Module 2 – Suicidal Clients: What to Watch for and How to Respond Effectively

Credits

Speaker

Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW Related seminars and products

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Paul Brasler, MA, MSW, LCSW, has been a social worker for 25 years. Paul has extensive experience in working with people with substance use disorders, and clients in crisis. Paul has worked in community mental health settings, private practice, emergency rooms, within the court system, and in residential treatment centers, where he had ample opportunities to work with people experiencing crises.

Paul has been a presenter for PESI since 2016, and he has presented classes on mental health emergencies, high-risk clients, and substance use disorder treatment across the country. His first book, High-Risk Clients: Evidence-Based Assessment & Clinical Tools to Recognize and Effectively Respond to Mental Health Crises was published by PESI Media & Publishing in 2019. His second book, A Practical Guide to Substance Use Disorder was published by PESI Media & Publishing in 2022.

Paul lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his beautiful wife, three sons, a rabbit with a serious attitude problem, and a puppy that has ideas on how to manage said rabbit.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Paul Brasler is the owner of Providence Consulting & Education, LLC and has an employment relationship with the Department of Medical Assistance Services. He receives royalties from PESI Publishing & Media. Paul Brasler receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Paul Brasler has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Alternate Options

Objectives

1. Complete a comprehensive mental health assessment that encompasses a multitude of clinical concerns including mental status, lethality, substance abuse and trauma.
2. Determine when to hospitalize clients struggling with suicidal ideation, substance abuse, medical concerns or violent urges and develop protocols for doing so.
3. Provide coping strategies and support to clients presenting with suicidal ideation by helping to create a safety plan in session.
4. Assess for risk of client violence towards others and develop strategies to safely intervene as well as effectively carry out the clinician’s duty to protect.
5. Determine signs and symptoms of intoxication, withdrawal, or overdose in clients and develop plans for effective intervention.
6. Differentiate between medical and psychological presenting concerns as they relate to case conceptualization.

Outline

• Conduct comprehensive assessments
• Strategies for eliciting the right information
• What to ask yourself as you watch the client
• Can the client provide informed content?
• Limitations of the research & potential risks

• Who is most at risk?
• Implicit & explicit expressions of suicidal ideation & intent
• Lethality assessment to protect client & clinician
• Self-injurious behavior & suicidal ideation
• How to conduct a suicide assessment
• Safety planning for clients with suicidal ideation
• When to hospitalize
• Voluntary vs. involuntary hospitalization
• When clients are not admitted to the hospital

• Dealing with our fears: Clinicians’ safety
• When the clinician is the target
• When others are the target
• De-escalation techniques
• Preventative planning
• When to call 911
• The hospitalization process
• Duty to Protect (formerly Duty to Warn)

• Signs of intoxication
• Imminent risk: Signs & symptoms of overdose
• Identify withdrawal syndromes
• Treatment planning
• Drug basics that clinicians should know
• Need-to-know street names of common drugs
• When and how to refer to a higher level of care

• What could kill the client first?
• Medical emergencies that present with psychological symptoms
• Signs & symptoms of a medical emergency

• Recognize trauma in clients
• Dangers of misdiagnosis & improper treatment
• Strategies for trauma-informed care

• Protect your license with documentation
• Debriefing & supervision
• Address vicarious trauma
• Mitigate compassion fatigue

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