Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention - What matters.

One common form of treatment for suicidal ideation, called cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP), relies on a mix of cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and targeted therapies to reduce suicide risk. After being found to reduce attempts and symptoms, the system was manualized in 2009. But is this the best approach?

CBT-SP strategies include cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, and other proven CBT approaches. In cognitive restructuring, the patient identifies and evaluates automatic thoughts, and finds ways to change those thought processes into something more constructive. Emotion regulation strategies include mindfulness, opposite action, and distress tolerance skills, and lean heavily on the method's dialectical behavioral therapy influences. Other CBT strategies, like problem-solving and behavioral activation, supplement these two core strategies as needed.

In cases where the patient is an adolescent, CBT-SP also includes family intervention. Adolescents dealing with suicidal ideation often have backgrounds with other dysfunctions, such as problematic relationships or abuse, so these strategies help approach the problem at its root.

So do specific training, credentials or experience matter? While CBT-SP is widely accepted, it is not the most important factor.
Training, credentials or experience matter but don't make a qualified professional a better counselor or therapist. They can make a good therapist a little better. They can also make a therapist or counselor worse. As a consumer of mental health services, you are the one who determines whether the relationship with a particular professional is best for you. Forcing an approach that doesn't feel right or helpful does more harm than good.

In his review of the research Dr. Conner concludes there are clear factors that predict a positive outcome for counseling or therapy? Forty percent (40%) of the power to change is predicted by the resources that clients and patients bring. This includes their intelligence, character, economic situation, health, family and friends, etc.. Surprisingly, hope and belief that one can change counts for about fourteen percent (14%). Things like self-help books, theory, techniques and training amounts to about sixteen percent (16%). The real surprise is that the relationship and alliance between a patient and a qualified therapist or counselor is about thirty percent (30%). Than means the relationship is more important than CBT-SP. Without a good therapeutic relationship, the chances of successful treatment goes down rapidly.

Finally. Michael G. Conner researched what many patients and patients wonder about. Does the age and gender of a therapist matter? While women are slightly better they are not significantly better than males. So, in effect, it only matters if it matters to you.