Suicide/Violence/Risk Assessment

Attachment theory can inform work with sexually abusive youth. This webinar will describe and discuss the use of attachment theory as a model and methodology by which to better understand the development of juvenile sexually abusive behavior and to better understand individual clients from an attachment-informed perspective. The webinar is not intended as a primer or introduction to attachment theory, but does ill provide a descriptive overview of relevant theoretical models, and includes case studies that highlight the use of attachment theory as a framework by which to understand and explore work with sexually troubled young people and their families. The webinar is designed for those wishing to learn more about attachment theory and its application in treatment with sexually abusive youth.

“The presentation was exceptionally useful in the provision of practical suggestions grounded in dynamic conceptualization. The instructor seemed seasoned in real world experience and this enhanced the context in which she provided research and conceptual information. This presentation will allow me to enhance the specificity and utility of recommendations I make for managing self-harm in high risk and incarcerated children and adolescents.”-Lara H., Psychologist, Texas

Nonsuicidal self-injury is more common than we think. Almost every mental health clinician has come across some form of nonsuicidal self-injury in their careers, and the behavior is on the rise among adolescents and young adults. Yet, rarely do education programs cover anything about nonsuicidal self-injury within their programs, even though it is important for mental health clinicians to be aware of what this behavior is, how to assess it, how it is related yet different from suicidal behavior, and how to intervene and work with clients who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. This seminar will help you understand what nonsuicidal self-injury is, factors to consider when assessing and working with clients, ethical considerations in treatment and breaching confidentiality, and methods of treatment that have been shown to be effective.

“Very helpful and incredibly insightful. Brought ideas and suggestions to the topic I had not thought about.” -Gina F., Social Worker, New York

Bullying has become a high priority problem for many schools. Across the country, most states have passed laws that prohibit bullying and harassment because of the hostile and discriminatory environment that they create. Students who are targeted by bullying suffer educational discrimination as well as a host of internalizing and externalizing problems. Likewise, the effects on bullies and bystanders are not to be dismissed. This webinar will take participants through basic and mid-level information on bullying that will provoke critical thinking about how we have traditionally sought to prevent and respond to this problem. It will consider how context shapes behaviors and how we as adults in the school environment can influence context. Finally, this webinar will look at ways to respond to bullying that avoid the traditional “investigate, interrogate, blame, and punish” approach to solving the problem of bullying.

Mental health and healthcare professionals face many challenges in their everyday work, some of which are clinically more significant than others. These professionals undergo extensive training and education to learn to act in the moment, make sound decisions, and create the best plan of care for their patients and clients. Sometimes, crisis situations arise, however, and even the best-prepared professionals can feel confused or in over their head. The likelihood of a mental health or healthcare professional interacting with a potentially suicidal client in the course of their career is significant, even if that professional does not typical work with a specific suicidal population. The prevalence and significance of suicidality in all age groups additionally increases this potential. For this reason, it is imperative that all professionals understand the warning signs, myths and facts, and urgent first steps when faced with someone who is feeling suicidal.

This presentation reviews overall suicide statistics, various demographic differences, and lifelong risk factors associated with suicidal thoughts. We will examine, in-depth, key terms, do’s and don’ts on talking about suicide, and how to approach and complete a suicide risk assessment. Attendees will gain important factual information as well as new ways to approach clinical work with clients at risk for suicide.

Self-harm, or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is most common among adolescents and young adults. Although NSSI typically decreases in late adolescence, this behavior is one of the strongest antecedents of suicide in youth; and those who engage in repetitive NSSI seem to be at high risk for continuing to use dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies, even after discontinuing NSSI. People engage in NSSI for a wide array of reasons (including a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD), but usually this involves an inability to manage emotions in some way, making Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) an ideal treatment for this population.

While most mental health clinicians will encounter NSSI at some point, there is still a paucity of research about this behaviour and why it happens; and education programs rarely teach about this behaviour and how to work with clients who are engaging in it. This workshop will help you understand NSSI, factors to consider when assessing and working with clients, and will take a DBT approach to helping clients eliminate this behaviour.

“I really enjoyed the expertise of the presenter. He had so much useful knowledge to share. The case studies really went deeper into my personal knowledge and helped me to process and analyze situations differently.”-Kristie C., Social Worker, New York

It is essential that that schools and communities know the incidence of school violence and be up to date on the best safety and prevention practices. This presentation will review numerous state and national initiatives that have focused on school safety and the recommendations from a variety of foundations started by parents who lost their in tragic school shootings. Many school shooters died by suicide and this presentation will outline the major theory of murder suicide. The presenter has a wealth of practical experience responding to school crises and participants, whether they are parents, school personnel or community members will learn many lessons from school tragedies and practical strategies to prevent future school violence.

"Excellent content - very knowledgeable and experienced presenter Greater understanding of instruments - research on just how limited our ability to predict violence is, and the ethical/scientific issues with sex violent predator laws/dynamics."-Kevin D., Psychologist, California

The ability to predict  future violent behavior has long been an issue for mental health professionals.  Initially it was merely assumed that we could make such predictions accurately based on our clinical skills alone.  Many decisions in the judicial system hinge on an accurate assessment of violence, such as  bond, probation, and parole decisions, committment to and release from psychiatric facilities, and even whether or not a defendant should be sentenced to death.

Recent research has demonstrated however that such predictions are not as accurate as once assumed and that the methodology used was sadly lacking in  validity.   A tremendous amount of research has gone into risk assessment for future  violence ; still,,  the accuracy remains in question even to this day; nevertheless, judicial decisions are continually made which ignore our limited ability to assess violent behavior.

This webinar will explore  the factors necessary to do competent work in this area and demonstrate the ways that risk assessment can become more precise.

When we joined the ranks of helping professionals, one of the last things that probably crossed our minds was what, if any, risk we would face in our careers. Would our forensic patient who had killed their parents ever corner us in a room and try to assault us? Would our inpatient teenager ever cyber-stalk us online? Would our outpatient client ever try to kill us in our office? Daunting questions to think about; however, these are the very questions that we should be addressing while also helping our client population in need. This course looks back over the past decades to review where mental health treatment has come and what about those shifts may contribute to our vulnerability in our professions; it helps identify the vulnerabilities we should be addressing; and it offers suggestions of actions we can take to protect our work, our clients, our livelihood, and our lives. In addition to receiving the training and education we need to make us the best helping professionals we can be, we also need training such as this to help protect ourselves from any harm that could come in the course of our work.

"Very well done.  Great content and practicality in my practice.  New to treatment in this field.  Everything was rather new.  Great introduction to this line of work."-Matthew B., LMFT, Utah 

It has become increasingly common for children and adolescents who engage in sexually abusive or sexually troubled behavior to come to the attention of authorities, with a resulting increase in referrals to mental health practitioners for the evaluation or treatment of juvenile sexually abusive behavior. This seminar is designed to help clinicians understand current ideas about this specialized practice, and recent and evolving changes in the field, providing an overview of current thinking and models by which to understand, approach, and engage in treatment. The seminar does not focus upon treatment itself or treatment models. It instead highlights and discusses important and current ideas about sexually abusive youth and the nature of the treatment process, the importance of the collaborative treatment relationship,an approach to treatment that recognizes the individuality of each youth in treatment, and an understanding of the developmental pathways to sexually abusive behavior. The seminar will be useful for those experienced in the treatment of sexually abusive youth and those new to the field or just wishing to learn more about the work.