Suicide, Risk Assessment, & Treatment Planning via Tele-Mental Health
Presented by: John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD., Karen Roller, PhD., Kelly Coker, PhD., and Florence Saint-Jean, PhD
5 Hours / 5 CEs
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on Suicide, Risk Assessment, & Treatment Planning via Tele-Mental Health is presented by John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD., Karen Roller, PhD., Kelly Coker, PhD., and Florence Saint-Jean, PhD. This badge-earning program can be shared digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or your resume and counts towards a certificate. This program can be completed on its own or as part of the Foundations of Digital Mental Health Certificate. Completion grants a digital credential that can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn or added to your resume, allowing you to showcase your skills to prospective employers and colleagues.
This program provides an overview of how to assess the potential risk of suicide in tele-mental health counseling. Risk assessment at a distance, actions to take following a risk assessment, and legal and licensure implications will be explored. Suicide assessment and treatment planning are difficult and stressful in person and arguably even more difficult and stressful via tele-mental health. The discussion focuses on relevant research literature and the pros and cons of supplementing standardized assessment instruments with interactive interviews when using a tele-mental health platform.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe a strengths-based approach to suicide assessment and treatment
- 2 Describe and analyze an interactive tele-mental health interviewing strategy for suicide assessment and treatment planning
- 3 Describe and critique standardized suicide assessment instruments that can be used via tele-mental health
- 4 Describe initial steps to mitigate risk in tele-mental health including intake, initial assessment, and informed consent.
- 5 Describe the legal and licensure considerations for suicide risk assessment for tele-mental health.
- 6 Describe how to respond to suicide risk concerns as they arise in tele-mental health, including determining the level of risk, frameworks for risk assessment, and possible action steps.
- 7 Describe an integrated understanding of the suicide risk assessment process which incorporates the use of professional consultation.
Training Instructors:
John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD
John Sommers-Flanagan is a professor of counseling at the University of Montana, a clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including nine books, numerous professional video trainings with Psychotherapy.net, Alexander Street Press, and John Wiley & Sons.
Karen Roller, PhD
Karen Roller is an associate professor of counseling at Palo Alto University, and clinical coordinator of Family Connections, a parent-involvement preschool serving low-resource migrant families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her doctorate is in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Somatic Psychology, which introduced her to about 40 somatic modalities for trauma resolution, including Somatic Experiencing.
Kelly Coker, PhD
Dr. Kelly Coker, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and is a licensed professional counselor (#4490) in North Carolina. Kelly has conducted research and published findings in refereed journals related to substance abuse prevention and intervention, clinical training and supervision, the use of play in counseling and supervision, and the importance of program evaluation and assessment in counseling.
Florence Saint-Jean, PhD
Florence a.k.a Dr. Flo founded Global Trauma Research because she trusts that anyone can get through a traumatic event with the right support. She believes her purpose is to be used by God and through leadership, help people attain their goals by means of prayer, education, counseling, and support. Florence obtained a post-doctorate certificate at Harvard Medical School in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery.
Training Outline
Key topics covered in this training include:
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Program Context
Part of the Certificate in Foundations of Digital Mental Health
Also available as a stand-alone module -
Overview of Suicide Risk in Tele-Mental Health
Challenges of assessing suicide risk remotely
Emotional and clinical complexities in virtual settings -
Conducting Risk Assessments at a Distance
Key considerations for remote evaluation
Actions to take after a risk assessment is completed -
Legal and Licensure Implications
Regulatory considerations unique to telehealth
Jurisdictional and ethical concerns -
Assessment Methods and Tools
Review of relevant research literature
Pros and cons of using standardized tools vs. interactive interviews in telehealth platforms
Earning a Certificate
This is a badge-earning program, which means it will help you earn a certificate that can be showcased on digital platforms like LinkedIn.
CE Sponsorship Information
Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.
American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).
Sponsorship Approval Statements
Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.