66th Annual Conference

Saturday, February 21

Early Bird Open Sessions

7:45-8:45 A.M.

Session 218

Developing Collaborative High-School Based Treatment Programs for Suicidal and Self-Harming Adolescents

Presenter:

Kim Johancen-Walt, MA, LPC, Therapist and Consultant, La Plata County Department of Human Services, Durango, Colorado

A unique, effective and collaborative high school based treatment program for self-harming and suicidal adolescents will be presented.  Participants will gain practical information on how to integrate the latest behavioral and therapeutic techniques that target this population as well as building a treatment structure that includes local community resources.

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Design an outpatient program working with suicidal/self-harming adolescents utilizing local community resources.

2. Demonstrate skills and strategies that are effective in working with suicidal/self-harming adolescents.

3. Review program referrals for appropriateness of services/make appropriate treatment recommendations for at-risk adolescents.

Course References:

1. Selekman, M.D. (2005).  Pathways to Change:  Brief Therapy with difficult adolescents. (Second Edition).  New York:  Guilford Publications.

2. Selekman, M.D. (2006).  Working with self-harming adolescents:  A collaborative, strengths-based therapy approach.  New York:  W.W. Norton.

3. Strong, Marilee.  (1998).  A bright red scream:  Self-mutilation and the language of pain.  New York; Penguin Books.