A trainee psychotherapist's heuristic exploration of losing a mother to suicide. Issue 4 (3rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stewart, Kelly; Thomas, Val
• Is Part Of: British journal of guidance & counselling. Volume 48:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 552
• Page End: 562
• Publication Date: 2020-07-03
• Subjects: Suicide bereavement -- heuristic inquiry -- suicide survivor -- counselling training -- bereavement -- trainee experience; Educational counseling -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Vocational guidance -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 371.4
• DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2018.1519181
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9885

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Suicide bereavement is a newly developing field of research in the UK, yet over 6, 600 people take their own lives here every year. This heuristic inquiry aims to explore the lived experiences of trainee psychotherapists bereaved by maternal suicide. It examines the lived experiences of the researcher and two participants, with data collected through interviews, dreams and journalling. The findings revealed five themes: 1) It's not just about the suicide, 2) The pain continues – attachment, abandonment and fear, 3) Left with all the unprocessed feelings – "the shit", 4) Trigger after trigger – complicated experiences of psychotherapy training, 5) A catastrophic loss that no one "gets". Implications for the counselling and psychotherapy profession are discussed.