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Gregg was referred to me recently by a psychotherapy training organization. It is the early stages of the work. I saw him for two assessment sessions (which is my usual practice) in March. There was then a two-week Easter break. I have seen him for nine sessions to date. He comes once a week. I will report the assessment sessions and the first two sessions fairly fully and then aspects of further sessions. I have chosen to present only elements from the sessions that seem interesting, engaging or puzzling.
Gregg arrived five minutes early. I did not ask him to wait. I noticed he was not wearing a watch and wondered about timekeeping. I thought he looked rather attractive in a rakish way. I guessed he was in his 30s. He was wearing jeans and carrying a rucksack.
I asked him to tell me something about himself and he said that he was 36, his wife was from a northern European country, and that he had two young children. He has two sisters, both younger than himself.
I asked him about his previous therapy, which he had mentioned when he rang asking for his first appointment. He had seen a male psychotherapist in central London via a friend. The friend also saw the same psychotherapist. When I asked why he had not continued he said he had seen him twice but found the journey too much. He told me that he had some counselling when he was going to be married and his wife-to-be was about to come to England. He thought he should do something about his behaviour. He went to his GP and saw the surgery counsellor for six sessions. He did not feel this did any good.