Suicidal Thoughts therapists in St. Thomas, Ontario ON, Canada CA
Suicidal Thoughts
Kathleen King
Registered Social Worker, MSW, RSW, Registered Social Worker
Suicidal ideation is common for people struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. It can feel alarming, confusing, or sometimes comforting when these thoughts arise. Together we will talk about your thoughts directly and ensure that you have safety plan in place while developing a variety of healthier coping strategies to turn to in moments of distress and overwhelm.
9 Years Experience
Suicidal Thoughts
Laird Counselling Services
Registered Psychotherapist, BA, MACP, RP
Suicidal thoughts are a sign of depression. If you have suicidal thoughts you may find it difficult to cope with certain aspects of your life. Talking about these feelings can really help. While everyone feels a little down from time to time, suicidal ideation is an indication that you feel overwhelmed and lost in your problems. Moderate to severe depression can lead you to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. My goal is to help you feel better by discussing the things that make you feel like ending your life and turn these thoughts around with adaptive, life-affirming strategies.
Contact us for a no-fee consultation to discuss our approach to helping you work through suicidal thoughts.
6 Years Experience
Suicidal Thoughts
Headway Mental Health
Registered Psychotherapist, Joshua Dvorkin, MPsy, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying),
When working with someone experiencing suicidal ideation, thoughts, or intention, mental health professionals follow specific protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of the individual. Here are some common steps they might take:
1. Establishing a Safe Environment: The mental health professional ensures that the person is in a safe physical environment, free from any immediate harm or access to means of self-harm. If necessary, they may collaborate with emergency services to ensure the individual's safety.
2. Active Listening and Emotional Support: The mental health professional provides a non-judgmental and empathetic space for the person to express their feelings and thoughts. Active listening and emotional support are crucial in helping the individual feel heard, understood, and validated.
3. Assessing the Risk: The mental health professional conducts a thorough assessment to determine the severity of the person's suicidal thoughts, intentions, and risk factors. This assessment may involve exploring the frequency, intensity, and duration of the thoughts, as well as any previous suicide attempts, access to means, and the presence of supportive relationships.
4. Developing a Safety Plan: Collaboratively, the mental health professional and the individual create a safety plan that outlines specific strategies and resources to help manage the crisis. This plan may include identifying trusted individuals to reach out to, developing coping skills and distraction techniques, and establishing steps to remove immediate access to self-harm methods.
5. Referring to Emergency Services: If the risk is immediate or imminent, mental health professionals are mandated to involve emergency services to ensure the individual's safety. This may involve contacting crisis hotlines, local mental health crisis teams, or even admitting the person to a psychiatric facility, depending on the severity of the situation.
6. Treatment and Therapy: Mental health professionals provide ongoing therapy and treatment tailored to the individual's needs. They may utilize evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to address the underlying issues contributing to suicidal ideation and promote mental well-being.
7. Collaborative Care: Mental health professionals often work collaboratively with other healthcare providers, such as psychiatrists or primary care physicians, to ensure comprehensive care. This may involve medication management, consultation, or coordination of care to address any underlying mental health conditions contributing to the person's distress.
8. Follow-up and Support: Mental health professionals prioritize ongoing support and follow-up after the immediate crisis has passed. They monitor the person's progress, adjust treatment plans as needed, and provide continued emotional support to prevent relapses and ensure the individual's well-being.
7 Years Experience
Suicidal Thoughts
Dr. Kim Edwards
Psychologist, C.Psych.
At MindFit, we provide support to individuals with thoughts about ending their life. Our goals are to help these individuals feel more connected, increase control over their lives, and aid in providing hope that things can improve. Cognitive-behavioural and dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) techniques are utilized in MindFit programs which include behavioural activation, managing unhelpful thinking traps, mindfulness, distress tolerance techniques, emotion regulation strategies, interpersonal effectiveness skills, self-compassion, and identifying/working with goals and values. Support for parents/family members of individuals with suicidal thoughts is also offered.
9 Years Experience
Suicidal Thoughts
Cara Briscoe
Registered Psychotherapist, RP
When life feels so challenging and hope is lost, suicidal thoughts and/or desires to self-harm may arise. I am here to support you in creating a safety plan, developing additional coping mechanisms, providing tools for assessing risk and building upon your resources. While your safety is always my first priority, I also welcome open, honest and non-judgemental conversations about suicidal ideation and self-harm that go beyond surface level safety concerns. I acknowledge the social stigma that exists around topics of suicide and self-harm, which is why I strive to provide a safe space that you may not have otherwise.
5 Years Experience