Preferred registration deadline: November 13th

3 CEs

Designed for experienced clinicians with foundational knowledge of suicide risk assessment, this advanced, interactive workshop moves beyond traditional checklists to explore a more nuanced, collaborative approach to suicide prevention.

Traditional suicide risk assessments frequently rely on compliance-driven checklists and interrogation-style screenings that can inadvertently cause clients to under report distress due to fear of immediate, restrictive intervention. This practitioner-focused workshop re-envisions suicide prevention through the compassionate lens of Motivational Interviewing (MI) foundations. Moving away from arbitrary "High/Medium/Low" global risk verdicts, participants will learn a sophisticated 3-Dimensional Scale Triangulation Model. This evidence-based framework structures assessment around a 0–10 scale across three distinct domains (Suicidal Ideation, Suicidal Urges, and Suicidal Intent) mapped against three clinical reference points (Current, Baseline, and Historical Peak).

Drawing from modern ideation-to-action prevention theories, this workshop trains community stakeholders to distinguish between drivers of suicidal desire (perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness) and dynamic drivers of immediate suicidal action (acquired capability, access to lethal means, acute psychomotor agitation, heavy substance use, and severe sleep disruption). Attendees will learn to use the spirit and core micro-skills of MI (OARS) to safely elicit an individual's unique "suicide story." This collaborative approach naturally forms a 15-minute, client-driven safety plan that prioritizes environmental safety and lethal means counseling. Through integrated, incremental practice drills, role-plays, and case analyses, participants will build concrete muscle memory to confidently navigate highly sensitive crisis conversations.

This is an interactive synchronous distance learning course via Zoom. This workshop meets the requirement for at least 2 CEs in suicide continuing education each licensure period.

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 45.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Advanced

Target Audiences: Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Case Managers, Public Health Workers, HIV Care Teams, Veteran Peer Advocates, Clinical Supervisors, and Non-profit Behavioral Health Managers.

Agenda:

• Introduction and overview - 5 mins
• Shifting the Paradigm: The MI Spirit & Ideation-to-Action Theory - 35 mins
• Triangulating Risk: The 3-Dimensional 0–10 Scaling Model - 50 mins
• Uncovering the Suicide Story: Prevention-Oriented Formulation - 50 mins
• Collaborative Safety Planning & Real-Time Lethal Means Counseling - 40 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Analyze the critical clinical distinction between the dynamic drivers of suicidal desire (ideation) versus the acute indicators of suicidal action (capability, means, agitation, and severe sleep disruption).
• Differentiate current suicidal distress from an individual's personal baseline and historical peak severity using a 3-Dimensional 0–10 scale triangulation model.
• Role-play a collaborative, 15-minute Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention that utilizes Motivational Interviewing micro-skills (OARS) and incorporates immediate lethal means counseling.

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries, please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.