In this web conference, participants will gain familiarity with assessing suicide risk in the outpatient setting. Participants will learn how to identify chronic, acute, and protective factors when determining the level of risk and how to handle a person who reports feeling suicidal or expresses a desire to end his or her life. The role of current or past alcohol and drug use in raising suicide risk will be discussed, and participants will learn the importance of using a suicide-specific assessment tool instead of relying on their “clinical gut.” Assessing risk within different clinical populations will be highlighted. Lastly, weaving risk assessment into the clinical interview will be explained and examples provided.



This web conference is intermediate instructional level and designed to help clinicians:




  1. Predict how risk level changes depending on the clinical population (e.g., chronic health condition, LGBTQ, forensic, and personality/clinical diagnoses);

  2. List 10 risk factors that either raise, lower, or maintain suicide risk in an individual;

  3. Identify common warning signs and understand how to discuss concerns with individuals;

  4. Utilize a suicide risk assessment in the outpatient setting;

  5. Discuss possible next steps when a person demonstrates suicidal ideations and/or the desire to die;

  6. Recognize the continuum of suicidal ideations (e.g., passive, transient, chronic, and active);

  7. Select resources for reference and further study of suicide risk, rates, and trends.



If you have any questions about this web conference or would like more information, please contact us here.


How the Web Conference Works

In short, participants will be able to listen to the event by calling in to our teleconference center. Prior to the event, all participants will be sent an email with instructions on how to login to the teleconference center. This event will include lecture, interaction, and question and answer periods.


Continuing Education (CE) Information

1.5 CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is also an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

Event Reviews from Members

I thought the handouts were great. I also very much appreciated that anniversary dates were included and discussed. - Tamara Whitten, MS, LMFT, CFLE

Meet the Presenter

Andrew Mendonsa, PsyD

Dr. Andrew Mendonsa is a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of California. He maintains private practice offices in Sacramento and Beverly Hills. His background in assessing acute suicidal clients spans over 10 years and includes forensic/prisons, geriatric, inpatient locked psychiatric facilities, hospital-based emergency departments, and community outpatient clinic settings. He currently works for a major hospital system providing crisis/5150 evaluations in two separate emergency departments.

Dr. Mendonsa also provides treatment and evaluation under the California workers' compensation system. He has provided expert witness testimony and clinical opinions regarding a variety of legal cases and challenges. Dr. Mendonsa treats people of all ages, from young children to elderly adults. Experience in treating and evaluating a wide range of diagnoses is a cornerstone of Dr. Mendonsa’s skill. He also enjoys providing editorial opinions for several American Psychological Association divisions' journal selection committees. In 2004, he was awarded a Congressional Bronze Medal for this service to the community.

Besides his professional interests, Dr. Mendonsa enjoys traveling, working on obtaining his pilot’s license, and spending a relaxing night at home with his two Chihuahuas. Please visit www.drmendonsa.com for more information on Dr. Mendonsa and his work.