Supervising the Trainee Who Treats the Chronically Suicidal Outpatient: Theoretical Perspectives and Practice Approaches

The authors describe the problems that occur when a novice therapist works with chronically suicidal patients, many of whom are borderline personalities. Initial idealizations by both the patient & the novice therapist eventually break down. The patient feels the familiar pain of abandonment, & at this point, suicide may again become an option. The authors discuss transference & the 5 most effective defenses used in therapy to deal with this problem. (NBB)