What Therapists Should Actually Do for Suicidal Clients: Assessment, safety planning, and least intrusive intervention

Curt and Katie chat about suicide assessment, safety planning, and how to keep clients out of the hospital. We reviewed the Integrated Motivational Volitional Model for Suicide, we talked about what therapists should be assessing for in every session, what strong assessment looks like (and suggested suicide assessment protocols), and why the least restrictive environment is so important when you are designing interventions and safety planning. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about suicide assessment, safety planning, and intervention

We continue our conversation on suicide, progressing from risk factors (from last week’s episode) to how to assess and safety plan with the least intrusive interventions at the earliest stages. 

Review of the Suicide Model: Integrated Motivational Volitional Model by O’Connor and Kirtley

• Continued to review the IMV model (graphic in the show notes at mtsgpodcast.com)

What should therapists assess for in every session, related to suicide?

“When clinicians are burnt out, when we have caseloads that are too big, when we aren't taking care of ourselves, we tend to [think], “Okay, this client is at a six, they can live at a six for a while,” which is absolutely true. And if they can [live with this level of suicidality], and they have the good factors that allow them to live there – great. It's just how close are they to that 7, 8, 9?” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

Assessment for Suicide

“Assessment is intervention.” – Curt Widhalm, LMFT

The importance of using the least restrictive intervention for suicide

“There is a rupture in the therapeutic relationship when you are sending your client or facilitating a hospitalization against their will. It can save their lives …but that may not always be the case.” – Katie Vernoy, LMFT