Today’s 50-minute session focused on the grief and trauma the client is experiencing after the suicide of a close friend. They said, "I feel guilty for not seeing the signs," expressing their deep sense of responsibility and questioning what they could have done differently. We discussed how grief following suicide can be particularly complicated, with feelings of guilt, anger, and confusion often surfacing. Client explained how they’re also feeling angry at the person for making such a permanent decision and leaving them with so many unanswered questions.
We worked on separating the client’s own feelings of guilt from the reality that they could not have prevented the suicide. I reassured them that many of these feelings are common among those left behind, and it’s important to process the pain at their own pace. We also discussed the idea of writing a letter to their friend, expressing everything they wish they could have said. Client seemed open to this idea but expressed concern about the emotional toll it might take. They agreed to reflect on their emotions and decide if writing a letter is something they want to do. We’ll continue to support them through the grieving process in our next session.