Psychopathology: Theory and Practice

17 October 2019 – Michael Knight – Suicidality

First, some thoughts and discussion about how we respond as therapists to a client at serious risk of suicide, a situation that tests the limits of the underlying robustness of our theory and practice and our relational resilience.

The main content of the presentation will then be on Maytree, a unique short stay (100 hours) respite (and therapy) centre for those in suicidal crisis, of which I was a co-founder, and the principal architect of its model. In expounding its genesis and vision, and the gap in services it fills, I will focus on its ethos and the core values of its practice, namely containment and compassion – the essence surely of all our work. Finally, we’ll look at outcomes, successes, failures, inviting discussion on its merits and potential.