lend me that nice book of patients' narratives that you have, i tell my friend, and he lends me his favorite psychotherapist's book instead. this is how a life-long neo-colonialist, stiff upper lip an' all, ends up exploring that most quintessentially american tradition, therapy.
he turns out to be human humane compassionate and most embarrassingly honest. this is an american book, after all. he reads easily and shares generously and i almost get inspired to want to be able to do it myself.
look out of the patients' window, he says. let the patient matter to you. wise words, these, and not at all the therapist's purview.
not in the class of bonhoeffer, but a jolly humbling book from a lifetime of deep experience. i am richer for reading it.
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