Implement a Comprehensive Protocol for Effective Assessment and Management of Clients Who are at Risk for Suicide

What would you do?

Imagine that you are seeing a client online and he or she reveals that they have suicidal ideation, intention, a plan and the means to carry it out. Then, in the course of the session, they abruptly hit the exit button AND LEAVE THE SESSION. 

What are the clinician’s responsibilities and ethical mandates? 

What is the possible fallout for your organization?

Does your organization need a comprehensive protocol for managing clients with suicidal ideation?

My step-by-step protocol addresses this and other possible situations so that your organization is proactive and not reactive in this extremely important challenge.

In addition, I offer training for your staff in the protocol and I teach them effective techniques and interventions for high-risk clients.

Your clinicians will learn how to recognize decision points, understand best practices, and implement evidence-based techniques.

These are some of the issues we will consider:

Trying to decide if your client needs hospitalization is a difficult call to make. An inpatient setting for protection from suicide can be life-saving.  However, in a hospital, the precautions that are necessary to save your client’s life are also extremely restrictive and can feel harsh. These clients may already be depressed, or vulnerable for other reasons.

People are saved by hospitalization, but some may also fair worse after the experience. You do not want to put a client through the experience of hospitalization, when, in reality, they didn’t really need it.  Importantly, you do not want to fail to hospitalize a client who does really need it. As the clinician, you don’t want to make the wrong call. 

How can a clinician make the right call?

• I teach best practices for making the most responsible decision about whether your client needs hospitalization or not.  I show you what you need to know and what you need to do.

• I offer an explanation of what happens when a client goes to the hospital for inpatient assessment and stabilization.  What is that experience like for the client?

• I will show how to implement a safety plan during the first session and how to use it effectively across sessions.

My step by step protocol and training addresses the possible problems an organization must be prepared for in order to guard the safety of their clients, their clinicians and the organization.

Implement a thorough plan with clear steps for risk management and effective suicide prevention.

Email, call me or use the button below to schedule a free consultation.