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The Working Through of Patients' Suicides by Four Therapists
Author(s) -
Kolodny Susan,
Binder Renee L.,
Bronstein Abbot A.,
Friend Robert L.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1979.tb00901.x
Subject(s) - loneliness , psychology , institution , psychotherapist , training (meteorology) , process (computing) , medical education , medicine , sociology , social science , physics , meteorology , computer science , operating system
In 1976 four psychotherapists in training at one institution had patients who committed suicide. The therapists met as a group over a one‐year period. This paper presents brief case summaries, explores the reactions of each therapist, presents conclusions regarding the mourning process following patients' suicides, and puts forth implications and suggestions for training programs. The authors conclude that it is necessary for therapists, supervisors, and training programs to recognize the inevitability of crises and tragedies when working with disturbed persons and that, though the process of mourning must be worked through individually, training settings can permit therapists to experience the pain and loneliness while providing opportunities for mastery and growth.