Patients' Reactions to the Suicide of a Psychotherapist

Abstract

This descriptive exploratory study examines the behavioral and affective reactions of clients to the suicide of their psychotherapist 1 year after the event, including remembered responses upon first hearing of the suicide. Initial grief reactions of participants were found to be similar to other suicide survivors with strong attachments to the deceased, including depression, numbness, anger, hopelessness, and panic. One year after the event, several participants continued to discuss the event with friends, had persistent feelings of depression and abandonment, and continued to deny the death as a suicide. A reluctance to reenter therapy was also reported. Almost all participants stated that suicide was an acceptable solution to some problems. These results suggest the potential existence of pathological grief for many participants in this study. Implications for the mental health community and intervention services for patient survivors are discussed.