Recovering from a suicide attempt can be challenging in many ways.
Yosef Sokol, clinical assistant professor at the School of Health Sciences at Touro University, explores a new way to treat those who are struggling.
Dr. Yosef Sokol is clinical assistant professor in the PsyD program at Touro University School of Health Sciences. Dr. Sokol received his PhD in clinical psychology from Hofstra University and is a licensed psychologist in the State of New York. He is also currently MIRECC Health Specialist Research Scientist at the Bronx VA Medical Center, where he oversees a variety of funded research projects, which includes the involvement of Touro PsyD students. His work seeks to understand how personal identity deficits, and in particular, deficits in ‘future self-continuity,’ a sense of persistence of the self into the future, relate to the development and recovery from suicide-related symptoms. His research has been designed to develop and evaluate efficacy of a recovery-oriented treatment for post-suicidal patients, as well as develop a theoretical model of post Covid-19 psychiatric conditions that integrates direct medical and psychiatric sequala with psychosocial downstream effects of loss of functioning. His research findings have led him to articulate a recovery-oriented treatment for individuals with a recent episode of acute suicidal symptoms: ‘Continuous Identity Cognitive Therapy (CI-CT)’. Dr. Sokol’s teaching will emphasize the development of cognitive therapy skills, and practical application and utilization of research in clinical settings.
Recovering from Attempted Suicide
Our research has focused on improving how clinicians can help people who have survived an attempted suicide recover from that experience.
So often, we approach this recovery with the goal of reducing symptoms and suicidal thoughts. We often think of recovery as binary— either you’re ‘cured’ or you’re not. Instead, we wanted to apply the personal recovery model to suicide survivors.
This model focuses more on rediscovering a sense of meaning and purpose, strengthening relationships, and developing new coping skills — even if suicidal thoughts or other symptoms persist. The personal recovery model is a non-linear journey that is different for each survivor.
After doing an analysis of recovery research, we identified three distinct stages of recovery. The first is precontemplation. In this stage, individuals don’t see recovery as possible. They may feel trapped in an overwhelming situation. During this phase, an individual may not be open to encouragement to fix or change themselves. It can be more helpful for a clinician to use motivational interviews and information to plant the seeds of potential change.
The next phase is contemplation. There is growing awareness of the possibility of recovery and change. Individuals get glimpses of their meaningfulness to others. During this phase, clinicians should encourage individual to share thoughts and feelings about recovery.
The third stage, active growth, is when change happens. Little by little, people develop new coping skills, strengthen their relationships, and rediscover a sense of meaning and purpose. Promoting talk about change and action-oriented strategies can help individuals progress on their healing journey. This last stage becomes the foundation for their unique life worth living.
We want people to know that recovery is a process, and it looks different for everyone. But it is absolutely possible to find meaning and hope again.
Read More:
Rethinking how to help people with suicidal thoughts – The Jewish Standard
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