Losing a Client to Suicide: Self-Reflection

explore the incredible challenges that arise when someone attempts suicide, and even more challenging, if a client dies by suicide. For the first part of the paper, describe how you would apply what you have learned about grief counseling to a client whose family member, partner, or close friend of someone who has died by suicide. Incorporate scholarly resources in your assignment of how you would begin counseling with the client, what interventions you would utilize, and what ethical and cultural considerations would be applicable.

In the second part of the assignment, you will put yourself in the position of being a counselor who has lost a client to suicide. Based on your own insights and self-reflection, discuss the impact this loss would have on you as a counselor and person. What do you expect your primary and secondary emotions might be? How would you handle working with your other clients? How would you reach out for support, to whom you would reach out (people and organizations), and what might get in the way of you doing so? Finally, include a paragraph on what you can do from this point forward to help yourself to prepare for this devastating occurrence (e.g. training, supervision, self-care). Please note, this paper will likely be quite challenging to write and may bring up difficult emotions and reactions. Please be mindful of these reactions and intentional about your self-care practices while completing this assignment.