Miscellaneous
I present my work with a woman who was constantly suicidal for a year, frequently phoning me from the equivalent of “the ledge.” I felt overwhelmed with guilt, worry, and responsibility. I eventually was able to understand what was going on and how to help her. She was turning “passive into active” and testing me to see if I would be as traumatized by caring for a suicidal woman as she felt with a suicidal mother. I passed her test by confronting what was going on in a way that helped her identify with the healthier parts of myself.