Hi,

I've lost both of my parents and grandparents when I was 15 in a series of tragic evens within one week. I've gone through many difficult stages, from pain and suffering to suicidal thoughts, to deep depression. I woke up from nightmares in cold sweat to realize that reality and my life situation were worse than the nightmare I just had. I was on a self-destructive path but managed to turn my life around about 10 years later.

I am well now and want to help others who went through a similar experience. I've gone through therapy when this happened but it did not really help. What I think would have helped if the therapist had access to someone who went through a similar experience and that person had words of compassion and encouragement for me back then. I think I would have opened up, listened and healed faster.

I want to know your opinion. If you had a problem like a loss of a loved one, or divorce, would it help you if you had in addition to your therapist a joined session with someone who's gone through the same experience and was offering advice and encouragement? For those who are therapists, what are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Alexey