ABSTRACT
Jane, who was completing her first clinical rotation in a child and adolescent psychiatric unit, began to cry easily during seminar classes when other students were reviewing their clinical cases. Despite efforts to conceal her sadness, Jane’s peers would frequently inquire about her emotional disposition. At first, Jane dismissed her behavior as just a “bad day” and thus was hesitant to share her despair. Over the course of a couple of weeks, however, Jane’s peers remained persistent and, consequently, Jane slowly began to discuss her sadness about seeing children institutionalized and medicated. She went on to reveal that the stories she was hearing in class about adult patients who had been in longterm care contributed to her sense of gloom and despair for her young patients. She described her excessive worry and concern about the wellbeing and future of the children with whom she interacted. During her narrative, Jane expressed her anger toward the psychiatrists and her clinical supervisors. She felt that these professionals were abandoning the children who were entrusted to their care. Although Jane could not identify any actual inappropriate events, she believed the children deserved better care.
