GENERAL DISCUSSION FORUM ARCHIVE
Return to the active forum
Therapist/Client safety
Rothchild · 12/20/02 at 1:53 PM ET
I have been treating a young lady now for several months. She came to me after a traumatic m/c. She self-injures, actually began at 7yrs old and continued this behaviour until her early twenties.She has had three suicide attempts, one at 14, the next at 17 and the final one at 19. Her first two attempts she did not inform anyone about and survived really due to her methods being ineffective. (swallowing of poisonous chemicals).Her final attempt was more effective but she was found by friends who took her to the hospital. She received no psychiatric follow-up, lied to the psychiatrist, saying she was already in treatment and would return immediately to him. She has for almost 10yrs been very happy. Now she has returned to cutting in a significant way( needing stitches). She frequently dissociates in therapy and at times has taken razor blades from her purse and has threatened to cut herself but never has done. I have always managed to stop her acting on this impulse by reminding her of the boundaries and informing her that she would have to leave if she cuts. This always happens when she has become angry or deeply upset. She has never shown any violence towards myself or anyone else. Her family knows very little about her history, she has always gone to great pains to hide her behaviour fro her family and friends. There is also a history of verbal, physical and maybe sexual abuse.She also has a sister who has exhibited similar patterns of behaviour which the whole family know about. I am concerned about issues of safty. I would be very interested in anyone else's opinion on the safety issues involved here and the approach you would take.
Replies:
|
| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |
Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.
