The Schopenhauer Cure(22)

“I tell you that after so many years of sloshing about in the sewers I’ve finally got my life together. I tell you that I want to earn a living as a therapist and that to do so I need a supervisor—that’s the one thing I need. Instead you offer me what I don’t want and can’t afford.”

“I repeat, you’re not ready for supervision, not ready to be a therapist, but I think that group therapy can begin to address your deficits. Those are my conditions. First, a course of group therapy and then, and only then, will I supervise you.”

“Your group therapy fees?”

“Not high. Seventy dollars for a ninety-minute session. And, incidentally, that’s billed even if you miss a meeting.”

“How many patients in the group?”

“I try to keep it about seven.”

“Seven times seventy dollars—that’s four hundred and ninety dollars. For an hour and a half. That’s an interesting commercial venture. And what’s the point of group therapy—the way you do it?”

“The point? What have we been talking about? Look, Philip, I’ll be blunt: how can you be a therapist when you don’t know what the fuck is going on between you and other people?”

“No, no. I’ve gotten that point. My question was imprecise. I’ve had no training in group therapy and am asking for clarification about how it operates. How will it profit me to hear others describe their lives and problems en masse? The very idea of such a chorus of misery appalls me, although, as Schopenhauer points out, there is always pleasure in learning that others suffer more than you.”

“Oh, you’re asking for an orientation. That’s a justified request. I make a point of providing an orientation to group therapy to every patient entering a group. Every therapist should do that. So let me give you my spiel. First, my approach is rigorously interpersonal, and I make the assumption that each member is in the group because of difficulties in establishing sustaining relationships…”

“But, that’s not true. I neither wish nor need…”

“I know, I know. Just humor me on this, Philip. I merely said I make the assumption that these interpersonal difficulties are present—I assume it’s the case whether you agree or not. As for my goal in the therapy group, I can be real clear about that: it is to help each member understand as much as possible about how he or she relates to each person in the group, including the therapist. I maintain a here-and-now focus—that’s an essential concept for you to master as a therapist, Philip. In other words, the group works ahistorically: we focus on the now—there’s no need to investigate each member’s past history in depth—we focus on the current moment in the group; and on the here—forget about what members say has gone wrong in other relationships—I make the assumption that group members will manifest the same behavior in the group that has created difficulties for them in their social life. And I further assume that ultimately they will generalize what they learn about their group relationships to their relationships outside. Is that clear? I can give you reading material if you wish.”

“It’s clear. What ground rules does the group have?”

“First confidentiality—you speak to no one about other members of the group. Second—you strive to reveal yourself and to be honest in expressing your perceptions of other members and your feelings about them. Third—everything must go on inside the group. If there is contact between members outside the group, it must be brought back into the group and discussed.”

“And this is the only way you’re willing to supervise me?”

“Absolutely. You want me to train you? Well, this is my prerequisite.”

Philip sat silently with eyes closed and his forehead resting on his clasped hands. Then he opened his eyes and said, “I’ll go along with your suggestion only if you are willing to credit the group therapy sessions as supervisory hours.”

“That’s a stretch, Philip. Can you imagine the ethical dilemma that creates for me?”

“Can you imagine the dilemma your proposal creates for me? To turn my attention to my relations with others when I never wish for anyone to be anything to me. Besides, did you not imply that improving my social skills will make me more effective as a therapist?”

Julius stood up, took his coffee cup to the sink, shook his head, wondered about what he had gotten himself into, returned to his seat, exhaled slowly, and said, “Fair enough, I’ll agree to sign off the group therapy hours as supervision.”

“One other thing: we haven’t discussed the logistics of the exchange—of my offering you guidance on Schopenhauer.”

“Whatever we do on that matter will have to wait, Philip. Another therapy pointer: avoid dual relationships with patients—they will interfere with therapy. I refer to all kinds of ancillary relationships: romantic, business, even teacher and student. So I much prefer, and this is for your sake, to keep our relationship clean and clear. That’s why I am suggesting we start with the group and then, in the future, enter into a supervisory relationship, and then, possibly—I make no promises—a philosophy tutorial. Though at the moment I feel no great desire to study Schopenhauer.”

“Still, can we establish a fee for my future philosophical consultation with you.”

“That’s iffy, and a long way off, Philip.”