A Process Model for Clinical Decision Making in High-Risk Outpatient Situations: The Therapeutic Alliance and Suicide

Authors

  • Derek Truscott University of Alberta
  • Jim Evans Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta
  • Steve Knish Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta

Abstract

When a client is at risk for suicide, important counselling decisions must be made. In this article we present a process model for decision making in high-risk outpatient situations. We propose that counsellors attend to two key dimensions of these situations: the strength of the therapeutic alliance and the degree of suicide risk. Therapeutic actions are then directed toward strengthening the alliance, and toward implementing other risk-reduction interventions only when the risk cannot be adequately reduced via the alliance. Four case studies are presented to illustrate the application of the model to suicidal situations.

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Published

2007-01-24

How to Cite

Truscott, D., Evans, J., & Knish, S. (2007). A Process Model for Clinical Decision Making in High-Risk Outpatient Situations: The Therapeutic Alliance and Suicide. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 33(4). Retrieved from https://dev.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/rcc/article/view/58631

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Section

Articles/ Articles