ABSTRACT
Cognitive therapy is ideally suited for the treatment of hopelessness and suicidality for a number of reasons. Cognitive therapy's short-term, problem-focused orientation lends itself to the initiation of the kind of effective problem-solving interventions required in treating the suicidal client. An immediate and complete clinical assessment of suicide risk is important both as a part of the initial evaluation for therapy and throughout the therapy whenever indications of possible suicidality appear. The therapist must take any indications of suicide seriously and evaluate them carefully. The Scale of Suicidal Ideation (SSI) provides a useful framework for assessing factors including the patient's thought, his or her intentions regarding suicide, and any plan the patient has formed. The process of cognitive therapy is based on collaboration between patient and therapist. Cognitive therapy enables the therapist to make use of a variety of strategies and techniques that have proved useful in instilling in suicidal patients a sense of future and hope.
