Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D., LCSW, writes extensively about suicide assessment and intervention. Her book, Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals, contains evidence-based instructions and advice for assessing risk, planning for safety, and helping the suicidal person to build hope, coping skills, and reasons for living. Freedenthal has written more than 70 articles for her website SpeakingOfSuicide.com. The site has received almost two million visitors since 2013. She also has published scholarly articles about the measurement of suicidal intent, risk and protective factors for suicide, and other topics related to suicidality. Freedenthal coordinates the mental health concentration at the Graduate School of Social Work. The courses that she teaches include Suicide Assessment and Interventions, Assessment of Mental Health in Adults, Clinical Social Work Theory and Practice, and Social Justice Challenges in Mental Health Practice. A licensed clinical social worker, Freedenthal has a small psychotherapy and consulting practice. She also provides training and consultation to social workers and other professionals who treat clients at risk for suicide. Freedenthal has worked in the field of suicide prevention since 1994 when she volunteered at a suicide hotline. Subsequently, she earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. She held clinical positions in psychiatric emergency settings before returning to school to earn a Ph.D. in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. Before Freedenthal became a social worker, she worked as a journalist for The Dallas Morning News.