Clinical Leader of Operations Emergency Mental Health and Addictions- IWK Children’s Hospital halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Body of Abstract: This workshop examines the critical role of suicidal countertransference in the therapeutic process, focusing on its evidence base and implications for clinical practice. Specifically, it introduces the foundational work of Galynker’s Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) and the validated Therapeutic Response Questionnaire-Suicide Form (TRQ-SF), highlighting their predictive value for near-term suicide risk. By exploring clinicians’ emotional responses to suicidal patients—including reactions such as anxiety, avoidance, and countertransference hate—the workshop demonstrates how these unconscious emotions can either enhance or hinder therapeutic outcomes.
Additionally, the session addresses the phenomenon of therapeutic entanglement, a powerful concept where clinicians’ emotions intertwine with the patient's suicidal narrative, thereby influencing decision-making and clinical judgments. The TRQ-SF is used to assess clinicians’ emotional regulation and its inverse relationship with patient suicidality, enhancing the understanding of emotional influence in high-risk scenarios.
Participants will gain insight into how their emotional reactions to patients might unconsciously shape the therapeutic relationship, patient outcomes, and suicide risk predictions. Furthermore, by examining how structured assessment tools like the TRQ-SF support emotional differentiation and improve outcomes, the workshop highlights best practices in recognizing and managing countertransference within clinical settings.
In summary, this presentation elevates the understanding of suicidal countertransference, not as an emotional barrier but as a diagnostic tool, offering clinicians strategies for navigating their emotional landscape to prevent suicidal behavior.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key elements of suicidal countertransference and their influence on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
Demonstrate the use of Galynker’s Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS) and the Therapeutic Response Questionnaire-Suicide Form (TRQ-SF) in assessing near-term suicide risk.
Formulate strategies to recognize and manage unconscious emotional reactions to suicidal patients, enhancing therapeutic engagement and suicide prevention efforts.
