Tightropes & Safety Nets: Counselling suicidal clients

Counsellors talk about their experiences working with suicidal clients: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqo3TQynIKM&list=PLB481EB01AD270A50&index=1

• What thoughts and feelings do you have when working with clients at risk of suicide?  How do these responses shape the counselling relationship?  How do you feel about talking to your client about suicide?

Counsellors' feelings and personal responses

Andrew Reeves discusses the personal and professional inpact on counsellors when a client talks about suicide.

• How do you feel when a client discusses suicidal feelings in sessions?  How might these impact on work with with them?

Exploring suicidal thoughts

Video vignette that illustrates an exploraiton of suicide risk.

• What do you consider to be the key risk and protective factors with Anne in this video example? What factors would inform your decisions about what to do next in response to Anne's level of risk?

Suicide assessment

A video presentation about suicide risk assessment: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VOX5h-pU4

• The assertion is there is no evidence-base for accurately predicting suicide. What are your responses to that assertion?  How do you make sense of risk with your clients?  What information do you use, and how do you obtain that information, to help inform your judgement?

Author Discussion – Suicidal intent

Tim Bond discuss suicidal intent.

• Reflect on your own responses as Tim Bond talks about the management of suicide risk in response to the different situations clients can find themselves in.

Counselling Scenario – Suicidal intent

A client presents with suicidal thinking.

• How did you feel in reponse to the client's thoughts about her future?  What were your thoughts about how the counsellor responded to her client?  Would you have asked the client more explicitly about suicide?