John was brought for psychotherapy by his wife. She said John was no longer the man he had been. He was refusing to go to office. He preferred to stay in bed the whole day. He had been very active and used to exercise daily. Now he has stopped all that. He takes bath only occasionally, and does not shave. Sometimes he talks of killing himself. She said she is scared he might do something drastic. That’s why she forced him to come for therapy. While the wife narrated all this, John sat slumped on the couch. When the therapist asked him if he had anything to say, he just sat there silent…. In later sessions the therapist learned that John, who had been a very successful businessman, had made a disastrous investment decision, was on the verge of losing his business, and threatened with lawsuits.
Sr Dolores, 55 years old, was no longer her usual self. An excellent and well-appreciated teacher, she began to lose interest in teaching. Homework books began to pile up. Never one to miss community gatherings, she was now late even for prayers. She wasn’t eating much, and complained that she would often get up in the middle of the night and be crying for no reason. She complained of chest and stomach pains. Several visits to doctors and a number of tests found no organic (physical) reason for her pain. On the physician’s recommendation, her provincial superior referred Sr Dolores for psychotherapy. The psychotherapist learned from the provincial superior that, about a year ago, a close friend of Sr Dolores, another sister in her congregation, had died in a jeep accident. During the course of therapy, Sr Dolores disclosed that her father had died in an accident when she was a junior sister. She had not been able to go home at that time and was not present for the funeral.
FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB
To read the entire article, click Subscribe
