In her new book, “Touched by Suicide: A Personal and Psychological Perspective on the Longing for Death and Rebirth,” licensed therapist and author Christi Taylor-Jones, M.A., LMFT, offers a profoundly enlightening exploration of suicide that digs beneath the surface. Through an innovative integration of personal narrative, professional wisdom, and Jungian psychology, Taylor-Jones approaches the subject of one of life’s most profound and painful experiences with compassion. This is a thought-provoking book that conceptualizes suicide in a new symbolic light because of its strong archetypal human wish for transformation and rebirth. Taylor-Jones argues that suicide is often brought about, not by depression or mental illness alone, but also by shame, anger, self-hatred, and unmet needs for change.
A Call for Empathy and Understanding
“Suicide is not just an end—it’s a call to transform the suffering we experience into meaning,” Taylor-Jones explains. Looking at suicide as a symbol of archetype, this book offers readers a deep understanding of internal struggle that ends in suicidal thoughts. The author writes about the stigma and shame surrounding suicide, asking readers to substitute judgment with empathy. She gives families, therapists, and others who have experienced suicide a pragmatic view of how to look at it, in the sense that it is a reflection of the complexity of the human condition rather than a moral failing.
Exploring Suicide Across Time and Culture
Touched by Suicide takes readers on a historical and cultural journey, examining how suicide has been perceived and addressed by different societies—from the philosophical acceptance of the Greeks to the moral condemnation of religious traditions and the clinical lens of modern psychology. Taylor-Jones also distinguishes between conscious and unconscious suicide, providing a nuanced framework that empowers individuals to process their feelings and seek healing.
A Beacon of Hope for Readers
Rooted in personal and professional experiences, “Touched by Suicide” is for everyone touched by suicide, directly or indirectly. It’s especially important reading for those in the helping professions as well as individuals interested in better understanding the symbolic nature of suffering and transformation. Availability “Touched by Suicide” is available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Contact Christi Taylor-Jones, M.A., LMFT