This was her second visit and she felt she was making progress.
The therapist sat looking at his client. He had spent a minute or two looking back over his notes from the previous session.
“So, let me see, we have established that you’re not happy with him.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Your feelings haven’t changed since your last visit then?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Was there ever a time when you were happy with your husband?”
“Not really.”
“Do you think he is happy with you?”
“I shouldn’t think so.”
“Can you think of anything that would make you happy with him?”
“No.”
He tapped his pen on his notebook.
“Tell me, are you happy with yourself?”
After a pause. “No.”
He scribbled a note. “Can you tell me someone, anyone that you are happy with?”
She thought for a minute. “I can’t think of anybody.”
“OK. What about people you have known in the past, any of them?”
She sat thinking for a while. “No. Not really.”
“Alright, can you think of anybody who is happy with you?”
“I can’t think of anybody.”
“OK… and anyone you may have known in the past… any of them, at all?”
“No. Not really.”
He shuffled in his chair, made a note and said, “You’re simply not happy with anyone, and there is no one who is happy with you; excellent!” He smiled professionally. “Case solved!”
“Wow! Do I come back?”
“No.”
“Just for a review or something?”
“No. I’d rather you didn’t.”
“I thought there were going to be three sessions.”
“Not necessary.”
“I feel I need…”
“No, sorry.”
“Why not?”
“I’m really not happy with you.”