All Posts Archives - Page 11 of 17

What is a Suicide Gesture?

April 16, 2014

8

Many clinicians and researchers advocate for abandoning the term “suicide gesture,” but its use still persists. Over the last few years, several definitions have been reported: “…A suicide gesture is like a one person play in which the actor creates a dramatic…

Is Suicide Inevitable for Some People?

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

September 16, 2013

58

A 61-year-old man, E.H., survived suicide attempts, received care for depression in psychiatric hospitals, and battled alcoholism for many years. His father died by suicide. E.H. was convinced that one day he, too, would kill himself. In 1961, he fatally shot himself in…

Like Clouds Before the Sun: Mindfulness and Suicidal Thoughts

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

September 2, 2013

3

Too often, people who think of suicide regard their thoughts as truth. They believe them. In a twist on the famous saying “I think, therefore I am,” suicide’s lie is, “I think I should kill myself, therefore I should kill myself.” It…

Should Therapists Attend the Funeral of a Client who Dies by Suicide?

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

August 7, 2013

14

The loss of a client to suicide is devastating. If as a therapist you experience this tragic loss, you may go through the familiar questions that beleaguer all suicide survivors. Could I have done something differently? Why couldn’t I prevent their suicide?…

Talking Back to Suicidal Thoughts

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

July 31, 2013

64

Suicidal thoughts take different forms. Some politely knock on the door. You let them in, entertain them a bit, and then they leave. But suicidal thoughts can also be most unwelcome. In such cases, you do not want to think of suicide.…

How to Find a Therapist Who Does Not Panic about Suicide

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

July 22, 2013

52

A huge fear of many people who think about suicide is that they will go to a therapist who panics at the mention of the word “suicide.” Some therapists do, in fact, panic. This can take several forms. A panicky therapist may…