ABSTRACT
Regardless of the specific circumstances, be they physical, emotional or sexual abuse, abandonment, or other trauma, the pain and loss factors are typically at the core of the presenting problems, be they intrapersonal or interpersonal in nature. To honor the pain is not the same as honoring the behavior that pain may be exhibiting, but it is more about totally acknowledging the depth of pain and loss experienced, from which that pattern was created in the first place. The first real recognition of being respected from the client usually comes from the recognition of the therapist’s depth of understanding and acceptance of the client’s pain. The pain inflicted on oneself is representative of the inner psychological pain that the person is holding. The person who attempts or completes suicide, on purpose or accidentally, is making the strongest statement of his or her pain and that statement reverberates, causing even more pain for family, friends and other support, including therapists.
