The Missing Middle: Rethinking How We Respond to Suicide Risk

Suicidal thoughts are one of the most anxiety-provoking presentations clinicians encounter in outpatient practice. Too often, providers feel forced to choose between continuing weekly therapy or sending a client to the emergency room.

But what about the space in between?

This free 60-minute morning workshop explores what we call the missing middle—suicide-specific outpatient care that is structured, collaborative, and designed to help clients safely remain in their natural environments when hospitalization is not clinically indicated.

Hosted at The Hope Institute of Boulder, this session will introduce practical frameworks that help clinicians feel more confident working with suicidal clients while reducing unnecessary emergency department referrals. Participants will learn how evidence-based, suicide-focused treatment approaches can increase safety, strengthen therapeutic alliance, and support meaningful recovery.

Whether you are a therapist, counselor, social worker, or other mental health professional, this workshop will offer practical insights you can bring directly into your clinical work.

Participants will learn how to:

• Reframe common myths about suicide risk and outpatient liability
• Understand how structured suicide-specific treatment improves safety and outcomes
• Gain practical tools to increase clinical confidence when working with suicidal clients

Presenter:
Dr. Benjamin T. Finlayson, PhD, LMFT
Clinical Director, The Hope Institute of Boulder
Instructor, UNLV Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
CAMS Certified Clinician & Practice
AAMFT Clinical Fellow & Approved Supervisor

Event Details
📅 March 27, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
📍 The Hope Institute of Boulder
1790 30th St, Suite 350
Boulder, CO 80301

Certificates of attendance will be provided.

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Host or Publisher The Hope Institute of Boulder