I think one needs to accept that helplessness happens. When you were a child, in many ways you were helpless. Deciding that you should have done something other than what you did is pointless because you did the best you could in your circumstances with the resources you had available. That needs to be noticed and even praised.

I got lost when I was 2 through no fault of my own and I knew where I "should" be but could not get there. Eventually I sat down and "gave up" trying to get there (since I could not), just burst out crying and my father found me and "rescued" me. I find it hard to give up and accept that I can't do things all on my own but need an/other('s)' help. I think that is what your T might be talking about.