Ordinary People, Extraordinary Compassion: Suicide Alertness

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Compassion: How Suicide Alertness Enhances Coach Training

Facilitated by Lynn Thorsell, Maddy Brown and Lu Ripley

As coaches, we recognize the boundary between coaching and mental health care – but how do we navigate the space between them? We are well trained in supporting our clients to explore their experiences more deeply, but few of us have received training in what to do in those rare cases when that exploration reveals a client in crisis.

By equipping ourselves with training in suicide alertness, we not only become able to recognize and respond effectively to someone having thoughts of suicide – we strengthen our existing coaching competencies, prepare ourselves emotionally to have deeper conversations, and establish greater understanding, trust, and safety in every coaching relationship.

In this interactive presentation, an ICF-accredited coach and a suicide prevention professional will:

• Share how being suicide alert can help coaches build greater connection, trust, and safety in every coaching relationship

• Provide a positive, life-affirming framework for suicide alertness

• Invite coach mentors, supervisors, and educators to consider possibilities for integrating suicide alertness into coaching curriculum and certification requirements

1.5 CCE credits are pending for this session.