Suicidality: Changing the Narrative

Recorded Webinar
Instructors: Simone Jacobs, LCSW-C and Joanne Zucchetto, LCSW-C
CEs: 1.5 
Level: Intermediate
Target Audience: Social workers and other social service providers.
Course Delivery Method and Format: Recorded webinar, self study. All courses are hosted on SmithOnline. Login information will be emailed immediately after registration to the email address entered during registration.
System Requirements: Attendees will need access to a computer with internet and the capability to play recorded videos.

Date of original webinar: January 29, 2020

America is in the midst of a suicide crisis; the Center for Disease Control reported that between 1999 and 2017, the rate of suicide increased by 33%. Since 2008, suicide has been the 10th leading cause of death for all ages. That rate only increases when there is a history of childhood abuse and neglect. Therapists, however,  receive little to no training about how to manage a suicidal crisis. Most of the training that is available focuses on ‘fixing’ the problem of suicide through prediction and prevention techniques.

In this webinar participants will be asked to reconsider current understanding of suicidal behaviors as the problem and to demonstrate, through case examples, how suicidality holds meaning for our clients that requires exploration. Participants will also be presented with techniques to help work through the many emotional, practical and ethical problems that can arise from an acute or chronic suicidal crisis. This webinar will equip clinicians with new language and tools for a different kind of conversation about suicide, one that leaves both survivor and therapist with a sense of hope in what has traditionally been a hopelessness inducing experience.

Registration Fee and Deadline:

$35 (one time registration fee of $5) | Ongoing 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify three current narratives of suicide crisis that create difficulty for survivors of abuse and neglect as well as their clinicians. 
  2. Describe how suicidal behaviors have meaning and often serve as a complex coping mechanism for survivors of abuse and neglect.
  3. Explain how to help survivors of abuse and neglect to reframe the suicidal crisis by identifying the underlying meaning connected to suicidal behaviors.

Instructor Biographies:

Simone Jacobs is a therapist in private practice in Takoma Park, MD. She is a graduate of Kings College, London University, receiving a BSc in Nursing Studies. After moving to the USA, getting married and having a child, she went back to school, and received an MSW in Social Work, from Smith College in Northampton. It was during an internship at Smith that Simone first encountered The Center for PTSD, and found her passion for working with survivors of trauma. Upon receiving her Masters, she worked in Child Welfare on the Sex Abuse Treatment team, to try and understand the issues from the child’s perspective. She returned to the Center and worked on the inpatient and outpatient units. Since leaving The Center, Simone has built up a busy private practice, with a focus on African American women. She recently co-authored a book "Understanding the Paradox of Surviving Childhood Trauma" published by Routledge.

Joanne Zucchetto is the Lead Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and part of the Senior Management Team, at The Center: Posttraumatic Disorders program in Washington DC. She also has a busy private practice, working with individuals and groups in Friendship Heights, Washington DC. She has a BA in Psychology from Hunter College, NYC, and a MSW from University of Maryland. She became interested in trauma work later in life, when she was pursuing her MSW and began working with the clients no one else wanted to work with. She worked for many years at in the trauma program at Sheppard Pratt, before moving to the Center. She has worked with hundreds of trauma survivors over the years, in groups, individually and with families. These unique opportunities, along with her curiosity and deep respect of her clients’ experiences have given Joanne insight and wisdom that are sought after by both clients and clinicians. She recently co-authored a book "Understanding the Paradox of Surviving Childhood Trauma" published by Routledge.

Completion Requirements for Recorded Webinars and Online Courses.

To receive a CE certificate, you must complete the entirety of the recorded webinar or recorded video presentation. Partial credit will not be awarded to those who attend only a portion of the class. For recorded webinars and online courses, participants must complete an evaluation and a post test, noting the length of time to complete the course. Participants must earn a minimum score of 80 percent on the post test in order to earn CEs. Retesting is allowed up to five (5) times. If a passing score is not achieved, CEs will not be awarded. Links to the evaluation and post test are available in SmithOnline. Participants must also complete an attestation of completion for each fully completed course. A copy of the attestation is available in SmithOnline. It is attendee’s responsibility to contact their state licensing board/certification boards to determine eligibility to meet continuing education requirements.

How Will a CE Certificate Be Awarded?

Upon completing the course evaluation, successfully passing the post test and submitting the attestation, participants will be emailed their online certificate​ within 30 days of course completion​. ​Participants should save and/or print ​the certificate upon receipt for ​their records. Receiving the CE certificate is contingent on submitting attestion, completion of the evaluation and passing the post test.

Continuing Education Credits and Approvals for This Course

Continuing Education (CE) credits offered vary by course. This course only offers the CE credits listed below.  It is the attendees' responsibility to contact their licensing board to determine eligibility to meet continuing education requirements.

ACE

Smith College School for Social Work, #1755, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period:11/19/2021-11/19/2024 . Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.

CSWE

Smith College School for Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is therefore authorized to provide CEs as a postsecondary institution accredited by CSWE in many states. Courses offered through the School’s Program of Professional Education are awarded continuing education credits in accordance with Continuing Education Regulation 258, CMR, 31.00 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

NY State

Smith College School for Social Work 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-0169.

Not Approved for Counselors (LMHC/LPC)

Smith College School for Social Work has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7110. This program does NOT qualify for NBCC ACEP approval.