
Cultivating Hope with Suicidal Clients
A practical framework for compassionate, life-saving therapy
This training will focus on science-informed, compassionate approaches to risk assessment and therapy with suicidal patients. Dr. Gordon will share practical take-aways that build clinician confidence and skills surrounding suicide. Grounded in clinical experience and research, attendees will learn the latest discoveries about the nature of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self-injury. Dr. Gordon will also share tips for effective suicide risk assessment with at-risk patients. Clinicians will learn the most effective frontline suicide risk reduction approaches, including formulating safety plans, involving patient supports, and lethal means restriction. Dr. Gordon will additionally share strategies and resources for culturally responsive crisis planning. Considerations related to appropriate clinical documentation for working with suicidal patients will be addressed as well.
Informed by research on the interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) and the three-step theory of suicide (Klonsky et al., 2021), clinicians will learn how to conceptualize the specific drivers suicidality for their patients. After learning these models, Dr. Gordon will dive into detail about cognitive-behavioral therapy tools aimed toward easing emotional pain and distress. Clinicians will learn the HOPE framework, which consists of creative ideas for hope-building for suicidal patients. Novel approaches to meaning-making inspired by Dr. Viktor Frankl’s work on meaning will be featured as well. Finally, therapists will learn tools for helping patients to foster connections and relationships in their life.
In addition to discussion about scientific research, comprehensive risk assessment, and cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions for suicidality, Dr. Gordon will focus on specific populations. For example, she will share ideas about coping skills specifically designed for patients who struggle with chronic suicidal ideation. Throughout the training, Dr. Gordon will also highlight areas for culturally-tailored approaches, including for patients who hold marginalized identities. Overall, clinicians will leave this presentation with practical tools they can bring back to their practices.
This training offers 8 CE hours if attended live. We can only provide CE to those who are present via Zoom for the live sessions. However, the sessions will be recorded and available to watch later. Registrants may access these recordings at any time for up to nine months after the live training ends.
Before registering, please review conflict of interest disclosures and complete CE information here.
Session 1 | May 7, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EDT
- Understanding Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Overview, The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, and the Three-Step Theory of Suicide
- Comprehensive Suicide Risk Assessment and Documentation
Session 2 | May 14, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EDT
- Safety Planning and Lethal Means Restriction
- Culturally Responsive Crisis Planning
Session 3 | May 21, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EDT
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Tools for Easing Distress/Emotional Pain
- The HOPE Framework: Hope-Building Strategies for Suicidal Patients
Session 4 | May 28, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. EDT
- Skills for Building Interpersonal Connections
- The Power of Meaning & Conclusions
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the interpersonal theory of suicide.
- Describe the three-step theory of suicide.
- Identify suicide warning signs.
- Formulate a safety plan with patients for suicidal crises.
- Identify ways to increase safety by restricting lethal means during crises.
- Understand therapy tools that help with chronic suicidal thoughts.
- Understand therapy strategies that soothe pain and distress that drive suicidal thoughts.
- Engage in effective approaches for talking about suicide with patients and the supports in their lives.
- Apply interventions related to meaning-making in the face of suffering.
- Describe the HOPE model.
- Identify 3 hope-building strategies.
- Explain how to create a Hope Box.
- Describe therapeutic strategies to help clients strengthen interpersonal connections.
- Identify cultural and other therapeutic considerations for patients who hold marginalized identities.
- Name 2 components of clinical documentation surrounding suicide risk.
- Apply cognitive-behavioral therapy strategies to suicidal thoughts
None
Jobes, D.A., & Joiner, T.E. (2019). Reflections on suicidal ideation. Crisis, 40, 227-301.
Klonsky, E.D., M.C. Pachkowski, A. Shahnaz, and A.M. May. 2021. “The Three-Step Theory of Suicide: Description, Evidence, and Some Useful Points of Clarification.” Preventive Medicine 152: 106549. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106549
Marchetti, I., Alloy, L.B., & Korster, E.H.W. (2023). Breaking the vise of hopelessness: Targeting its components, antecedents, and context. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 16, 285-319.
Van Orden, K.A., T.K. Witte, K.C. Cukrowicz, S. Braithwaite, E.A. Selby, and T.E. Joiner Jr. 2010. “The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.” Psychological Review 117 (2) 575–600. http://doi.org.10.1037/a0018697
Rogers, M.L., A.R. Gai, A. Lieberman, K. Musacchio Schafer, and T.E. Joiner. 2022. “Why Does Safety Planning Prevent Suicidal Behavior?” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 53 (1): 33–41. http://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000427
Coppersmith, D.D.L., O. Ryan, R.G. Fortgang, A.J. Millner, E.M. Kleiman, and M.K. Nock. 2023. “Mapping the Timescale of Suicidal Thinking.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (17): e2215434120. http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2215434120
Bush, N.E., S.K. Dobscha, R. Crumpton, L.M. Denneson, J.E. Hoffman, A. Crain, R. Cromer, and J. Kinn. 2015. “A Virtual Hope Box Smartphone App as an Accessory to Therapy: Proof-of-Concept in a Clinical Sample of Veterans.” Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 45 (1): 1–9. http://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12103
Stanley, B., G.K. Brown, L.A. Brenner, H.C. Galfalvy, G.W. Currier, K.L. Knox, S.R. Chaudhury, A.L. Bush, and K.L. Green. 2018. “Comparison of the Safety Planning Intervention with Follow-Up vs. Usual Care of Suicidal Patients Treated in the Emergency Department.” JAMA Psychiatry 75 (9) 894–900. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1776
We understand, sometimes things come up!
Praxis will offer a full refund to registrants of both live and live-online trainings who cancel their registration up to 14 days before the course or workshop start date, minus an administrative processing fee of $30 for a 2-day workshop or online course, and a $50 fee for a 4-day workshop. If cancelled within 14 days, no refund will be issued, however, a credit for the same amount will be applied toward another learning product, which expires within 1 year. Please email us at online@praxiscet.com to cancel a registration.