Preventing Suicide in the Aftermath of Trauma

Abstract

This chapter describes utilizing a SFBT approach with clients that have experienced a trauma and are thinking of ending their lives. This chapter describes how hope feeds positive therapeutic change, especially when a client is hopeless and sees no way out. The chapter describes the skill that underlies all other solution-focused practices; constructive listening and observation and describes how watching and listening for the clients’ strengths, capacities, good intentions, and improvements or successes are paramount when working with suicidal clients. This chapter is full of useful solution-focused questions that can be asked by therapists in their work to prevent suicide.