On Demand Grand Rounds: Psychotherapy with Suicidal Patients: An Integrative Psychodynamic Approach

This presentation was originally reviewed on October 12, 2020, and broadcast live online on October 14, 2020 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET. 

Suicidal patients present a unique challenge to the psychotherapist. Inherent in the work is the necessity of accepting the reality that the patient could at some point die by suicide and bearing the feelings that this engenders. It is important that therapists have a therapeutic approach that helps to alleviate crises but also takes a long term, developmental view that hold out hope for meaningful change. In this talk we will discuss an “integrative psychodynamic approach” to psychotherapy with suicidal patients. It is psychodynamic in that it emphasizes the importance of attention to the therapeutic alliance and countertransference, unconscious and implicit processes, exploration of fantasy, and the use of the therapeutic relationship as an implicitly interpretive vehicle for change. It is “integrative” because it draws on ideas and techniques described in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well on developmental and social psychology research. The integrative psychodynamic approach offers a pathway to lessening of harsh self-judgment, greater connection with the body, improvement in continuity of experience, positive changes in narrative identity, emergence of the patient’s genuine capacities, and more satisfying interpersonal relationships, all of which improve satisfaction with life and mitigate the risk of self-harm.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists, and other mental health professionals.

Learning Objectives

After this lecture attendees will be able to:

1.  Articulate at least 3 basic principles of working psychotherapeutically with suicidal patients.
2.  Describe 2 aspects of instilling hope.
3.  Discuss the importance of ruptures and repairs in the alliance, and their therapeutic potential.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
10/11/2021
Course expires: 
10/09/2023

Sheppard Pratt’s Professional Education Program is pleased to provide Wednesdays at Sheppard Pratt free of charge as a public service to the mental health community.  Your tax-deductible donations will help maintain the outstanding quality of this service. 

Sheppard Pratt is dedicated to improving quality of life through mental health, special education, and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults and older adults.  Our patient-centered treatment approach, combined with our legacy of clinical excellence, sets us apart from other health systems on both a local and national level.  We have been ranked among the nation’s top psychiatric hospitals for 24 consecutive years by U. S. News & World Report.  Founded in 1853 by philanthropist Moses Sheppard, Sheppard Pratt Health System still abides by its Quaker traditions and values.

Sheppard Pratt regularly hosts renowned speakers from across the country at our headquarters in Towson. We provide educational opportunities on subjects including psychiatric disorders, issues of behavioral health, systems-based change, mental and somatic co-morbidities, psychiatric effects on health and health outcomes, advances in neurobiology, and clinical developments in concepts underlying drug treatment of psychiatric disorders. We are accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education, the Maryland Nurses’ Association, the Maryland Board of Psychology, the Maryland Board of Social Work, and the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Please send your contributions to:

Sheppard Pratt Professional Education Program
Wednesdays Lecture Fund
6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21204

Professional Education Program: 410.938.4593
Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt: 410.938.3900

There is no commercial support for this activity.

About The Speaker

Dr. Schechter is the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at North Shore Medical Center.  He is a part-time Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct Instructor in Psychiatry at Tufts Medical School. Dr. Schechter is a psychoanalyst and a member of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He is a member of the Boston Suicide Study Group, a group of analysts who publish and teach about psychotherapy with suicidal patients. Dr. Schechter has authored multiple papers and book chapters about various aspects of suicide prevention, including clinical evaluation, psychotherapy with suicidal patients, and the therapeutic alliance. He teaches about suicide in the MGH/McLean residency program and at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute and has lectured nationally and internationally on the topics of suicide risk assessment, psychotherapy with suicidal patients, risk management, and the role of psychopharmacology in suicide prevention.

Disclosure Statements

Sheppard Pratt holds the standard that its continuing medical education programs should be free of commercial bias and conflict of interest. In accord with Sheppard Pratt's Disclosure Policy, as well as standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the American Medical Association (AMA), all planners, reviewers, speakers and persons in control of content have been asked to disclose any relationship he /she has with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 12 months. All planners, reviewers and speakers have also been asked to disclose any payments accepted for this lecture from any entity besides Sheppard Pratt, and if there will be discussion of any products, services or off-label uses of product(s) during this presentation.

