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This commentary on the case of Myra highlights the theoretical and therapeutic issues that can arise when an adopted child is raised in an atmosphere of silence, secrets, and failures to acknowledge the realities of her existence, and how this impacts the creation of a personal narrative and the ability to work through trauma. Myra was never allowed to tell her personal narrative, nor was she helped by her adoptive parents to understand her adoption. As a result, she was compelled to reenact her experiences of abandonment and abuse.
Within the context of a safe, holding, therapeutic environment, Myra revealed her secrets and developed a life narrative that finally made sense to her. However, the question remains whether the development of a life narrative, in and of itself, is sufficient. Although this may be enough for the patient, when a patient is unwilling or unable to use treatment to fully understand her narrative within a more traditional exploratory therapy and instead opts to reveal her secrets while refusing interpretations, and the possibility of working through has been resisted, the therapist may be left feeling that the work is incomplete.