Dr. Meagan N Houston - Treating Suicidal Clients & Self-Harm Behaviors: Assessments, Worksheets & Guides for Interventions and Long-Term Care

Treating
Suicidal
Clients &
Self-Harm
Behaviors

Assessments, Worksheets & Guides for Interventions and Long-Term Care

Meagan N. Houston, PhD, SAP

Copyright 2017 by Meagan N. Houston

Published by

PESI Publishing & Media

PESI, Inc

3839 White Ave

Eau Claire, WI 54703

Cover: Amy Rubenzer

Editing: Hazel Bird

Layout: Amy Rubenzer & Bookmasters

ISBN: 9781683730842

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America.

Finally! A hands-on resource which provides practical interventions for the assessment, intervention and management of suicidal and NSSI behavior. Dr. Houstons approach to suicide and NSSI prevention is timely, relevant and culturally sensitive. The level of detail and precision in which this delicate topic is discussed makes it clear why Dr. Houston is an authority on the topic of suicide and NSSI. This gem will benefit neophyte and seasoned clinicians alike!

Jasmine Ross Burton, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Essence Psychological Health Services

Dr. Houston is a consummate professional and presenter, and her years of experience shine in this must-have resource. Working with personality disorders and challenging clients, and managing suicidal issues as well as non-suicidal self-injury on a routine basis, this book will quickly become an indispensable tool.

Daniel J. Fox, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Award-winning author of Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic & Histrionic Workbook

Dr. Houston has graciously and tirelessly given mental health professionals and their clients a priceless, clinical gift. Irrespective of your clientele, clinical setting or academic training, Treating Suicidal Clients & Self-Harm Behaviors answers questions, details treatment strategies and provides practical tools. Dr. Houston has thoroughly researched the challenges clinicians face with suicidal and self-harming clients, and provides a comprehensive, one-stop resource. Her book identifies and addresses the fears and inadequacies of clinicians, and empowers them to confidently and compassionately work with these challenging clients. The mental health community and the clients we serve will benefit from Dr. Houstons work for years to come.

Verdi R. Lethermon, PhD

Retired Director, HPD Psychological Services Division

As a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience, I still become a bit nervous when dealing with a client who might be suicidal. Dr. Houstons book provides an excellent roadmap for conducting an in-depth assessment of a potentially suicidal client and then gives very practical information about how to intervene during this type of crisis. I work in a setting where we frequently have clients who express suicidal ideation and I supervise a number of students and interns each year. This book will surely become a favorite reference for my students, as it is clearly written, easy to understand, and has several sections that are directly related to the setting that I am in. It is also wonderful to have an up-to-date book that addresses the complications of suicide and modern technology, such as the impact of social media or working with clients through teletherapy. The checklists and worksheets are very useful and convey information in a way that is helpful for both the clinician and the client. This is the kind of book that I wish that I had available to me as a new clinician; however, I know that even seasoned clinicians can definitely benefit from this comprehensive work.

Nicole Dorsey, PhD

Licensed Psychologist

Training Director, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, Texas

Dr. Houstons book is impactful, powerful, and practical. It is easy to understand, with bullet points and clear explanations. She offers many resources and tools to use while working with suicidal and self-harming clients. A useful tool for therapists to use with parents of teenagers who engage in non-suicidal self-harming behaviors or contemplating suicide. Dr. Houston walks readers through assessing for suicide and the post suicidal interview with worksheets and step by step guides. This is a great and useful therapeutic tool.

Susan Beach Barris, PhD

Drug Abuse Program Coordinator

This is a comprehensive and practical guide for clinicians of all experience levels. Dr. Houston reveals herself to be one of the foremost experts in the assessment and treatment of suicidal and self-harm behavior, both by providing the most up to date resources and tools, as well as offering specific examples of her clinical experience. What I find particularly helpful is the information on safety planning and special populations, the latter of which includes risk checklists for each group. Even more, what is likely the most unique aspect of this book is Dr. Houstons inclusion of technology factors and tools, which is what I am most looking forward to implementing into my own practice. These include mobile apps and web resources, as well as information on cyber-bullying and online communities promoting NSSI behavior. Finally, emphasis on clinician self-care is apparent throughout as necessary component to working with high-risk cases. Whether you are a graduate student, or a seasoned clinician, you will find this workbook a necessary addition to your library.

Scott M. Forbes, PhD

Licensed Psychologist,

Veterans Healthcare Administration

Dr. Houston provides an excellent overview of assessment for suicidality from all angles. This book is an excellent teaching tool for new clinicians that provides a comprehensive overview of all factors to consider in conducting thorough and extensive evaluations for suicide risk. It also serves as an excellent resource and reference for experienced clinicians who want to make sure they are reviewing all relevant factors in their assessments, even reviewing specific factors related to a variety of special populations, to include LGBT, military vets, college students and more. Dr. Houston provides a comprehensive approach to treating suicidal clients, including ways of managing your own anxieties and concerns along the way!

Kevin Correia, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

This workbook takes a practical, well-informed, and nuanced approach to working with clients who engage in suicidal and self-harm behaviors. The worksheets and clinical examples make this a particularly useful guide for trainings. Of note are the several diversity variables and the Internet/social media, and how these may impact our clients experiences and our treatment choices. Both novice and experienced clinicians will benefit from this resource!

Cecilia Sun, PhD

University of Houston, Counseling and Psychological Services

Dr. Houston has written a remarkable workbook for helping professionals of all skill levels. Houstons thoughtfulness regarding clinical responses will bridge traditional academic and experiential learning in a paramount manner, ultimately progressing the prognosis of our clients. This will be my training tool for novice and expert helping professionals alike. This is a significant guide for the helping field.

Charles Helm, PhD

Correctional Psychologist

Federal Bureau of Prisons

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I write this endorsement for Dr. Meagan Houstons workbook. Simply put, I found it very informative. She provided wonderful ideas that help professionals maintain their sanity when dealing with suicidal patients. It contains information that can really be useful and it is written in a dynamic, entertaining way. Her workbook highlights her skills and translates state-of-the-art research and knowledge into relevant, accessible, practical gems for the clinical as well as non-clinical. Dr. Houston is always knowledgeable, experienced, entertaining, and engaging and I highly recommend her workbook for trainings/conferences.