Better Thinking #28 — Dr Kirk Strosahl on Assessment & Treatment of Suicidal Patients
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Oct 9, 2019 Kirk Strosahl, a pioneering clinical psychologist and co-founder of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, discusses innovative methods for assessing and treating suicidal patients. He emphasizes the importance of addressing stigma and creating a compassionate environment to explore painful emotions. Strosahl advocates for accepting pain as a catalyst for growth, promoting behavioral variability for personal development. His insights reveal that open dialogue and mindfulness can help individuals navigate their feelings, fostering a deeper understanding of suicidality.
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Suicide as Avoidance Behavior
- Suicidal behavior is often an extreme form of avoidance, a way to solve the problem of feeling unbearably bad inside.
- It is not necessarily a sign of mental disorder but a practical human problem-solving attempt to escape emotional pain.
Ask the Suicide Problem Question
- Ask clients directly, "What problem would you be solving if you ended up dead?" to start open, honest conversations.
- This helps shift focus from judgment to function and understanding their feelings in suicidal crisis.
Mind’s Misguided Instructions
- Suicidal thoughts arise from a mind telling you to avoid painful feelings, but the mind is often wrong and creates a spiral.
- Recognizing this helps sufferers see their minds' instructions are not always trustworthy, reducing self-blame.
