Workshop Description: 

This workshop will focus on critical issues in the assessment of suicidal and violent clients.  It will address different methods for assessing risk, and review a variety of risk factors (e.g., epidemiological, diagnostic, empirically derived) associated with suicidal and violent behavior.  We will also consider relevant assessment instruments and risk management strategies, with emphasis on how one’s estimation of risk necessarily informs treatment planning.  Ethical challenges such as the protection of potential victims, informed consent, and working within professional competencies will be discussed, and relevant NH state law will be reviewed.  Case examples will be used to help elucidate and concretize the above issues.

About the Presenter, Leisl M. Bryant, Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic)

Dr. Leisl M. Bryant received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Duquesne University and her Diplomate in Forensic Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology.  She trained as a forensic fellow in the University of Massachusetts Medical School Law and Psychiatry Program, and has been designated by the Massachusetts Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Mental Health as a Designated Forensic Psychologist and a Qualified Examiner (of sexual offenders).  In 2005 Dr. Bryant went into private practice and specializes in forensic assessment and consultation.  She practices in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where her primary areas of focus include criminal and civil evaluations and violence risk assessment of adults and adolescents.  In addition, she works as a consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Forensic Services Division, providing assessments of dangerousness for individuals with mental illness and a history of violence.  She also serves on the Ethics Committee of the New Hampshire Psychological Association.

Learning Goals and Objectives:

1.  To understand the various methods for assessing dangerousness to self and others and describe essential components of a comprehensive risk assessment.

2.  Identify key risk factors associated with suicidal and violent behavior and ways of assessing the imminence of risk.

3.  Review specific assessment instruments and risk management strategies.

4.  Explore ethical challenges in risk assessment.

5.  Identify relevant NH state law.