I’m excited to share that my book, The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills to Reduce Emotional Pain, Increase Hope, and Prevent Suicide, was officially published on July 1, 2021! I’m honored that my former graduate school mentor, Dr. Thomas Joiner, wrote the foreword.

One of my driving passions is sharing science-guided, helpful mental health information directly with the people who most need it. I took what I learned from years of research, therapy, and other life experiences and channeled all of that into the creation of The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook. My deepest hope is that readers will feel supported and empowered with strategies for coping with suicidal thoughts. I also hope that the workbook will help people to better understand how to support loved ones who struggle with suicidal thoughts. For therapists and crisis workers, I hope that the workbook will strengthen your confidence and expand your tools for helping people with suicidal thoughts. The book chapters were structured around a leading theory of suicide that was developed by Dr. David Klonsky (the Three-Step Theory). To give you an idea about the scope of the book, here is the table of contents:

I was also thrilled to collaborate with a brilliant artist, Alyse Ruriani, MAATC, to create two illustrations for the book (stickers and other items with these illustrations are available here).

I’m grateful for the positive reviews from people who read advanced copies:

“Kathryn Gordon’s workbook helped me self-reflect when I didn’t feel like I could handle my thoughts. When all feels lost, resources like this are exactly what we need: hopeful, analytical, educational, and practical. I will absolutely be recommending the book to others who might be feeling the same pain of suicidal ideation or hopelessness as well as those who are looking to better understand and help their loved ones.” 
—Marie Shanley aka Mxiety, mental health advocate and live talk show host, author of Well That Explains It

“Kathryn Gordon has translated our best theoretical and scientific understandings about why people are suicidal into an elegant, accessible, and easy-to-use workbook. Short chapters are full of practical and reproducible worksheets that walk the reader through hope and healing. She pairs her deep knowledge of the suicidal person with her expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy to create an invaluable resource for clients, their family and friends, and mental health professionals.”
—Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW, president of The American Association of Suicidology, and coauthor of Suicide in Schools

“Immediately helpful, this outstanding workbook offers wisdom and big-impact strategies to give you hope—that you can cope with setbacks, work through painful thoughts and feelings, find greater meaning in life, address obstacles to success, and live with purpose. Written with a supportive, encouraging tone, Kathryn Gordon guides you through the challenge of addressing suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with insight, self-compassion, and action. For anyone overwhelmed by pain and hopelessness, this essential resource will help you take the necessary steps to get your life back.”
—Joel Minden, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Show Your Anxiety Who’s Boss

“The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook has my highest recommendation. The content is informed by Kathryn Gordon’s extensive clinical expertise and deep knowledge of the research literature. The writing is beautiful, clear, and accessible. Gordon has a gift for communicating with her readers and making suicide risk understandable and surmountable.”
—E. David Klonsky, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, developer of the Three-Step Theory of Suicide

“For anyone who’s ever struggled with thoughts of suicide or who has a loved one who does, this workbook is a must-have. Kathryn Gordon is kind and practical in her approaches to managing suicidal thoughts, and in helping us find what we might have lost during the many years of struggle – hope.”
—Janina Scarlet, PhD, award-winning author of Superhero Therapy

“This book is outstanding—compassionate, packed with practical exercises, and based on research, theory, and clinical practice. It can help readers to suffer less, to stay safe, and to want to live. The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook stands alone just fine as a self-help book, and it also will be a good complement to psychotherapy.”
—Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, psychotherapist, University of Denver associate professor of social work, and author of Helping the Suicidal Person: Tips and Techniques for Professionals

“I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to endorse this helpful tool. Having survived suicide attempts, I can honestly say that I wish I had something like this that could have helped me better understand everything that I was dealing with on the inside. Kathryn Gordon, thank you for thinking about those of us who struggle everyday with this invisible illness—we are forever grateful.”
—Kevin Berthia, Suicide survivor/advocate/speaker, founder of The Kevin Berthia Foundation 

“Suicidal thoughts and feelings can sometimes end in death. And even if people don’t act on them, suicidal thoughts are incredibly painful in the moment. The good news is that for many people, using the skills in this book can help a person cope with suicidal thoughts and intensely painful emotions. Studies show that most people who use skills like the ones in this book can significantly reduce their suffering and help them build a life worth living. It is possible to recover, and this book is a good place to start.”
—April C. Foreman, PhD, L.P., executive board member of the American Association of Suicidology 

“The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook is a true gem in a world where suicide vulnerability exists in the shadows of shame and fear. Kathryn Gordon brilliantly weaves her professional expertise as a therapist and researcher to deliver a comprehensive workbook that breaks down each layer of suicide complexity, from why suicidal thoughts occur to specific strategies for developing personalized solutions. Most impressively, the workbook is genuinely empowering, offering hope to those who might otherwise feel hopeless.”

—Rheeda Walker, PhD, University of Houston professor of psychology and author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health

You can order The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook wherever books are sold (e.g., Amazon, BookShop, and Book Depository for free international shipping), and the first chapter is previewed on Amazon. If you’re thinking about ordering my book or already have, thank you so much for the support! If you find my book useful, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads and telling your friends about it. For books like this, word-of-mouth recommendations and social media posts about the book make a big impact!

With gratitude and wishes for good mental health,

Katie