Research Program

My primary research interests are focused on the development, testing, and implementation of novel therapeutic interventions, particularly in the area of suicidology.

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• Suicide Prevention & Intervention

• Meaning-Centered & Existential Psychotherapy (Logotherapy)

• Development and Testing of Provider-Level Interventions

• Implementation Science and Clinical Training for Evidence-Based Practices

• Therapeutic Alliance, Self-Transcendence, and Resilience

My current research program is centered on developing and testing the "Five-Step Clinical Framework," a novel, meaning-centered intervention for suicide prevention.

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The Problem: While contemporary models are invaluable for risk assessment, many clinicians are left without a formal therapeutic process to address the profound loss of meaning, purpose, and hope that often drives a suicidal crisis.

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The Proposed Solution: The Five-Step Framework provides clinicians with a structured, evidence-informed process to move beyond symptom reduction and engage with a patient's search for meaning. It complements existing safety-focused protocols by providing a framework for the "why" of living, not just the "how" of staying safe.

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The Research Plan: This project will be pursued through a two-aim strategy designed for an NIH R01 grant application.

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• Aim 1: Develop a service-ready intervention package, including a provider training manual, a clinical toolkit, and a validated scale to measure provider fidelity and competence.

• Aim 2: Conduct a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the training program and intervention.

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Next Steps: This project forms the basis of a planned NIH grant application. I am currently seeking a postdoctoral research position at an institution with expertise in implementation science and suicide prevention to pursue this research.

My research bridges the gap between frontline clinical practice and rigorous scientific inquiry. These publications represent the foundational step in developing and empirically testing new, evidence-based interventions for suicide prevention.

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• Santos, E. S. & Antúnez, A. E. A. (2025). A Novel Five-Step Clinical Framework For Suicide Prevention. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-025-09687-5 (First Author)

• Santos, E. S. (2025). Existential Parallelism: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Inauthentic Living in Liminal Arenas. Journal Human Arenas. (To be published)

• Santos, E. S., & Antúnez, A. E. A. (2023). O amor como fenômeno da autotranscendência na prevenção da depressão e do vazio existencial. (Love as a Phenomenon of Self-Transcendence in the Prevention of Depression and Existential Emptiness) In Anais. São Paulo: IPUSP. Recuperado de https://www.ip.usp.br/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ANAIS-DO-EVENTO-final.pdf.

• Santos, É. (2008). A deconstruction of the psychology. International Journal of Psychology, 43(3), 117–118.

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​For a full list of my books and book chapters, please see my CV or visit the Publications page.)

I am always open to discussing potential research collaborations, speaking engagements related to my work, or inquiries from prospective colleagues. Please feel free to contact me directly.​​​

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Email: elison@elisonsantos.com