To assuage psychological pain, the clinican needs to know what is being treated. This paper offers an empirical, cross-cultural perspective on the “what”, illustrated with the writings of William Styron. It is argued once one understands what is being treated, effective psychotherapy comes knowingly. An outline of some factors in the field of psychotherapy with suicidal people is presented. The most esstial common factor is the therapeutic alliance. What is effective & what is lethal are outlined. It is concluded effective treatment happens when the clinician is person-centred, not mental disorder centred. (93 refs.)