Death by Despair: Harm Reduction and Interventions

This course provides a general overview of issues related to feelings of despair that clients express, and ways to navigate wellness plans and support a client through harm reduction, validation, and support. LGBTQPIA+ community members especially are at high risk of dying by despair, with 1 in 3 trans youth attempting to die by suicide, according to CDC research. Clinicians are often quick to hospitalize without realizing the harm this may cause to the client, specifically to trans, non binary, and LGBQPIA2S+ folx. This course is designed to engage from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive positionality to help meet our clients where they are at, providing support that does not default to coping skills that may not be accessible. This course is not intended to offer legal advice or to provide a substitute for legal advice.

Target Audience: LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Interns from these fields may participate with a letter from their supervisor.

Participants will be awarded course completion certificates upon watching the recording training, answering a quiz, and completing an evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed to the participants within 14 days of receiving a completed course evaluation.

Course meets the qualifications for 1 hour of continued education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCC, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Science.

Content: 60-minute training with a Q and A included

Course Objectives: After completing the course, attendees will be able to…

•  Define death by despair.
• Identify at least 2 coping skills to support regulating a client in crisis.
• Identify at least 3 ways to support a client expressing the wish to die by despair

Instructor: Van Ethan Levy (they/elle), LMFT & LPCC is a trans, non binary, autistic, Latinx, Jewish, Egyptian, neurodivergent therapist. Van has been an advocate, educator, and activist for the trans community since 2000. In addition to their private practice, Van is director of behavioral health for Transgender Health and Wellness Center, developed a curriculum for North Orange County Education and Antioch University, and is a clinician and a trainer at MiraCosta College. Van provides consultation, training, education, and therapy all over the United States & Internationally. Van is also the author of Exploring My Identity(ies), an interactive book designed for all people and ages to explore their identities and create safer spaces for themselves and others. Van directed and produced an award-winning documentary called Do Something: Trans and Non Binary Identity(ies) in 2021, organized the first-ever international virtual conference where all participants are trans and/ or non binary and paid titled Do Something: Identity(ies) in 2022, created a national provider list for therapists who will engage in assessments and write letters for life-saving care for LGBTQPIA2S+ folx, and developed the easy-to-use app for providers to create these letters. The Do Something: Identity(ies) conference (2024) is returning on Friday, May 31st, 2024 (VanEthanLevy.com/DSi2024).

Requests for Accommodation: The program administrator will make all reasonable attempts to accommodate any participant’s needs and comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To make a request, please email DiversityAndIdentities@gmail.com or call 619-993-3642. Requests will be required one month in advance of a workshop so that the administrator can make the requisite arrangements, or if unable to do so can inform the participant in a timely manner.

Grievances: Participant complaints/ grievances may be submitted via email to DiversityAndIdentities@gmail.com. Any complaint/ grievance will be addressed as soon as possible, within one month. The program administrator will respond to any concern in writing, and if appropriate, identify steps to remedy concerns.

Cancelation/Refund Policy: No cancellations or refunds are given for this course.

For Course CE certificate and sliding scale pricing, please send an email to DiversityAndIdentities@gmail.com.

Van Ethan Levy is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continued education for LMFTS, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Van Ethan Levy maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.