November 13th 9-12 Arizona time ONLINE
Facilitated by Rachel Thomas, LMFT
Suicide assessment is more than identifying risk factors and completing a checklist. It is a deeply relational process that asks us to remain present, attuned, and emotionally available while navigating fear, uncertainty, and responsibility. In this three-hour online training, we will approach suicide assessment through an attachment and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) lens. We will explore how our relationship with ourselves influences the way we respond to suicidal clients, including what happens inside us when we feel afraid, overwhelmed, responsible, or unsure. Through experiential exercises, participants will increase awareness of their own attachment patterns and learn how to stay grounded and engaged during difficult conversations.
We will also focus on listening closely to the client’s language, understanding suicidal thoughts within their emotional and attachment context, and asking clear, direct questions in ways that strengthen connection rather than create distance. Participants will learn how to identify significant risk and protective factors, involve important attachment figures when appropriate, and help build a community of support so neither the client nor the clinician is carrying the risk alone.
Practical assessment, documentation, treatment, and intervention strategies will be integrated throughout the training, with clear attention to legal and ethical responsibilities. Participants will leave with a more relational and comprehensive framework for suicide assessment, greater confidence in their clinical judgment, and practical tools for responding with clarity, compassion, and connection.
