Therapeutic Assessment is a brief intervention for young people presenting with self-harm in an emergency. The assessment consists of identifying the vicious cycle of self-harm in the form of a diagram, followed by a collaborative development of an “exit”, a way of breaking the cycle and moving forward. Therapeutic Assessment is linked with improved engagement with treatment compared with usual assessment.

“Really well put together. Passionate. Informative. Thought provoking and inspiring.” – Delegate from Nov 2018

Learning Outcomes

• Create a TA diagram depicting the vicious cycle of self-harm
• Develop an “exit” from the cycle
• Critically evaluate the evidence base of TA

Who should attend

This full-day training is the equivalent of 5 hours CPD and is aimed at clinicians that work with adolescents who self-harm. In particular; consultants, clinical leads, speciality doctors, nurse practitioners, educational psychologists, senior researchers, and those that work with children and young people affected with mental health issues.

The ‘Masterclass Series’

This CPD training day is part of ACAMH’s ‘Masterclass Series’. The ‘Masterclass Series’ delivers advanced, evidence-based training for those working in CYP mental health, to build upon their skills, knowledge and experience. They are interactive sessions, consisting of a series of lectures delivered by world-renowned experts in the field who focus on the latest research, and the implications for best-practice.

“Thank you for generating the role plays and practise. A very helpful way to learn.” – Delegate from Nov 2018

About the Speakers

Dr Dennis Ougrin
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr Ougrin graduated from a medical school in Ukraine in 1998 and came to England to undertake his post-graduate training. He completed his higher training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Guy’s and Maudsley and is currently a consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist leading Supported Discharge Service at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Ougrin is also a clinical senior lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. He leads a programme of information exchange between the UK and Ukraine. His main professional interests include prevention of Borderline Personality Disorder and effective interventions for self-harm. He is the author of Therapeutic Assessment, a novel model of assessment for young people with self-harm. He is the chief investigator of a randomised controlled trial of Supported Discharge Service versus Treatment as Usual in adolescents admitted for in-patient care and a principal investigator of a randomised controlled trial comparing intensive mental health intervention versus usual social care in Looked After Children. He also works on developing a modular psychotherapeutic intervention for self-harm and on understanding the pathophysiology of self-harm in young people.

Dr Toby Zundel

Dr Zundel completed his medical training at Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. He undertook general psychiatric training in the Maudsley NHS Trust and in Australia. He completed specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry on the training scheme of the Tavistock NHS Trust. Dr Zundel has worked as a consultant in both NHS adolescent inpatient units and outreach teams across Hertfordshire, Kent and London. Dr Zundel has a special interest in adolescent self-harm and emerging personality disorder. He co-developed and published Therapeutic Assessment for Self-Harm in adolescents as a new approach to improving engagement in young people who present with self-harm.