It took me a long time before I talked about suicide with my T because of previous threat of hospitalization. In retrospect, I probably could have used more support at the time I first started seeing her. I believe she understood that and took to asking specific questions at regular intervals. When I did start talking about it, I started with the story of being threatened with the hospitalization and not my suicidal thoughts, beliefs or anything like that. We talked about what it would take for her to decide a client needed hospitalization and such. We would talk about it for a little bit one session and then not again for several weeks. It wasn't until I had been seeing her for about 8 months before I admitted to her where I was when I first started seeing her. From some of the things she said back then and some of the things she had me promise, I believe she knew I was struggling with suicide.

You don't have to start right in with suicide stuff, if you know you are safe, all you need to say is I'm safe. I'm not say to lie to them, just that if you know it is just a comfort, then you are safe. I know I keep things on hand and plans in my head as a comfort.