PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH SUICIDAL OLDER ADULTS

A rationale for therapy with suicidal elderly patients, from assessmen t through psychotherapy, is presented. The process includes thorough a nd comprehensive attention to not only the suicidal individual, but al so the situational and family components of the suicide crisis; crisis intervention; general principles of treatment; and applications of th ese principles to individual, group, and family therapy. The intensity and complexity of the transference and countertransference reactions are emphasized.