[Alffe]

This is from the book "Touched by Suicide ..Hope and Healing after Loss"
by Michael Myers, MD and Carla Fine, author of No Time to Say Goodbye

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The goal of therapy is to reduce suffering and instill hope so that you can survive what at times does not feel survivable. Here's how speaking with
a mental health professional may be able to help you at this time.

* You will get an assessment from a trained professional about the current state of your health - simply put, how well or ill you are. This will give you a perspective on yourself that you do not have at the moment.

* Your therapist will acknowledge the stigma associated with seeking professional help, and will understand your reticence or ambivalence as well as honor your decision to seek help.

* You will get an opportunity to talk without interruption, nonstop if you like. Therapists are there to listen.

* You can cry without anyone trying to shut you down. Or if you can't cry but want to, your therapist is grained to gently facilitate this.

* You can express your anger, rage, and resentment, again without anyone trying to judge you or shut you down.

* Your therapist will be able to explain things that don't make any sense to you. He or she will help you to ask questions and live with unanswered questions.

* You will not be pushed to talk about subjects that are too painful or that you are not ready to discuss.

* Even though you are speaking with a mental health professional, you can feel free to talk about the care - or lack of care - your loved one received, and your anger and disappointment at the mental health professionals who treated him or her. If you are struggling with indecision about suing or not, you should be able to discuss the conflict you're having about this with your own therapist.

* You can talk about feeling suicidal yourself. Your therapist will want to examine this in great detail with you, to understand your reasons, and to monitor and protect you.

* You will know that everything you discuss is private and confidential.

* Unlike talking to your friends and members of your family, you do not have to worry about "wearing out" your therapist.

Most important, when you see a mental health professional for help and support, you will feel safe and in good hands. You will know that your therapist cares about you and is watching out for you, especially now, when it's so difficult for you to be your own protector.