Every year, thousands of people make the decision to end their lives. What pushes a person to cross the line and what can be done for those who are on the verge? The opinion of the psychotherapist John Henden.
An effective approach to working with people who have chosen suicide as a way out of suffering is practiced by the famous British psychotherapist John Henden*. His work is based on the principles of Solution Focused Short Term Psychotherapy (SBRT) developed in the 1980s by Steve de Chazer and Insu Kim Berg**. Inspired by the effectiveness and short duration of the method (in most cases, five sessions are enough to help the client cope with the problem), John Henden began to apply this approach to crisis help situations — helping people again find arguments in favor of life, not against it.
For Henden, it all started while working at a psychiatric hospital in the UK’s National Health Service, where he dealt with cases of suicide among patients. He wondered why this was happening, because the clinic had teams of experienced professionals who were focused on helping patients. Later, he noticed: in lectures and seminars, experts discussed risk factors and statistics, conducted an analysis of suicide methods, but no one addressed the very essence — the suffering of the patient. John came to the conclusion that the problem was something that specialists did not deal with: they did not directly address suicidal thoughts, they did not have meaningful conversations with patients on existential topics, about life and death, but they made every effort to prevent a person from committing suicide .
- Victor Kagan: “Is it an easy job? No. But happy»
Henden is sure that each of us thinks about suicide at least once. For some, the impetus for these thoughts is a personal catastrophe — the destruction of the family, the loss of loved ones, dismissal, for others — events of a global scale: the economic crisis, war. Sometimes circumstances develop in such a way that the task of surviving seems much more difficult. “Suicide is becoming the preferred solution because it is available and can guarantee immediate relief,” says John Henden.
The key principle of ORCT is not to analyze the causes of problems, but to create new solutions. Methods of working with a person in a crisis situation are built on the basis of questions that help you see the strengths of your personality, set new, achievable goals and start moving towards them, albeit in small steps.
In solution-oriented work, the client and therapist first create an image of the desired future. Discuss in the smallest detail what a person wants to do, think and feel. They study his strengths, knowledge and skills, find what he can rely on to act differently.
There are four important stages in the work of a psychotherapist***.
1. In the beginning, it is necessary to get a sufficient understanding of the essence of the problem or concern that led to disturbing thoughts. Then, empathizing, give place to these feelings, not denying, but accepting them. Most people respond positively to the idea that suicidal thoughts are normal, that they may visit ordinary (normal) people in response to abnormal circumstances.
2. The next important step is to support the person in taking a small step forward. Usually, for this, the client is given homework after the first session: “Try to notice all the moments when the desire to commit suicide is felt less acutely. Pay attention to what exactly is happening to you at this moment.
3. During the second session, John Henden offers to help the client articulate the desired goal. It is important that it be formulated in a positive way, for example, not to get rid of suicidal thoughts, but to feel the desire to live. Then it is necessary to determine what actions could be taken to start moving towards this goal. At the same time, one cannot expect big steps from a person. It is more important that they are achievable. It is known that for a person in a suicidal state, even micro-actions — remembering the good, going to the store, calling a friend, getting a manicure — can be a step towards life.
4. After a person is convinced that he has the ability to act, influence his condition, he may have the resources to cope with stress and difficult life circumstances more productively, be more creative in solving problems and build his life in the desired direction .
* John Henden, international trainer, psychotherapist, coach, member of the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy.
** More on the solution-oriented approach:
*** You can also read about the work of John Henden in