Elevate your confidence in working ethically with suicidal risk, gaining essential skills in assessment, confidentiality, safety planning and self-care, with Katherine Caffrey.
Friday 22rd April 2027.
Online CPD Training for Therapists via Zoom. Can’t make the date? Watch the recording on CATCH-UP for 28 days.Event Times: 10.00am – 4.00pm GMT (London)/ 11.00am – 5.00pm CET (Paris)/ 5.00am – 11.00am EST (New York).
Tickets: £119 or £99 (full ticketing information at the end of this listing).
*Working Ethically with Suicidal Risk*
Event Description:
Therapists report that suicide risk and self-harm rank as some of the most difficult and worrying client presentations. This workshop uses a mixture of presentation and moments for reflection to explore this difficult topic, with time to consider various case studies. There will be opportunities to ask questions and explore concerns, with a view to supporting practitioners to work with safe, ethical practice, and increase confidence and competence.
Due to the nature of the topic, it is advised that there will be some discussions of a sensitive nature, but personal safety and self-care will be encouraged throughout.
Aims of this workshop:
Explore our own beliefs around suicide and self-harm
It is important to understand our own frame of reference when we are working with clients that present with suicidal risk or self-harm. The workshop starts with some time to reflect on our own beliefs and understanding of risk and suicide.
Explore self-harm and suicidal feelings
There will be some clarification on what constitutes self-harm and its relationship with suicidal risk. The workshop addresses how certain situations might affect how the therapist works with clients that present with suicidal risk, and how our own belief system impacts this.
How to assess Risk
In order to assess risk safely and ethically, the therapist needs to understand the law and client rights as well as the importance of contracting. Part of risk assessment is establishing the extent of risk, and the workshop explores how to ask the right questions in the right way.
Breaking confidentiality
Another fear that practitioners express is knowing when and how to break confidentiality when a client has expressed suicidality, whether they have given consent or not. The workshop explores best practice in either scenario, to help practitioners make sound choices about breaking confidentiality.
Safety plans and Protocols
Sometimes called ‘keep safe plans’ the workshop explores the benefits and potential pitfalls of safety planning with clients at risk. Most organisations have protocols around supporting practitioners that work with risk. The workshop looks at what these protocols should include, and whether it is beneficial in private practice to create your own protocol.
Emphasis on self-care of the therapist when working with risk
Working with risky clients is difficult and can cause stress and distress for the therapist. Throughout the day, and at the end of the workshop, there will be reflections and self-care practices to encourage a self-compassionate approach and support therapist longevity and avoid burnout.
This workshop is suitable for both experienced therapists and therapists-in-training who are looking to increase their knowledge, understanding, and confidence in working with suicidal risk.
Trainer:
Katherine Caffrey is an experienced accredited counsellor with the BACP, and a clinical supervisor. She has a special interest in counselling children and young people, neurodivergence and working therapeutically with suicide risk. Since 2020 she has worked with the BACP presenting three Professional Development days annually on working ethically with suicidal risk. She has co-authored a book in the Routledge Relational Ethics series “Developing Relational Ethical Practice for Counselling in Education: Contextual, Collaborative and Reflexive” which is due for publication in Autumn 2026.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
Online CPD Workshop for Counsellors & Psychotherapists: This workshop will be delivered via Zoom. Bookings close 24 hours before the start of the workshop, and joining details will be sent to all delegates on the Thursday before the workshop (between 2pm and 6pm, after bookings have closed). Please note that by booking a ticket for this workshop, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions for Zoom events, so please read through them carefully before making your purchase.
Catch-up: This workshop will be recorded. All delegates will receive instructions about accessing the recording on the Thursday AFTER the event. The recording is available to view in your own time for 28 days. Full details are included in emails sent to delegates. After this time the recording will no longer be available, so if you are planning to use the catch-up function, please ensure that you have adequate time to view the recording within this time frame.
Discounted Ticket Price – £99
Available until Sunday 28th March 2027, subject to limited availability. Pick this ticket if you are on a reduced income or a student counsellor/psychotherapist.
Standard Ticket Price – £119
Available until 11am on Thursday 22nd April 2027 when bookings close. Pick this ticket if you can afford to pay this, or if all the discounted tickets have been sold.
*Please be aware there are a limited number of tickets at each price point, including where a Super Early Bird ticket price is offered*
Please note that the use of the new subscriber code is limited for each workshop and when the maximum number is reached the code will no longer work.
Ticket Payment:
Bookings must be paid for either via Paypal, Credit/debit card (via Paypal, no Paypal account required), or bank transfer. All payments via bank transfer must be made by 11am on Thursday 22nd April to secure your place!
CPD Certificates:
All delegates will be supplied with a CPD Certificate. This will be available after completing a short feedback survey, the link for which will be sent out on the Thursday AFTER the workshop takes place.