“No-suicide contracts are out, safety planning is in.” Working with suicidal clients is the single greatest clinical and ethical challenge faced by any therapist. The traditionally used no-suicide contract—while a comfort for therapists—has not proven to be an effective clinical tool. In this short video suicide expert John Sommers Flanagan demonstrates a more effective alternative: Collaborative Safety Planning.
Watch Flanagan as he works with 15-year-old Kennedy to develop a practical plan to mitigate her active suicidal ideation. See how much better it feels, and how well the client responds to a truly collaborative effort versus a top-down “contractual” approach. By watching this live demonstration you will learn how to integrate this highly-effective tool into your own treatment planning that is centered around externalization of suicidal thoughts, engagement with life, capitalizing on hope and faith, and strengthening family ties and support.