Lovely colleague confession

[Clothesairerinmywindow]

I've name changed for this but I'm a long time user.
My lovely colleague asked to have a coffee and a lunchtime walk with me today.
She then confessed that she has been shoplifting and the news stories this week have made her paranoid to get arrested if she cant stop. She is a lovely human who is going through an absolutely terrible situation (the worst a parent can go through) so I think it's a grief reaction.. She steals earrings, hair clips, pens , little things. She doesn't want them or need them and sometimes feels so guilty she throws them out of the car window on the way home. I've suggested a counsellor might be able to help but now I'm worried that a counsellor would have to report to the police. Have I told her the right thing ? I'm panicking now too

Completely reasonable to check, she's only going to get the help she needs once she has the confidence.

I am glad she felt safe to tell you. Hopefully just telling someone will have made her feel a little better

Poor woman @Clothesairerinmywindow She sounds desperately unhappy, and taking these small things are in no way making her feel better- they are like the things a child would steal.
I hope she can access some really good counselling on NHS.

For goodness sake, the woman has a serious issue due to a grief response. The priority is helping the woman, not guilt tripping about the items.

@Clothesairerinmywindow i’ve PMed you with the names of a few organisations/charities that may be able to help her.

Counsellors can only break confidentiality if you are a danger to yourself or others. You did the right thing.

Kleptomania it’s called

maybe read the whole thread and take on board the other far more compassionate and understanding responses

I thought for a brief moment, that you were suggesting this so she wouldn’t leave any fingerprints…

I started shoplifting as a teenager after years of abuse, stupid things that I could afford but it made me feel something other than fear at home. My counselor didn't report me to anyone and was wonderfully reassuring.

I can’t tell if you’re joking or not…

I did. I don’t see your point. Is your point my post wasn’t compassionate?

Misinformed,you’re called