Description: Effective counseling with suicidal clients requires the development and maintenance of a strong therapeutic alliance. However, unmanaged countertransference (CT) can inhibit the alliance. This article provides strategies for enhancing CT awareness in counselors to support alliance building with clients after a client suicide attempt. The authors define CT in the context of suicide, introduce affective constellations as a method for CT awareness, and apply the methodto a case vignette. A figure for self-reflection and supervision is provided.
Objectives:
Examine strategies for enhancing countertransference awareness in counselors working with suicidal clients
Explore affective constellations as a method for countertransference awareness
*Counselors requiring New York State approval must contact ACA upon completion to obtain customized CE certificate
Based on a study of more than 12,000 callers to a suicide prevention hotline, the goal of this session is to take the mystique out of conceptualizing suicidality and to present an evidenced-based, comprehensive model of suicide assessment. Issues of working with a diverse clientele, clinical supervision, documentation, and treatment planning will be highlighted in the context of comprehensive suicide assessment.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will learn about a new evidenced based, comprehensive model of suicide assessment.
Attendees will discuss not only how to assess clients with this model of suicide assessment but also how to document suicidality and integrate suicide assessment into continuous treatment planning.
Attendees will discuss the implications and practicality of this model in clinical practice and clinical supervision.
