In Treatment 3x05

Sunil returns for his second session. He dislikes being referred to as a patient; some kids spoiled soda over his vest; his son and daughter-in-law forced him to take a shower; and recently he’s been having this ache. Sunil is grumpy, but he has a sweet sense of humor. When Paul asks him about the ache, he jokes it must be the same ache his son hopes Paul can release him of. Soon enough Sunil is questioning the method of therapy in which only one side engages in the conversation. He feels he cannot be expected to share intimate details of his life, if the other party of the conversation barely says a word. Paul criticizes Sunil for putting his own complaints and grievances into other people’s mouth, for projecting his own frustrations onto others. Sunil jokes that now he regrets asking Paul to speak more, and he voices his frustration over the poor quality of tea in New York. They continue their cat and mouse game, Paul keeps asking probing questions and Sunil keeps dodging them. When their time is up, Sunil seems insulted as if Paul is throwing him out. From our Western perspective it is clear that Sunil has been bottling up resentments for years, but he is resigned there is nothing that can be changed about his life. It poses a great challenge for Paul to break through such barriers. For both parties this must not have felt as a productive session. Still, Sunil somewhere somehow seems to appreciate his sessions. So there’s hope that he can learn to become more assertive.