67th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 25

Session 204

Finding Common Ground:  Effective Treatment for Self- harming and Suicidal Clients

Presenter:    Kim Johancen-Walt, M.A., LPC, Assistant Training Director and Counselor, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado

Therapists working with this population have to assess lethality while targeting painful thoughts and feelings fueling potentially life-threatening behavior.  This model allows the therapist to accomplish these tasks effectively.  It blends strategies with assessment tools to create an environment where change can happen for clients whether the therapist is working in individual or group settings. 

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Specify contributing factors to self-harm and suicidal behaviors.

2. Create safety for the client during the initial assessment and throughout treatment.

3. Conduct an extensive behavior assessment.

4. Identify and build on strengths and resiliencies.

5. Demonstrate an ability to use skills and strategies to target specific behaviors.

Course References:

Hollander, Michael (2008).  Helping Teens Who Cut:  Understanding and Ending Self-Injury.  New York:  Guilford Press.

Linehan, M. M., Miller, Al, & Rathus, J. (2007).  Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Suicidal Adolescents.  New York:  Guilford Press.

Selekman, M. D. (2006).  Working with self-harming adolescents:  A collaborative, strengths-based therapy approach.  New York:  W.W. Norton.