Brief Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention

Course overview

This text describes behavior change through the demonstration of behavioral skills targeting identified skill deficits that contribute to and sustain suicidal crises. In Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (BCBT), the clinician teaches a new skill or concept in each session, shows the client how to perform the skill, practices the skill with the client in session, and then sets up a plan for the client to practice the skill between sessions. After initial client assessment, interventions address emotional regulation, and crisis management followed by efforts to decrease or undermine the client's suicidal belief system. This text also includes relevant topics such as suicide risk assessment, treatment progress monitoring, crisis response planning, relaxation and mindfulness skills training, relapse prevention and ending treatment.