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From Disclosure to Documentation: Treating Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury

Jaimee Arnoff, Ph.D.
$59.99 USD

Supporting a client through suicidal thoughts or self-harm requires balancing structured assessment with attuned, validating communication. Yet many providers report feeling underprepared to respond with both confidence and precision. This training provides a clear, practical approach to assessing suicide risk, responding effectively to disclosures, and conducting both immediate and ongoing risk evaluations. Participants will learn how to strengthen therapeutic alliance during high-risk conversations, gather deliberation data, implement means-restriction counseling, and collaborate with caregivers while preserving the client’s trust and autonomy. The training also reviews interventions that reduce self-harm urges, increase emotion regulation, and support clients through safety planning. 

 

Participants will leave with scripting tools, assessment frameworks, and concrete clinical skills they can apply immediately when working with youth and adults at risk. As demand for responsive, evidence-based suicide intervention increases, this workshop equips clinicians with practical methods that enhance safety, reduce liability, and foster therapeutic effectiveness.

About the Presenter

Jaimee Arnoff, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience assessing and treating high-risk clients across outpatient clinics, residential programs, and private practice. She also serves as the psychologist for a nonprofit dedicated to youth suicide prevention and has delivered presentations on the topic throughout high schools in New York state.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Assess a client’s risk status and determine when referral to a higher level of care is warranted.
  2. Prepare a developmentally-appropriate safety plan in collaboration with clients and caregivers.
  3. Identify replacement techniques and coping skills that reduce self-harm urges and increase emotion regulation.

Agenda:

0:00 – 0:10 | Introduction and Training Overview

  • Presenter introduction and professional background

  • National prevalence data and current suicide trends

0:10 – 0:30 | Understanding Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury

Format: Lecture + Guided Discussion

  • Definitions of suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI)

    Distinction between passive ideation, active ideation, and self-injury without suicidal intent

  • Risk factors and warning signs for suicide risk

  • Importance of language and stigma reduction in clinical settings

0:30 – 1:00 | Responding to Disclosure and Establishing Safety

Format: Lecture + Guided Discussion

  • Managing clinician emotional reactions while maintaining a calm therapeutic presence

  • Communicating safety, non-judgment, and support during initial disclosures

  •  to Proceed, Why Is This So Important, Behind the Scenes)

1:00 – 1:25 | Suicide Risk Assessment in Clinical Practice

Format: Lecture + Case Activity

  • Conducting a suicide risk assessment

  • Components of risk assessment: plan, access to means, and intent

  • Understanding ambivalence and “deliberation data” in suicide attempts


1:25 – 2:00 | Means Restriction and Ethical Responsibilities

Format: Lecture + Guided Discussion

  • Role of means restriction in suicide prevention

  • Clinical responsibility and duty to take reasonable steps to prevent harm

2:00 – 2:20 | Addressing Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Format: Lecture + Demonstration

  • Assessment of recent self-injury and physical safety considerations

  • Determining the purpose and function of self-harm behaviors

  • Replacement behaviors and harm-reduction strategies

  • Introducing alternative coping methods during moments of crisis

2:20 – 2:40 | Crisis Coping Strategies and Brief Interventions

Format: Lecture + Skills Activity

  • Brief interventions during acute distress

  • Grounding strategies and sensory-based coping techniques

  • Coping kits and skill building for emotional regulation

  • Technology and app-based resources to support coping between sessions

2:40 – 2:55 | Safety Planning and Caregiver Involvement

Format: Lecture + Guided Discussion

  • Components of effective safety plans

  • Warning signs, coping strategies, and emergency contacts

  • Strategies for communicating with caregivers

  • Supporting families in monitoring and responding to risk between sessions

2:55 – 3:00 | Clinical Integration and Closing

Format: Lecture

  • Ongoing risk monitoring and documentation practices

  • Importance of clinician consultation and self-care

  • Final questions and closing remarks

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.