Unifying Psychotherapy in Suicide Prevention

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Youth and young adults are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis, where part of the solution is providing flexible and effective psychotherapy. In this case study commentary, we review the case of Maggie, a young adult in the United States dealing with suicidal ideation, symptoms from a traumatic sexual assault, and internalized shame. Using his version of a Unified Psychotherapy model, Gregg Henriques explains and details how to use the Unified Theory of Knowledge (UTOK) with particular emphasis on his mindfulness-and acceptance-based technique called CALM-MO. We comment on both the use of his treatment model and on how Maggie’s suicidal ideation was treated. Here, we found promise in Henriques’ UTOK model as a comprehensive framework for case conceptualization, although we worried about its accessibility to new clinicians. As well, we discuss how Henriques’ resource-focused framework was advantageous to treating Maggie’s suicidality, although he may have found additional benefit from updating his risk management practices to be more collaborative and humanistic. Ultimately, we believe the case of Maggie offers a timely exemplar of who is at the heart of our mental health crisis, while offering a comprehensive and unified psychotherapeutic approach for treatment consideration.