those who are not mental health professionals. Completed evaluation will be required for credit for all participants.

Presented By

John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.

Bio:

John Sommers-Flanagan is a professor of counseling at the University of Montana, a

clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including nine books and

many professional training videos. His books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Tough Kids,

Cool Counseling, Clinical Interviewing, and Suicide Assessment and Treatment Planning: A

Strengths-Based Approach. In 2018, he produced a three-part, 7.5-hour suicide training video

with Psychotherapy.net. John has published many newspaper columns, Op-Ed pieces, and has

had articles in Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today, and Slate Magazine. In his wild and

precious spare time, John loves to run (slowly), dance (poorly), laugh (loudly) and produce

home-made family music videos. You can learn more about John and Rita’s latest venture, the

Montana Happiness Project, at montanahappinessproject.com/

Goals

Working with clients who are suicidal can be emotionally activating for all mental health professionals. In reaction to client suicidality, sometimes professionals over-focus on psychopathology and experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. In this session, we will discuss the limits of traditional suicide risk factor assessment, the benefits of counselor-client collaboration, and how using strengths-based principles can help all practitioners be more comfortable and effective when working with suicidality. In this workshop, you’ll learn top tips for integrating a strengths-based mindset and skills into your suicide assessment and treatment repertoire, along with a treatment planning model, specific assessment and intervention techniques, and positive practitioner coping strategies.

Objectives

1. Practice normalizing, mood scaling, and other strengths-based suicide assessment strategies
2. Contrast traditional suicide assessment and treatment principles and practices with strengths-based approaches
3. Implement at least three strengths-based suicide assessment strategies
4. Implement at least six strengths-based suicide interventions
5. Identify methods for practitioner coping and happiness promotion when dealing with suicidality

Schedule

Hour 1: Introduction, Preparation, and Principles

1. Preparation and Learning Objectives and Learning Process
2. Strengths-Based Principles

Hour 2: Suicide Assessment

Strengths-Based Tools for Suicide Assessment

1. A review of traditional and strengths-based suicide assessment
2. Practice normalizing language
3. Practice mood scaling with a suicide floor
4. Watch Kennedy video and discussion/take-aways

Hour Three: Assessment and Treatment Planning

1. Using Assessment Instruments and Questionnaires
2. Suicide Treatment Planning – Seven Dimensions

Hour Four: Suicide Interventions

1. Emotional interventions
2. Cognitive interventions
3. Social/Interpersonal interventions

Hour Five: Suicide Interventions II

1. Physical interventions
2. Cultural/Spiritual interventions
3. Behavioral interventions

Hour Six: Suicide Interventions III and Closing

1. Contextual interventions
2. Closing: Monitor, Care for Yourself, Care for Each Other
3. Resources
4. Bonus slides

Important Policies

Workshop Withdrawal:

Withdrawal requests should be submitted by email to training@watersedgecounselingnwa.com no later than 7 calendar days prior to the  scheduled workshop date in order to receive a full refund of the paid workshop fee.  Withdrawal requests that are submitted after 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled workshop date will result in a refund of the paid workshop fee minus a $50  administrative fee for 2 day training, and a $25 administrative fee for a 1 day training.

Participants who do not attend a workshop and do not submit a withdrawal request as  outlined in the previous section prior to the completion of the workshop will receive a  refund of the paid workshop fee minus a $100 administrative fee. Refunds are  processed within 7 business days of the completion of the workshop.

Workshop Cancellation:

Water’s Edge Counseling, Play Therapy & Training reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient enrollment. Water’s Edge Counseling, Play Therapy & Training will email workshop students at least 5 calendar days in advance of the scheduled workshop date to notify students of the cancellation. Notice will be provided  with the option to reschedule for a future course date or to receive a full refund of paid workshop fees.

Water’s Edge Counseling, Play Therapy & Training reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to inclement weather, instructor illness or instructor family emergency. If  a workshop is canceled, students will be notified via email prior to the workshop start  time. Water’s Edge Counseling, Play Therapy & Training will notify the students of a reschedule date for the workshop within 10 calendar days of the cancelled workshop or  as soon as the reschedule date is known.. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for the future course date or to receive a full refund of the paid workshop fee.

Grievance Policy:

Concerns should be addressed to Water’s Edge Counseling, Play Therapy & Training, 204 S. 24th Street, Rogers, AR 72756 or 1-479-621-0301. or emailed to training@watersedgecounselingnwa.com. When a complaint, either verbally or written is filed with The WEDGE, the following guidelines are followed with respect to achieving resolution.

Complaints relative to a speaker or workshop leader, contents of instructional materials being presented, or an individual education style being utilized, the person bringing the complaint should first address concerns with the presenter. If the presenter is not available, all comments should be placed in writing and sent to training@watersedgecounselingnwa.com. If complaints concern the facility, or CEU's, they should be emailed to training@watersedgecounselingnwa.com or mailed to 204 S 24th Street, Rogers, AR 72758. The CEO and Director of Operations(DO) will attempt to resolve the matter in a timely manner. If the offer of resolution is not satisfactory to the person filing the complaint, then further action may be taken. In this instance, a written request for reconsideration can be sent to attention of the CEO and DO. The complaint will then be reviewed by the CEO, DO and members of the training committee. A written response will be issued within 30 days of receipt of the written complaint. The decision of the CEO and DO is final.

ADA Needs:

We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our office for more information at 1-479-621-0301 or send an email to training@watersedgecounselingnwa.com.