Citation

Lester D. Crisis Interv. Time Ltd. Treat. 1995; 2(2): 159-165.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Harwood Academic Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In general, counselors should lay aside their personal biases and moral objections (about issues such as divorce or abortion) in order to counsel people effectively. This paper applies this principle to suicide. Today, with `'how-to-do-it” books available for committing suicide and people advocating physician-assisted suicide, the responsible counselor should be prepared to discuss suicide as a viable option with clients rather than simply working to prevent the client's suicide. Direct-decision therapy provides a good basis for this since, as originally proposed by Harold Greenwald, this form of therapy takes a pragmatic stance rather than a moral stance and helps the client make an appropriate decision from his/her perspective.