Helping the Suicidal Person provides a highly practical toolbox for mental health professionals. The book first covers the need for professionals to examine their own personal experiences and fears around suicide, moves into essential areas of risk assessment, safety planning, and treatment planning, and then provides a rich assortment of tips for reducing the person's suicidal danger and rebuilding the wish to live. The techniques described in the book can be interspersed into any type of therapy, no matter what the professional's theoretical orientation is and no matter whether it's the client's first, tenth, or one-hundredth session. Clinicians don't need to read this book in any particular order, or even read all of it. Open the book to any page, and find a useful tip or technique that can be applied immediately.

About the Author

Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, is an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work. Her psychotherapy and consulting practice focuses on suicide assessment and intervention.

Reviews

"This book is an extraordinary contribution to clinical suicide prevention-there is nothing like it. Dr. Freedenthal has created a treasure trove of ideas and techniques for any clinician who works with a suicidal person. Well informed by science, superb therapeutic wisdom, and clinical savvy, this readable and practical book is peppered with interesting case examples and suggestions for how to say difficult things. Providers need to keep this book close by to help ensure sound judgement and clinical competency when they care for those who struggle on the edge of life. By uniquely enhancing clinical care, this book is going to help save lives."

David A. Jobes, PhD, ABPP, professor of psychology and associate director of clinical training, Catholic University of America

"This book is essential reading for professionals working with suicidal individuals. It reflects the latest in suicide prevention research and theory and represents the cutting edge of therapeutic intervention, but it is organized for the clinician. Helping the Suicidal Person will be my recommended text for all my trainings and I would strongly recommend it for any training program, community agency, or private practice clinician who wants to be more effective and more confident helping suicidal individuals survive and thrive."

Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH, professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

"This jewel of a book belongs on the shelf of every mental health clinician who is weary of books that never quite get around to 'what to do' for suicidal individuals. Dr. Freedenthal has assembled an invaluable set of guidelines that are expressed with compassion and in plain English, yet richly informed by scientific research on why people become suicidal and how best to help them. This book fills an important void in the clinical literature; it is a splendid resource for the serious clinician, whether beginner or veteran."

Thomas E. Ellis, PsyD, ABPP, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, and senior psychologist, The Menninger Clinic

"An excellent book for both the novice looking to learn how to best assess and treat suicide risk and the experienced clinician wanting quick, research-based tips to enhance their work with suicidal people. This book condenses all the latest suicide theory and research alongside vignettes into brief chapters that can be easily accessed by the busy clinician."

Julie Cerel, PhD, licensed psychologist and professor, University of Kentucky College of Social Work, and president of the American Association for Suicidology

Book Information
ISBN 9781138946958
Author Stacey Freedenthal
Format Paperback
Page Count 274
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 900g