Treating Chronic Suicidality With Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Using The Therapeutic Relationship To Build A Life Worth Living
Shannae Anderson, Ph.D.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
6:00 – 8:30 PM ET
Level: Intermediate
Enroll Now
To access this webinar, please enroll or login if you are an existing AACC member. Join today to get access to this webinar and more!
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Accreditations applicable to this workshop:
Live: Approved for APA, ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
On Demand: Approved for 2 NBCC and IBCC Credits*
CE Statement
Summary
Clients who struggle with chronic suicidality create unique difficulties for mental health professionals including managing recurrent crises and self-destructive behaviors, as well as navigating the emotional demands of maintaining often a complex therapeutic relationship. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most effective evidence-based approaches for working with chronically suicidal individuals, providing a comprehensive framework for reducing life-threatening behaviors while helping clients create lives experienced as meaningful and worth living. This webinar explores the application of DBT principles and interventions in the treatment of chronic suicidality, with particular emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for safety and change. Participants will specifically learn how dialectical skills and strategies can be utilized to increase client engagement, regulate intense emotions and at-risk behaviors, and foster hope in the midst of persistent suffering. The presentation will address common clinical challenges, including responding to suicidal crises without reinforcing maladaptive behaviors, balancing acceptance and change strategies, and managing therapist anxiety. Through case examples and practical clinical applications, attendees will gain tools for developing a treatment relationship that supports resilience, promotes skill acquisition, and helps clients move toward a life worth living.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Describe the core principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as they apply to the assessment and treatment of chronic suicidality.
- Delineate DBT skills and strategies to strengthen therapeutic engagement and reduce suicide risk.
- Integrate DBT treatments into the therapeutic relationship to manage acute and chronic suicidal behaviors to build a life worth living.
Continuing Education Statement
Live: Approved for APA, ASWB, NBCC, IBCC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) offers some psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and play therapists Continuing Education (CE) credit due to good standing with certain states and a limited number of professional organizations. It remains the responsibility of each participant to be aware of state licensure and CE requirements. Participants should check their state and/or local regulations regarding required Continuing Education hours. *For Professionals needing Live CE Credits, Webinars Must be watched live. Webinars will remain Live until 12 am ET.
Psychologists
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. AACC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- The AACC is approved in multiple states to give Continuing Education to licensed mental health professionals. When requesting CEs, please indicate in which state you are licensed in on the Continuing Education Form. If this is not indicated, you may receive the wrong CE certificate for your state.
- The American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), #1400, is approved as a provider for social work Continuing Education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. ASWB Approval Period: (09/06/2023 to 09/06/2026). Licensed social workers should contact their individual regulatory boards to review current Continuing Education requirements for licensure renewal. Any presentation that is less than 50 minutes in duration is not approved by the ASWB for Continuing Education credits.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
On-Demand: NBCC & IBCC
Effective immediately, participants can now earn 2 NBCC and IBCC credits for CounselTalk webinars that are not attended live. To receive this credit, participants must complete a 10-question quiz and an evaluation following the On-demand (recorded) CounselTalk webinar.
The CounselTalk webinar will switch to “On-Demand” credit after 11:59 pm on the day of the webinar.
American Association of Christian Counselors has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7543. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Association of Christian Counselors is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
IBCC: The training offered through AACC-sponsored conferences and training programs also meets the ongoing CE requirements for counselors, life coaches, and crisis responders who are credentialed through the International Board of Christian Care (IBCC) or one of its affiliate boards: the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counseling (BCPPC), the Board of Christian Life Coaching (BCLC), the Board of Mental Health Coaching (BMHC), and the Board of Christian Crisis and Trauma Response (BCCTR).
Learn more about our Continuing Education Policies
Presenters
Shannae Anderson, Ph.D., is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist in Private Practice in Virginia and California, the Clinical Director at Monarch Recovery Intensive Outpatient Program in Ventura, CA, the Director of Psychology and Program Administrator for the American Association of Christian Counselors, and Adjunct Faculty in the Doctoral Program in Psychology at Liberty University. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, American Psychological Association, Christian Association of Psychological Studies, Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (Founding Member and President), International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, and Society for Emotion and Attachment Study. Dr. Anderson received her B.S. in Exercise Science, her M.S. in Counseling Psychology, and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern California. Dr. Anderson is an expert in her field by working clinically for over 25 years with patients who struggle with trauma, dissociation, borderline personality disorder, non-suicidal self-injury, substance use disorders and eating disorders. Dr. Anderson is a nationally recognized speaker on these topics and she is a highly sought-after consultant in these areas.
