ABSTRACT
This chapter explores therapist self-disclosure (TSD) as an intervention during suicide risk assessment. Several theoretical perspectives on suicide are presented, including suicide as a consequence of prolonged and acute interpersonal distress, current approaches to the assessment of its risk, and a theory of how TSD may be incorporated into this assessment. A case example illustrates the author-therapist’s rationale for and reflections on using TSD during such an encounter with a client. With respect to the serious nature of suicide risk assessment and the therapist’s countertransference (i.e., personal reactions to suicide, possible anxiety around the subject), it can be a challenge to balance client confidentiality with ethical responsibility. According to the proposed theory, as applied in the case example, TSD can be incorporated with safety planning and current empirically validated standards of practice. It is an intervention that emphasizes the shared humanity between the client and therapist, conveys the therapist’s commitment, addresses the client’s negative interpersonal schemas, and offers what may be a life-saving dose of interpersonal connection and validation.
