Suicidality and Countertransference (2 CEs)

PLEASE NOTE: We are an approved provider of CE Credits for clinical psychologists in the state of New York. At this time we cannot provide CE credits to any other form of mental health professional. However, if you are not a licensed doctoral level clinician in the state of New York you can still attend this course out of interest by purchasing a "General Admission" ticket.

Topic: This course will cover common challenges that can arise in working with suicidal clients. Specifically, the course will focus on emotional responses to suicidal clients and themes in the therapeutic relationship. It will provide opportunities to practice improving skillfulness in navigating challenging clinical moments with this population.

Course Description: With suicide rates increasing, it can be even more common for therapists to encounter clients endorsing suicidal thoughts. Many studies have shown that working with suicidal patients can bring up strong (and sometimes negative) emotional reactions. This countertransference can impact the therapeutic alliance and affect therapist skillfulness in intervening and supporting their clients. This course aims to help increase awareness and understanding of common emotional responses to suicidal clients. This two hour course will include lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises to help therapists increase skillfulness in noticing and managing emotional responses. Considerations for treatment, case conceptualization, and moments of rupture and repair will also be discussed.

Location, Date, & Time: Virtual (via Zoom) December 5th; 1:00-3:00PM*

*Note: if you are unable to join us live, you can obtain your CE credit via self study by purchasing a "Self Study" ticket. You will receive a video recording to watch and quiz to complete after the event.

Teaching Methods: This educational activity will include research-informed lecture, experiential exercises, de-identified case presentations, and group discussion.

Learning Objectives: By attending this course, attendees will be able to:

1. Build awareness and understanding of common internal emotional responses to suicidal clients
2. Increase skillfulness in working with countertransference
3. Increase knowledge of how the therapeutic alliance can impact client suicidality
4. Practice flexibility in considering when and why we use specific interventions with suicidal clients
5. Identify ruptures that can occur with suicidal clients and consider repair strategies that can be implemented
6. Conceptualize suicidal cases from a relational, psychodynamic lens

Costs, Refunds, and Cancellation Policies: The fee for this course will be $40 for CE credits and $30 for general interest. Refunds will be provided for cancellations made in writing up to 3 business days prior to the start of the event.

Length of Course in Contact Hours: 2 hours (2 CE Units)

Presenter: Molly Duffy, Ph.D.

Qualifications: Dr. Duffy is a New York licensed clinical psychologist and Supervising Psychologist at Therapists of New York. Dr. Duffy previously gained significant research and clinical experience related to suicide assessment and intervention at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Duffy’s dissertation focused on therapist skillfulness in responding to suicidal patients. For her research, Dr. Duffy received the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) student travel award and the Jeremy D. Safran award in Psychology from the New School for Social Research. Dr. Duffy has also received specialized training and supervision in relational therapy and rupture-repair strategies. She is passionate about increasing and improving training in working with suicidal clients in order to facilitate therapists’ level of comfort, confidence, and competence in this area.

Host or Publisher Therapists of New York