During this episode, I talk with Norine Vander Hooven (she/her), LCSW, EMDRIA Certified and Approved Consultant, about how to discuss the topic of suicidal thoughts with clients and how to assess for suicidal risk. This is a topic most therapists feel nervous having, and we give you the language to use to begin having these conversations more comfortably.

Norine served as the Youth Suicide Prevention Chair for the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) for three years (2017-2020). She is certified in EMDR therapy and is also an Approved EMDR consultant. Norine’s areas of expertise are complex trauma, suicide, EMDR Intensives, Intensives for CEOs and high-level executives, and consultation for therapists.

Norine is also the founder and owner of Westlake Trauma & Resilience. They provide EMDR therapy and Intensive EMDR Therapy. She is licensed in California and Nevada.

TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Facing the fear of asking about suicidal thoughts
• Active vs Passive Suicidal thoughts – how to explain this to clients
• Confronting clients fear of involuntary hospitalization and getting “grippy socks”
• When clients get quiet or animated, pay attention
• Recommended suicide risk assessments
• Our language matters when talking about suicide. Here is what to say and not to say.
• Times of year when suicide risk increases

OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:

· Norine’s offer: 6 hr Suicide Risk Assessment Course for $89 plus approx $36 for CE credit

• Westlake Trauma & Resilience and EMDR Consultation website

· Jennifer Agee coaching page

· Counseling Community Facebook community

· Counseling Community Instagram

· Alaskan Cruise: Experiential Therapeutic Intervention Training for Therapists June 3-10, 2023

· Cabo, Mexico: Dreamer’s Retreat for Entrepreneurial Therapists October 6-8, 2022