The 12 Days of Psychotherapy

In my random wanderings through the internet this holiday season, I came across this new take on classic popular Christmas carol written by By Tina Gilbertson, author of Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings by Letting Yourself Have Them:

The 12 Days of Psychotherapy

A new Christmas carol for our time

Verse 1

On the first day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 2

On the second day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 3

On the third day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 4

On the fourth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 5

On the fifth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 6

On the sixth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 7

On the seventh day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 8

On the eighth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Eight million Kleenex,

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 9

On the ninth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Nine labeled feelings,

Eight million Kleenex,

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 10

On the tenth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Ten new perspectives,

Nine labeled feelings,

Eight million Kleenex,

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 11

On the eleventh day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Eleven ways of coping,

Ten new perspectives,

Nine labelled feelings,

Eight million Kleenex,

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 12

On the twelfth day of therapy, my therapist gave to me

Twelve probing questions,

Eleven ways of coping,

Ten new perspectives,

Nine labeled feelings,

Eight million Kleenex,

Seven short assessments,

Six good reflections,

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD,

Four treatment goals,

Three mm-hm’s,

Two cups of tea,

And some insight in-to my psyche.

Bonus verse

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, my therapist gave to me

an invoice for the preceding 12 sessions, with a polite request to remit payment upon receipt.

Peter Mabbutt FBSCH 

www.lcch.co.uk