Therapists as the gatekeeper to safety

I was just watching our local year end news. Michigan passed Kevin's Law and is trying to put something behind it. On the one hand, it would get people more access to help before they commit a crime. Otoh, it might make it easier for families to commit family members.

The thread was not intended to be about law.

In the British standard of practice for therapy, maintaining client autonomy is one of the key principles https://www.keele.ac.uk/media/keeleu...-Framework.pdf

I wanted one too.

Almost 24 hours into the new year and no SD poll yet.

I tend to think that most people who bring these kinds of things up want to talk about the situation, maybe like a cry for help. Maybe they are looking for that extra care and attention from the t. Why else would one even mention such things? I mean, if I am going to a t for help with my severe depression and tell her I am going to go out and juggle chainsaws while rolling logs on whitewater rapids for sh*ts and giggles I would expect her to assume I am suicidal and that's going to get a reaction out of t. In my opinion, she then has every right to interrogate me about safety. But that would be what I was looking for. I would only bring that up in order to receive the care. If I had honest intentions to harm myself by this juggling act I would just do it and not risk someone intervening with my plan by telling them about it.

Bringing these types of things up may not be asking for an opinion necessarily, but, in my opinion it is asking for some sort of reaction. I think if someone is going to offer up information about something they are going to do that is going to cause bodily or emotional harm, the t has every right ask questions at the bare minimum. I personally would hate to hear of a t that wouldn't.

Or they could ask what your holiday plans were, and one could answer without thinking it was going to set the therapist off onto some sort of misguided interrogation. Not all extreme sports/activities are intended to do self harm. For me, it does not at any rate. Plus I would think by that measure, anyone joining the military, for example, would have their mental state in question from the get go if that were the criteria. OR marathon runners. OR white water rafting. Or life for that matter.
But indeed, lying or not responding would seem the better part of valour when dealing with their ilk if the question asked by one of them has nothing to do with why a client sees them.

***TRIGGER WARNING******

I had total autonomy this last go round in therapy. If I wanted to do dangerous thing, be unsafe, or committ suicide — that was my right. My therapist believed as I, that if someone wants to do real harm to themselves she cannot stop them. The only thing she could do was be there to listen to help them get through it. The most important things she did for me was to agree not to use legal maneuvers to stop me; no 911, no hospitals, or legal restraints. Yes, she had a few perilous moments with me, and was not concerned with the legal sanctions, even though she was quite aware that my FOO would give her no rest. It was my power, my autonomy, that I was wrestling with in life and through transference in our relationship. I won, and stupidity, and thoughts of death do not haunt me 24/7 anymore, and I look forward to all that life presents me with.

Yet, looking back at all the years of despair, I can't say it was worth it to have survived my youth and young adulthood. So, I will never change my believe, that no matter what one's mental status is, they have a right to autonomy, even if it includes their death.

Personally I need a gatekeeper to help me see when I'm going off the deep end. If I don't agree I feel I can say so but it's good to have a treatment team to help guide me.

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I've just never found my T's questions/concerns around safety all that intrusive. Questions don't generally offend me--I just answer them or don't. I'm always happy to have my T's input. Sometimes it's hard for me to see when I'm "going off the deep end," as Gaylegg put it, so I appreciate the additional point of view. I don't always agree with that point of view, but It doesn't hurt me to at least consider it, so I try to do that.

I'm torn about this. I have trouble trusting because of my last therapy situation.

On the other hand, I know the harm I cause myself is severe and dangerous and I *do* need help keeping myself safe. I have thought of lying, but in the end I have told the truth because I don't care enough about myself to force myself to get the medical attention for my injuries or to keep myself safe. I'm scared and I guess as much as I hate to admit it, I do need someone to protect me from myself. Maybe it's a cry for help, but at this point in time I need help keeping myself safe from permanent damage and it's scary. To the point that it almost relieves me when they threaten me (they call it an "ultimatum" but it's really a threat).

And this is from someone who is really really wary of the mental health field.

In terms of side effects from medications (careful when driving), and making sure I'm not in the middle of a crying jag when I leave.