When Teens Threaten Self-Harm: Guidance for Clinicians and Parents

When a teen threatens to hurt themselves, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Clinicians know the fear and uncertainty that arises in those moments, and caregivers often feel paralyzed—unsure how to respond without making things worse. In our latest podcast-based CE course, When Teens Threaten Self-Harm: Guidance for Clinicians and Parents, returning guest Dr. Jaimee Arnoff provides practical, evidence-based strategies for helping parents and caregivers navigate these crisis situations.

Dr. Arnoff reviews how adolescent brain development contributes to suicide and self-harm risk, highlighting the impulsivity and emotional processing that can lead to life-threatening decisions in a matter of minutes. She outlines the “validate–safety–boundary” framework, offering caregivers a script to acknowledge a teen’s distress without reinforcing unsafe behaviors. By teaching parents how to co-regulate and set warm but firm boundaries, clinicians can equip families with tools that keep adolescents safe while strengthening connection.

The course also explores the complex realities of levels of care—from inpatient hospitalization to PHP/day treatment and IOP—and the systemic barriers families often face in accessing them. Dr. Arnoff discusses real-world scenarios, including when to initiate an emergency response, how to utilize stabilization centers, and the critical importance of means restriction and firearm safety planning.

Through applied clinical dialogue, this course prepares mental health professionals to empower caregivers with strategies that reduce immediate risk, support emotional regulation, and reinforce attachment. By centering caregiver education and involvement, clinicians can make a meaningful difference in those terrifying moments when minutes matter most.

Join us to gain practical tools for guiding parents through one of the most challenging experiences of their lives—helping their teen survive suicidal ideation and self-harm urges.

Listen to Ep. 252: When Teens Threaten Self-Harm: Guidance for Clinicians and Parents
Earn CE credit for listening to this episode; join our 1-year membership for $130 for unlimited podcast CE credit for a year.