ABSTRACT
Even with the most depressed client, seeking therapy suggests some belief that the quality of their life can improve. Even if this ray of hope flickers dimly, it has shone brightly enough to get them to the therapy room. Concurrently, or shifting from their ground to figure, may be the desire or thoughts of committing the ultimate retroflection – suicide. If this is in the field I make a point of discussing what can be one of our cultural taboos openly with the client and differentiate between suicidal intent and suicidal ideation. There is a world of difference between thinking about an action and carrying this action out. As retroflection is marked by turning back an impulse and a hardening of the contact boundary, the very process of facilitating expression of suicidal thoughts and feelings can soften the contact boundary and reduce a sense of isolation. I believe this can reduce the chance of ideation being acted upon.
