Suicide Competencies: Stories from Counseling Interns

Although experts have identified core competencies for counseling suicidal clients, suicide education in counselor training remains insufficient. This narrative inquiry explored four counseling interns' stories of developing competencies and self-efficacy in working with clients experiencing suicidality. Key themes emerged, including: the importance of active practice following classroom learning, the necessity of growing through existential anxiety, the value of listening to multiple participating identities, and the understanding that these complex skills take time to develop. Further examination of counseling students' perspectives can provide guidance to counselor educators seeking to improve suicide-related training.