ABSTRACT
The suicide of a patient is a devastating experience for a psychotherapist, especially if the patient commits suicide at you. A psychiatrist sought treatment after a woman patient opened her purse in the middle of a session, took out a revolver, put the barrel in her mouth, pulled the trigger, and splattered the wall behind the therapy chair with blood and brains. He could no longer bring himself to see patients. He, of course, could not help but wonder what he had done and what he might have done differently. Many colleagues have been absolutely shattered and could not continue with their careers because of patient suicides.
