Law and Ethics 9: Suicide and the Soul
Story and Symbol Therapy Courses Register Community Dates Contact
Story and Symbol Therapy Courses Register Community Dates Contact
Seminar Dates and Formats Articles Joseph Campbell Site Map Search
When the pain of life becomes overwhelming, thoughts of ending the suffering can rise. This is one of the most challenging situations in the work of anyone in a helping profession. Any possibility that a client might be considering taking their life mobilizes all of our skills. This day, our ninth seminar on Law and Ethics is on how to evaluate the risk and reduce the possibility of self-destruction.
We will discuss the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, and other stories, to explore the underlying crisis of meaning that can lead to dire thoughts. Mythic lore contains guidance and support for the rough parts of the journey. The dark night of the soul is a particularly difficult element of the quest. In times of trouble, it may genuinely seem like life should end. This can be a problem of overly literal thinking. Death and rebirth are supposed to be symbolic. Such confusion can be addressed in treatment. In the long view, we are all meant to find resilience and make it through the daunting hurdles of our stories.
This day meets the new mandate that all psychologists complete six hours of training in suicide assessment and intervention. Topics include risk factors, crisis management, treatment decisions, legal procedures and ethical issues.
Participants completing this seminar will be able to:
Identify people at risk
Detect warning signs
Conduct threat assessments
Address underlying issues
Clarify symbolic elements
Fulfill legal and ethical requirements
The following CE credits are available:
Psychology, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, Ed Psych, NBCC : 6 CE hours
Nursing : 7 hours
Select a seminar location from the Current Seminar Dates and Formats
Register online or call the Center
Jonathan Young, PhD is a psychologist (PSY10231) with an international online practice. He teaches at the Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara. His books and articles focus on personal mythology. Dr.Young assisted mythologist Joseph Campbell at seminars and was founding curator of the Joseph Campbell Archives and Library. He is currently featured in several documentary series on the History Channel.
Dr. Young is the minister of the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Goleta, a suburb of Santa Barbara. Visitors are welcome Sundays at 10am in-person and on Zoom: LiveOakGoleta.org
Anne Bach, MS, MFT 38891 is a specialist in uses of writing in psychotherapy. She gives presentations on creativity as inner work at major conferences, and lectures widely on psychological dimensions of expressive writing. She also appears in memoir drama performances for various theater groups, including the Marsh Stage in Berkeley. Her clinical background includes poetry therapy with seriously mentally ill patients.
Zoom link goes live at 9:30 a.m. - Seminar 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The psychodynamics of suicidal ideation
- Thoughts of death as symbolic
- Writing as intervention and self-care
Becker, Christina (2004) The Heart of the Matter: Individuation as an Ethical Process. Wilmette, IL: Chiron Publications
Beebe, John (1992) Integrity in Depth. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press
Frankl, Viktor (2004) The Doctor and the Soul: From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy. Vintage; 3rd edition (October 12, 1986)
Guggenbuhl-Craig, Adolf (2000) Power in the Helping Professions. Putnam, CT: Spring Publications
Hillman, James (1997) Suicide and the Soul. Spring Publications,U.S.; New edition edition (1997-04-01) (1800)
Hollis, James (2008) Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves New York: Avery
Neumann, Erich. (1969) Depth Psychology and a New Ethic. New York: Harper
Pipher, Mary (2003) Letters to a Young Therapist (Art of Mentoring) New York: Basic Books
Young, Jonathan (1996) Saga - Best New Writings on Mythology Vol. 1. Ashland, OR: White Cloud Press
Young, Jonathan (2000) Saga - Best New Writings on Mythology Vol. 2. Ashland, OR: White Cloud Press