MetroMFT is proud to collaborate with the University of Maryland’s Couple and Family Therapy Program to offer a new workshop designed to deepen clinicians’ cultural responsiveness, clinical skill, and systemic awareness. This in-service training bridges theory, research, and real-world clinical practice.
Safety Planning and Suicidal Assessment
Presented by Dr. Erica Turner, LMFT
Working with suicide risk in couple and family therapy presents unique clinical and ethical challenges. When multiple people are present in the room, therapists must navigate not only assessment and safety planning, but also family dynamics, differing responses to risk, and complex questions about responsibility, privacy, and documentation.
This training is designed to help clinicians strengthen their confidence and competence when responding to suicide risk within a systemic context. Participants will explore how their own risk tolerance, automatic reactions, and internal narratives can shape clinical decision-making during high-stakes moments. The workshop will also examine how therapists can recognize their emotional and physiological responses to crisis situations and develop strategies to respond in ways that are clinically effective and ethically grounded.
In addition, the training will focus on identifying suicide risk and safety concerns when working with couples and families, including how to conduct assessments when multiple people are present and how to navigate differing family member responses to risk. Practical guidance will also be provided on documentation practices, including how to manage privacy considerations and ensure clinical records accurately reflect assessment and decision-making.
By integrating self-of-the-therapist awareness with practical clinical tools, this training will help therapists approach suicide risk with greater clarity, intentionality, and systemic sensitivity.
Continuing Education Information
This program is offered in a fully virtual format.
Participants who attend the full training and complete all required attendance verification and evaluation materials will receive a certificate of completion documenting 1.0 hour of professional training.
This training may be applied toward continuing education requirements for licensure renewal, consistent with individual licensing board guidelines. Participants are responsible for confirming applicability with their respective licensing board.
Certificates will be issued within seven (7) days following the training.
Upcoming UMD Workshops
- April 15th - Gerontology with Dr. Teaster
- April 29th - Medical Therapy: Working with Clients with Chronic or Terminal Issues by Dr. Lansom