A qualitative study is presented revisiting the work of Reeves and Mintz (2001) in exploring the experiences of counsellors working with suicidal clients and extending the focus to the issue of locus of responsibility. Following a review of the literature, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with six experienced counsellors currently or recently working with suicidal clients. These were recorded, transcribed and the material analysed using the constant comparative method (Maykut & Morehouse, 1994) to yield twelve categories representing participants experience. Themes emerging included: the impact of training, experience and organisational context, issues of client autonomy and professional responsibility, contrasting thoughts and feelings of counsellors when clients disclose suicidal feelings, ways counsellors seek to work with suicidal clients whilst dealing with their own feelings and finally, the locus of responsibility for the suicidal client and young clients especially. These are placed in context of the literature and limitations; implications for practice and further research are discussed
