Breakup, Breakdown
May 22nd, 2020
Starring: Therapee, Therapist
A therapist’s office. Pretty standard. Therapist is in a chair, with an open notebook. Across from them, Therapee is sitting on a plush couch or chair.
THERAPEE
...so that’s all to say, I don’t know.
It’s always a balance.
Everything’s a balance.
The balance is to find a balance.
THERAPIST
Right...yeah.
It’s a process.
THERAPEE
Yeah.
I would probably keep going but we should probably wrap up, right? Two minutes?
THERAPIST
Sure.
Unless you have anything else you feel like needs saying—
THERAPEE
No, not really.
Not like any of this is going away right away, right?
THERAPIST
It’s a process, remember?
THERAPEE
Yep.
…
Therapist opens to the back of their notebook to their calendar, they flip a page.
THERAPIST
So in terms of next week, you want to stick to the same time?
THERAPEE
No, yeah, same time is good.
THERAPIST
Awesome.
…
THERAPEE
I also wanted to let you know that um
I was thinking about taking a break
After this month
THERAPIST
Sure.
Okay.
THERAPEE
I don’t even have a reason why.
Like sometimes I come in dreading this and I feel like that’s a sign of something
Like if I can’t be open and excited why keep coming and paying?
THERAPIST
Right.
Maybe a break might be good for you. If that’s what you want.
THERAPEE
And I promise it’s not like a you thing. It has nothing to do with you. I really appreciate all you’re doing. Like I’m not going to run into some other practice or—
THERAPIST
Suresure—
THERAPEE
And I didn’t mean for it to be a big thing I just thought I should tell you a little in advance so we can have a couple sessions to wrap up or—
THERAPIST
No that’s really helpful, thank you—
THERAPEE
And I’m sure in your head this is probably a sign of my defense mechanisms and me hiding from dealing with my issues but I also think maybe time away could do the opposite—
THERAPIST
It’s really no problem. I totally understand.
THERAPEE
Thank you.
I’m sorry.
…
This is the closest thing I’ve come to a break-up so I don’t really know how to
...
Sorry that was a weird thing to say
THERAPIST
No it makes sense. How that might be similar...
THERAPEE
Maybe that’s for next week.
THERAPIST
Right.
Right.
Therapee gets up, heading for the door/exit. Therapist gets up with them.
THERAPEE
Thanks again.
THERAPIST
Sure. Thank you for being brave.
THERAPEE
Oh—yeah—it wasn’t
Nevermind
Taking the compliment.
THERAPIST
Good.
THERAPEE
See you next week.
THERAPIST
See you then.
They share a last little moment, then Therapee leaves.