Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention
***This CE Event fulfills the 6-hour California State Requirement for Licensure (Assembly Bill No. 1436)***
Course Description
Suicide rates continue to rise globally, and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. As therapists, we know we should assess for suicidality, and we create a plan for treatment, but having a suicidal client in our office can elicit fear, worry, and anxiety. We understand the seriousness of the situation; however, there are many myths about suicide. Therapists worry they are not knowledgeable enough; they are fearful of saying the wrong thing or worse yet, not asking the right questions. Therapists wonder what assessment to use; we ponder about our liability and where to send our client for more intensive services.
Therapists often feel unprepared and unequipped to deal with the challenges of treating a suicidal client. Research shows that often that client ends up being passed from therapist to therapist without ever receiving optimal care or even the basics of the standard of care.
When Judy and Sherry heard that there was a new requirement for suicide assessment and intervention, they wanted to create a class that they would sit through and learn usable, valuable information. They wanted to create a class that was chock full of information and would allow for participants to practice new skills. This class will not be boring, and when you leave, you will feel confident in your ability to know how to keep your clients safe.
Topics include:
- COVID 19 Now what?
- Cultural differences in suicide rates among special populations and creation of safety plans
- Review of how suicide affects therapists and bias-related treatment
- Postvention what happens to family and friends?
- Therapist self-care after the event
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss current research findings and statistical data for suicides in the United States.
- Name at least 3 high-risk groups based on current research Identify at least two global facts about suicide
- Describe two preventative factors to reduce suicide risk with clients
- Identify and apply at least one assessment tool for clients
- Create safety plans for clients who present with a high risk of suicide
- Recognize and Identify the risk of suicide for school-based populations
- Identify the laws that govern this profession concerning suicide clients
- Develop knowledge and understanding of how suicide affects therapists
- Describe the cultural differences for suicide rates among populations
About the Presenters
Sherry Shockey-Pope, LMFT, is an author and speaker with twenty years of experience as a therapist. She is Co-owner and Chief of Operations of Central Counseling services, a vibrant group practice. Sherry oversees the day-to-day operations, sees clients, and provides supervision for associates. She is also a trainer for the Academy, a program under San Diego State University Department of Social Work. She received her Master’s Degree from Chapman University.
Judy McGehee, LMFT, has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past twenty-five years. She began working with families in church settings, schools, and addiction treatment Centers. Judy loves working with clients and supervising associate therapists. She has a passion for teaching, and she has mentored over 500 interns/associates. Judy received her Master’s Degree from Phillips Graduate Institute. Judy has worked in many settings, including psychiatric hospitals, children’s centers, private practice, and schools. Currently, Judy is employed as a supervising therapist at Central Counseling Services.
Advanced registration is required for this CE event. Have questions? Please contact Cheryl Clift at (925) 257-2412 or send an email to [email protected].
Refunds for cancellation with 72-hour notice.
*6 CE credits will be provided to qualifying participants. BAPTI is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. BAPTI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CPA Provider #BAY 012. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) now recognizes CPA continuing education credit for license renewal for LCSWs and LMFTs.
Event will not be recorded. Participants must attend entire training to receive CE Credits. No partial credit will be provided.
All proceeds from this event will benefit BAPTI Associates training program which provides support for training prelicensed clinicians obtain licensure while providing sliding scale therapy to the community. To make referrals or to learn more about us, please visit www.BAPTI.org.
