In-Congress Workshop 25 - Cognitive-behavioral Therapy to Help Suicidal Patients Choose to Live (With an Extra Spotlight on Vulnerable Populations, Including Refugees, Sexual Minorities)

This presentation focuses on helping therapists utilize best practices in cognitive-behavioral therapy to safely, effectively manage and treat suicidal patients. Emphasis will be given to the careful building of a collaborative therapeutic relationship with suicidal patients, as well as helping practitioners to: (1) identify the maladaptive thinking processes characteristic of suicidal patients, (2) assess the patient‘s level of risk, (3) conceptualize the suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors of patients (to understand their function and logic), (4) devise an array of interventions in order to reduce the patients' sense of helplessness and hopelessness, and to increase their self-efficacy, sense of purpose, and capacity for positive feelings, (5) compose safety plans, and meet the standards of care that are necessary to minimize risk, (6) balance ethical principles in making decisions about potential hospitalization of patients, (7) utilize self-help skills to cope with treating suicidal patients, and to maintain optimal perspective-taking and good judgment during times of stress. Special emphasis will be placed on cognitive-behavioral interventions such as problem-solving, increasing attachments to people and activities, modifying “suicidogenic beliefs” and related schemas, practicing self-compassion and self-care, and striving to improve quality of life. These procedures will be linked to research on the cognitive characteristics of suicidal patients, including hopelessness, morbid perfectionism, dichotomous thinking, and poor autobiographical recall. Clinical vignettes and at least one video will be presented to illustrate the above methods. This workshop will touch upon the topic of how therapists emotionally respond in working with high-risk patients, including methods of coping in the aftermath of a patient's completed suicide. The workshop will also spotlight the special problems that vulnerable populations (e.g., refugees; sexual minorities) face, and how clinicians can be extra sensitive and responsive in the care of suicidal patients from these groups.