Psychotherapy with Older Men by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Behavioral Sciences
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2010-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Suicide

A number of options are available for addressing suicidal ideation with older men in psychotherapy. One option is for psychoeducation; that is, explaining the increased risk of suicide for older men. The loss of power and control, perhaps for the first time ever, can be quite overwhelming. Helping the man to understand that he is looking at the world through “depression glasses” may also help to provide a “big picture” perspective of what he is experiencing. These are examples of increasing the client’s tolerance for depressive symptoms, in effect normalizing those symptoms and bringing about recognition that they can be dealt with appropriately.

Given that this generation of men grew up when “a handshake meant something,” in addition to a verbal agreement that there will be no self-harm, asking for a handshake to confirm this intention can be effective. The therapist may also want to focus on reasons that the older man would refrain from an attempt at taking his own life. For many men, religious beliefs, feelings of not wanting to hurt their family, and even fear emerge as reasons for not attempting suicide. In addition to ensuring safety, both of these approaches can serve to strengthen the therapeutic alliance by indicating a level of trust within the relationship, while also reminding the older man of his interpersonal connections and responsibilities.

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