In The Prince of Tides, Tom Wingo meets with Dr. Susan Lowenstein, a psychiatrist, in the hopes that together they will be able to help Tom's sister Savannah, who is suicidal. During his meetings with Dr. Lowenstein, Tom reveals his and Savannah's troubled childhood, which included poverty and abuse. In the end, these sessions not only end up being the key to helping Savannah, but also Tom, as he and Dr. Lowenstein work to heal old wounds and help Tom move forward towards forgiveness and a better way to live.