as we need to warm wax if we wish to work it.»
Julius rose, shaking his head. He poured a cup of coffee for himself and paced back
and forth. «Working wax is not just a bad metaphor;—it`s about the worst goddamn
metaphor for therapy I`ve ever encountered—in fact itis the worst. You sure as hell are
not pulling your punches. Nor, incidentally, are you making your friend and therapist,
Arthur Schopenhauer, endearing to me.»
Taking his seat again and sipping his coffee, Julius said, «I`m not repeating my
offer of coffee because I`m assuming you want nothing to do with anything except the
answer to your singular question about supervision. You seem very strongly focused,
Philip, so I will be merciful and cut to the chase. Here`s my decision about supervising
you...”
Philip, who had been averting his gaze throughout this discussion, looked directly
at Julius for the first time.
«You`ve got a fine mind, Philip. You know a great deal. Maybe you`ll find a way
to harness your knowledge in the service of therapy. Maybe you`ll end up making real
contributions. I hope so.But you`re not ready to be a therapist. And you`re not ready for
supervision. Your interpersonal skills, sensitivity, and awareness need work—a lot of
work. But I want to be helpful to you. I failed once, and now I`ve got a second chance.
Can you think of me as your ally, Philip?»
«Let me answer that question after I hear your proposal, which I assume is
imminent.»
«Jesus! All right, here it is. I, Julius Hertzfeld, agree to be Philip Slate`s supervisor
if,and only if, he first spends six months as a patient in my psychotherapy group.»
For once, Philip was startled. He had not anticipated Julius`s response. «You`re not
serious.»
«Never been more.»
«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 gottenthat 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 thenow —there`s no need to investigate each
member`s past history in depth—we focus on the current moment in the group; and on
thehere —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.»
«I`d still like to set the fee.»
«You continue to amaze me, Philip. The goddamnedest things you worry about!
And the things you don`t!»
«Just the same, what`s a fair fee?»
«My policy is to charge the supervisee the same fee I charge for individual
therapy—with some reduction for beginning students.»
«Done,” said Philip, nodding.
«Hold on, Philip, I want to be certain you`ve heard me say that the idea of a
Schopenhauer tutorial arrangement is not of great import to me. When the topic first
arose between us, all I did was to voice some slight interest in how Schopenhauer had