Mark Schechter, MD, reports as having no financial interest, arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 12 months.  He will not discuss products, services or off label uses in this presentation.

Event Planners/Reviewers Disclosures: The following event planners and/or reviewers are reported as having no financial interest, arrangement or affiliation with any entity producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, during the past 12 months: Todd Peters, M.D., Sunil Khushalani, M.D., Faith Dickerson, Ph.D., Carrie Etheridge, LCSW-C, Tom Flis, LCPC, Laura Webb, RN-BC, MSN, Stacey Garnett, RN, MSN, Heather Billings, RN, and Jennifer Tornabene.

 

Physician Statement: Sheppard Pratt is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Statement: Sheppard Pratt is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. This activity provides 1.0 contact hours for nurses.

Psychologist Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of continuing education. Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.  Sheppard Pratt designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hours for Psychologists.

Social Worker Statement: Sheppard Pratt is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners of Maryland to offer continuing education for Social Workers.  Sheppard Pratt takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hours in Category II credits for Social Workers.

Counselor Statement:  Sheppard Pratt has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5098.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Sheppard Pratt is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.  This activity is available for 1.0 NBCC clock hours

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACEP NBCC clock hours
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Category II credits for Social Workers
  • 1.00 Psychologists
  • 1.00 MNA Contact Hours for Nurses
  • 1.00 Participation

Mark Schechter, MD
Chair, Department of Psychiatry

North Shore Medical Center

Instructor in Psychiatry, Part-Time,
Harvard Medical School

Member, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute

Member, Boston Suicide Study Group

Please login or register to take this course.

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: FOR BEST RESULTS WATCH USING GOOGLE CHROME

Grand Rounds: Psychotherapy with Suicidal Patients: An Integrative Psychodynamic Approach

Mark Schechter, MD
Chair, Department of Psychiatry

North Shore Medical Center

Instructor in Psychiatry, Part-Time,
Harvard Medical School

Member, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute

Member, Boston Suicide Study Group

Originally reviewed October 12, 2020.
Originally broadcast live October 14,2020 from 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm ET
Enduring Activity Credit Expiration Date: September 13, 2023.

Activity Time: One hour recorded webinar lecture with a 15-minute evaluation process. Total Time: 1:15

TO EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE
On the OVERVIEW or REGISTER/TAKE COURSE tab, select the GREEN RECTANGLE, TAKE COURSE to begin.
Complete the Pretest and select NEXT in the bottom right corner of the screen. Use the NEXT button for best results.
The PowerPoint handout will be available for download.
After downloading the handout, select NEXT to begin and watch the one hour video. 
You may need to select play for the video to begin.
After the video follow the prompts to complete the posttest, evaluation and attestation of credit. 
Once you have completed all the components of the Course Progress bar, the certificate will be immediately downloadable.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
There is no commercial support for this activity.

Questions? Look at our FAQ’s at https://cme.sheppardpratt.org/content/faq or Email cme@sheppardpratt.org

 

Required Hardware/software

Optimal System ConfigurationGrand 

Flash Player: Adobe Flash Player 10.1+
Browser: Firefox 3+, Internet Explorer 8.0+, Safari 4.0+, or Google Chrome 7.0+
Operating System: Windows XP+ or Mac OS X 10.4+
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements

Windows PC: 500-MHz Pentium II; Windows XP or higher; 128 MB RAM; Video Card at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card at least 16-bit; Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher, audio playback with speakers for programs with video content; Firefox 1.1+, Internet Explorer 7.0+, Safari 1.0+, Google Chrome, or Opera
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.3 or higher with latest updates installed; 1.83MHz Intel Core Duo or faster; RAM: 128MB or more; Video Card: at least 64MB of video memory; Sound Card: at least 16-bit

Hardware/Software Specifications

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using Internet Explorer 8+, Mozilla Firefox 3+, Safari 4+. This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.