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• Archive: Faculty:Jack KlottDuration:5 Hours 59 MinutesFormat:Audio and VideoCopyright:Jun 22, 2020 Description Your client just revealed that she’s having suicidal thoughts...what do you do?Does she have a gun?
• Has she written letters?
• Picked a location?
• Have hope something will change and doesn’t want to hurt family and friends?Asking your client, “where do you hurt?” often reveals the focus of the suicidal intent or the purpose of self-harm behaviors. As a clinician, it’s important to remember that even though you view suicide and self-harm behaviors as dysfunctional and maladaptive, your client views them as purpose-driven means of eliminating or managing unbearable levels of pain.
• For your client, these behaviors are beneficial, attractive, and helpful.Even the most seasoned therapists struggle to develop an empathic view of their client’s devastating methods of managing emotional pain.