Family Session Following Client (teen) Suicide
Fellow therapists and mental health workers, I come seeking insight and advice. I lost a teen client to suicide last week and will be meeting with their parents for a processing session. Many things cross my mind: Will they blame me? what does this session look like? how do I hold space for them while also managing my own grief? what is appropriate or not?
After consulting with my supervisor, I am trying my best to go into this session with no expectations and recognize my own insecurities (self-blame) are not necessarily going to show up from the parents. I also acknowledge that i did not fail my client and did my best to check in regarding SI/NSSI and had no reason to be concerned at our last appointment. I’m trained in CAMS and understand how to look for and communicate about suicidality. I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around this, just as I’m sure their parents are. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and can share what this session dynamic might look like.
After doing some reading on therapy with suicide survivors, my priority is to ensure the parents have adequate support, resources, and examine any barriers to the aforementioned. I know this session is not about me, and if the parents are trusting me with their processing, they likely do not blame me for what happened. This is bound to be the most challenging session of my career thus far, but I am willing and know I can hold space for them, just as I have for their child.
Thank you for reading and thank you for any insight and advice.