More 'Treatment' sessions needed
Posted by Leah Hemenway on Mar 13th, 2008
Home Alone 66
Several weeks ago Mike, a friend of mine urged me to watch a particular TV show. I nodded and promptly forgot all about it. A few days later, “Have you watched that show I told you about?”
“Not yet.”
“You should. My dad likes it. I know you’d like it.”
This really caught my attention. Mike and his dad both liked the show. I thought I’d better watch it. Now I’m not saying I should have never started watching it, but I am saying that I have become addicted to it. I sat down and turned to HBO, “In Treatment.” In case you don’t know this show was originally on Israeli TV and records fictional counseling sessions between Paul, the psychiatrist and his patients. There are a number of patients including Laura, Alex, Sophie, and Amy and Jake, a couple. After all of these weekly, half hour sessions, Paul has a session with his own therapist. Doesn’t this sound boring? Unfortunately, it’s fascinating.
I have finally caught up with the first 25 sessions. I doled them out slowly. It took me about three weeks to watch about 12 ½ hours of riveting TV. Take Laura, for example. She’s a doctor with some problems, a boyfriend which she ditches, and a fixation maybe or a big love for her psychiatrist Paul. Or you might prefer Alex, a returned Iraqi War veteran who deals with guilt, other issues, and eventually meets and goes out with Laura. My favorite is Sophie, a l6 year old who is smart and troubled. I really like when she changes seats with Paul and quips, “How do you feel about that?”
As you can see, I’m definitely hooked. Now I just have to keep up with the 5 weekly sessions. My husband thinks that I’m crazy. I check his schedule and if he is gone for the evening, I park myself in the TV room and watch these sessions. My attitudes have been changing lately. At first I really liked Paul, the psychiatrist. I thought he was so intelligent and sensitive. Then he made some mistakes and I found out about his own marital problems. Now I’m not sure about Paul. I guess he’s human too. Sophie, who used to be cute in my mind, showed up with her mother after a botched suicide attempt, right there in Paul’s home office. Sophie, not so cute anymore, was so hostile towards her mother that it hurt. Besides that, she lied to Paul about some important things, including her father.
Even the media has covered “In Treatment” and its popularity. While an article in the NY Times claimed that many woman like Paul’s hands, I have never noticed them. I do notice the irritating way he says, “And how does that make you feel…or how do you feel about that,” both expressions all the time. Still, if you haven’t watched “In Treatment” take a shot. It may really grab you.I find myself thinking about counseling and relationships much more often than before. When the patients tell Paul about themselves, I want to say, “You just need a kick in the pants…volunteer, get some exercise...”
I realize after Paul talks that I’m way off. These people have problems that no volunteer work would solve. That’s the great part about this show. You get an idea of the problems quickly and then things start happening. After two weeks of therapy, Alex (the Iraqi veteran) leaves his wife of many years. This sounds sad, but at least it’s fast. Some people whine and gripe for years before they take any action. In this show relationships move quickly and you can see what happens. Now Laura is a bit different. She’s worked with Paul for one year. And where has that got her? She finally leaves her live-in boyfriend because she’s fallen in love with Paul. This is not supposed to happen, but apparently it’s common..
But hold the phone: Paul (how unprofessional, and oh no) has fallen for her; he thinks he’s in love with her. For awhile, I have two thoughts. How could you fall in love with Laura, Paul? She is so messed up most guys would avoid her like the plague. Then I’m thinking, “Don’t tell her. Get over it. You’re a big boy.”
I won’t tell you what happens, but it’s worth watching just for plot twists. “In Treatment” has a simplicity that is really appealing. Two people (or three in the case of the couples therapy) sit down and talk. That’s it. No chases, no violence, no big lights, no competitions, no fancy scenes. It’s like watching a play with a fairly simple set, Paul’s home office. So I ask my husband, “Are you going to be home tonight?”
“Why?...I’ll be in D.C.”
“Oh, just wondering… “
“I know that you’ll be watching that idiot show.”
“It’s not that bad…”
“Well, what’s happened to Alex, by the way?”
“I thought you didn’t like it.”
“Just curious…”
“Left his wife, dating Laura.”
“The doctor?”
“Yeah… all these people have so much time to get into trouble … How do they do it? It sounds so tiring.”
“I’ll be home tomorrow.”
I admit that I’m looking forward to watching this week’s sessions. I even thought about it several times this weekend. It is really interesting to see how these people describe their lives and their thoughts. I honestly think that any patient could come into the session and describe his home, work, friends, habits—and it would be revealing. Your personality just lives in all of these tiny details of your life. It’s almost scary.
I look differently at things. What does this reveal about me, my husband, my friends, my kids.? Why does he say things like that? I keep waiting for the opportunity to say, “How does that make you feel ... or how do you feel about that?” I’m practicing so it will sound natural.
The other day in the middle of our telephone conversation Arna slipped and fell on the ice, right outside of his Iowa City apartment. After he threw out some cuss words, I said, “Do you feel the whole world is against you?” I was really proud of my insight, but Arna just yelled, “What is wrong with you, mom?”
“See if I try to be sensitive again!!”
“I don’t need ‘sensitive’. I really need some extra gas money to drive to Columbia.”
So much for trying to be like Paul. I know I’ll keep watching. I’ve already decided that “a kick in the pants” may not be a great solution for problems. I wonder why it’s always worked for me. “How do I feel about that?” you may ask.
at 11:06 p.m.
Right on! You should listen to your friend Mike more often.
at 7:05 p.m.
Leah - you've discovered my late-night addiction! I'm contemplating watching the series from Israel, I'm so hooked. It's especially good when you sit through a whole week at one go. Watch out for the depression that sits in when you finish the last one...makes you want to seek treatment.
at 8:31 a.m.
Oh,oh. You got my interest piqued. I am home alone -- on vacation -- and I think I will click over to the treatment series.
My daughter and I have a blog that deals with boomer issues to boomerang issues (her generation). I will be referring to your blog quite a bit because I have not found a better source in the blogosphere than BoomerGirl. Thanks for the information.
Cheers,
Beckie