ending , ▁a ▁term ▁originally ▁used ▁by ▁The ▁Sam ar it ans , ▁is ▁a ▁process ▁based ▁on ▁a ▁relationship ▁of ▁comp ass ion ▁and ▁trust ▁to ▁facil itate ▁changes ▁in ▁thoughts , ▁feelings , ▁understanding , ▁intent ions ▁and ▁actions ▁that ▁may ▁lead ▁to ▁suic ide . ▁ ▁Bef ri ending ▁int ends ▁to ▁enable ▁another ▁person ▁to ▁feel ▁heard ▁and ▁val ued . ▁Ide ally , ▁the ▁be fri ender ▁disc ards ▁assumptions , ▁offers ▁un cond itional ▁accept ance , ▁comp ass ion , ▁em path y ▁and ▁concern , ▁whilst ▁respect ing ▁and ▁encourag ing ▁the ▁other ' s ▁aut onomy ▁and ▁sense ▁of ▁equality . ▁The ▁ess ence ▁of ▁be fri ending ▁is ▁the ▁giving ▁of ▁und iv ided ▁attention ▁to ▁the ▁other , ▁tun ing ▁in ▁and ▁connecting ▁to ▁m ood ▁and ▁feelings , ▁assim il ating ▁cons ci ously ▁and ▁intuit ively ▁every ▁aspect ▁of ▁the ▁others ▁presence . ▁ ▁Ass ess ment ▁of ▁Su it ability ▁All ▁potential ▁guests ▁are ▁ass essed ▁before ▁an ▁offer ▁of ▁stay ▁is ▁made . ▁The ▁process ▁of ▁assess ment ▁begins ▁at ▁the ▁first ▁contact , ▁via ▁an ▁ag ency ▁or ▁a ▁self - refer ral . ▁May tree ▁accepts ▁refer r als ▁from ▁GP s , ▁hosp it als , ▁psych other ap ists , ▁coun s ell ors , ▁friends , ▁family ▁and ▁self - refer r als , ▁nation wide . ▁Following ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁tele phone ▁convers ations ▁between ▁potential ▁guests ▁and ▁volunte ers , ▁a