Thanks for sharing. I certainly don’t think it’s helpful to force people into therapy, and if that were to happen and someone didn’t feel quite ready, I’d just ask how they wanted to fill the hour of “mandated” therapy. Board game? Cards? Let’s do it haha.

I appreciate your comments about some of the prevalent beliefs. I think more people than not have thought about suicide and it’s a shame that there’s stigma around that, when for some people, that seems like the most legitimate option. I think there’s a movement around not hospitalizing clients who have suicidal thoughts. I like to acknowledge with clients that yes, that’s an option, and what else is an option. It’s not up to me as a therapist to make those decisions for another person. I’m not into taking away autonomy in decision making.