Paul Conti

A person might need that over weeks.

They might need it over months.

They might need it over years.

But if I'm understanding correctly, you're describing something that is like a real human engagement.

And I work in a field that for years and years and years, the patient didn't get to see.

The therapist was sitting in a place, sitting behind the person.

So that's not, of course, the only tradition.

And there are aspects of that tradition that can be very humanized.

But the idea that...

we're supposed to not be human.

I mean, this medicine is shot through with this, right?

That the doctor is supposed to be God and it protects the doctor.

And that makes its way into therapy and the idea of the superiority, the therapist knows more.

I mean, in some ways,

Yes, but the idea is to know more about mechanical things, to know more about facts and knowledge, not as a human being.

If we approach therapy as a collaborative human endeavor, where if we're going to do it together, of course I'm going to learn from you too.

I mean, we're two human beings, and we're talking about things that are deep and personal and intimate, and I'm not going to participate in a way that makes it about me

as much as it's about you, but we're two humans and what's gone on in me may have relevance and sharing it may have relevance.

And at times, you doing something back for me may have relevance.

I'll give you an example of a person who would not let me help him.