SESSION 6: Eye contact
I’ve decided I don’t like therapy.
Oh? Why not?
Several reasons.
Mainly, it’s embarrassing.
In what way?
Well, here I sit, talking about my feelings and stuff…
And there you sit, just looking at me.
It’s like having someone watch you in the bathroom.
Yikes.
So let’s try an experiment.
What?
Turn around so you can’t see me.
Really?
Sure. See if that’s more comfortable.
Okay.
(silence)
(more silence)
(still more silence)
So, how’s that?
Any better?
Bert? Can you hear me?
(Sniffle.) Yeah.
Why, Bert. What’s the matter?
(pause)
I miss you.
***
SESSION 5: Choice
“Pick your poison,” you said last time.
Yes.
What’s that mean?
It means you face a choice of symptoms.
What choice?
You can choose between the anxiety that comes with relationships…
…or the loneliness that comes with avoiding them.
That’s my choice?
That’s everyone’s choice.
There’s no other option?
Well, some people think so.
Who?
Addicts.
They try to avoid both the anxiety and the loneliness.
And?
And they end up with both.
Is there a fourth choice?
I think so.
Really? What is it?
This.
SESSION 4: Poison
We never talked at home.
When you were a kid?