What happens when you tell your therapist that you are having thoughts of suicide?

The first and foremost thing your therapist is going to want to know is what level of risk you are. That determines where things go, if you’re not immediate risk and if they can talk you out of things or de-escalate you, you’re a low risk. It really determines what happens next by assessing where you are. During that assessment phase they’re going to ask a ton of questions.

They’re going to ask about plans, about intent, they will ask about means. It might be short; it might be in depth if you are not immediate or high risk, they’re going to switch over to therapy mode. They’re not only going to listen and be present while you express your emotions, but also at some point switch over to problem solving.

This is tough the therapist might not be able to trust you at the moment so they will help develop a safety plan. This is to make sure if this comes up and it’s strong that you’re going to be safe. So that’d be the next step, going over a safety plan. In the long-term the therapist might redirect the goals of therapy to be more about depression.

If you’re working on anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, the therapist may switch over to focus more on the depression. Also, in this treatment plan the therapist may suggest you see someone that can prescribe some medications that can be helpful. That’s what to expect, the therapist will assess the level of risk.

If you open up and say you’re having thoughts of suicide they’re not going to overreact and start calling the police. That is the last tier, the last step, there’s lots of things that can be done ahead of that. We as therapists want you to be able to open up, we want you to be able to talk about your feelings.

We don’t want you to bottle it up. So, therapy is just going to be about that for a little bit. Then it’s going to take a shift and focus on that which is likely needed. That’s what to expect, and if you are having thoughts of suicide and you are seeing a therapist, please let them know. You don’t have to suffer alone or in silence, you don’t have to suffer. You can be treated, so please open up please let them know. If you are having thoughts of suicide and you don’t have a therapist, please get a therapist, or see a doctor. There are treatments that help, and it can make a huge difference in how you feel.

If you want to watch this video visit Preston Walker Guides What Happens if you Tell your Therapist you are Having Suicidal Thoughts? – YouTube