Suicide Assessment and Intervention: Responding to despair with compassion

This workshop is being offered as two sessions - October 21 & 22, 2023 | 10:00 AM - 1:15 PM.  Registration is for both sessions and you must attend both sessions for a total of 6 CEUs.  This workshop qualifies for the BBS Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention requirement. (https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/suicide_prevention.pdf)

ONLINE ZOOM WEBINAR -  WILL NOT BE RECORDED

Costs: 

Regardless of the setting, working with individuals that are expressing suicidal ideation is something that most social workers will come across multiple times in their careers. Whether working with seniors, young adults or adolescents, those expressing suicidal ideation often present a major challenge for clinicians. In this training, we’ll cover in depth assessment techniques, helpful questions to ask to uncover true intent, techniques to address despair and safety planning. Additionally, emphasis will be given to strategies that clinicians can employ to address their own feelings of overwhelm and support them in caring for themselves, while they care for others.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Develop tools to complete an in depth and thorough lethality assessment
2. Learn strategies to address our own mental health while caring for others
3. Learn how to address and hold clients despair in a compassionate manner
4. Learn strategies to complete a thorough safety plan

About the Presenter:

Chris Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist and Director of the Entertainment Community Fund’s Looking Ahead program, which supports the mental health and well-being of child actors and other professional young performers. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hawaii Pacific University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has worked with youth and families for over twenty years in after school programming, crisis mobile outreach and hospice. He is passionate about promoting mental health and wellness, especially for youth and young adults. In addition to his role with Looking Ahead, he maintains a private therapy practice in Los Angeles and also provides trainings and talks on topics such as suicide prevention, healing from racial trauma and group facilitation. Outside of work, Chris loves traveling with his wife, playing chess and softball, not at the same time and listening to film scores.