therapeutic alliance in suicide prevention

In one of my first sessions as a therapist, a 60-year-old outpatient with body dysmorphic disorder and chronic depression said to me: “This psychotherapy is the last chance that I’ve got.”

Her desperation was devastating, and her words placed an immense weight on me. How could I possibly respond to that? Initially, my approach was to lean on established therapeutic methods—but as our sessions progressed, I began to realise that the bond we were building was just as crucial, if not more so, in helping her.

“One of the most important things we can do is create a bond with a suicidal person,” emphasized Prof. Ute Lewitzka, a German psychiatrist, on World Suicide Prevention Day 2024. While it may seem…