Quote:
Originally Posted by puzzle_bug1987
I think it is FINE to state up front you don't want to work with suicidal clients, but to take them on and work with them for months or years and THEN decide it is too much is completely unethical unless you terminate in an ethical manner. It's WRONG to just dump clients who are suicidal and "difficult" with no warning.
Terminating if someone isn't getting better is okay too, but it is the manner in which it is done that can be SO SO damaging and traumatic. A decent therapist won't just dump a client. WRONG on so many levels.
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Yes, I can imagine how horrible it might be for such a patient. Abandoned and rejected just when most in need of help? It's quite unethical of a therapist to do so. If a therapist notices some issues that he's not comfortable with or competent in, he can refer the patient to another person for further specialty consultation while he is still caring for the patient and sees the patient regularly. If it's decided that the patient will benefit from such more specialized care, I think there must be some overlap as the patient separates from one T and adjust to the new therapist.
Many people are not willing to let themselves be vulnerable so they build up a lot of defense against pain. When they finally start to go for therapy, it might take them a long time to trust a therapist and feel safe enough they might open up more and more and deal with the pain. Imagine if just at this time the therapist decides that the patient is too much for her and she says she can't see the patient!