The city lived its quiet and unremarkable life. He was a part of the city that tended to take part, even if timidly, in everything that was going on. However, in Roberts opinion, it was quite insignificant. Immersed in his thoughts, he almost bumped into a jeep that had parked sharply in the middle of the sidewalk. A stocky man in a black down jacket fell out of the car and without any explanation attacked Robert shouting:
Watch where you are going! Dont you look under your feet at all, followed by a couple of swear words.
The words fell like snow on my head and made me angry after all he was not breaking anything, was not disturbing anyone.
Hey! Watch where youre going! Standing on the sidewalk! Im going to call the traffic police and see Suddenly for himself Robert blurted out, stopping for a second. The blood rushed to his head instantly.
The cleverest one has appeared.
The careless driver practically walked right up to him and apparently completely ignored the threat that came his way. The tension was building:
Im going to hit you before you get your phone out.
Watch what youre saying! Theres a lot of people here. What, you want to go to the station? He wouldnt let up, and didnt move from his seat.
The prospect of a fight right before the consultation with a therapist didnt particularly inspire him, but he was really angry. His recent frustrations were showing, and he didnt feel much like holding back. Clenching his fists, he waited for the reaction of the boor, who, nervously twisting the keys in his hand, stared angrily at Robert.
Robert was plucked from oblivion by the ringing of the phone. It triggered a reminder of the consultation that was about to begin. The sound had a sobering effect on both of them, causing the driver to stop and shut up, and Robert to walk further down the sidewalk. He did, however, allow himself to wag his finger at his temple, in response to which his accidental companion shouted something rude in his wake. However, Robert didnt hear what it was, because he was again immersed in his thoughts, thinking about what he would see and hear in the next hour and a half.
The consulting room was decorated in pleasant light colors. Fortunately, it didnt have the main irritant that Robert was inwardly afraid of the semi-darkness and the smell of incense, which caused him only melancholy. On the contrary, every detail of the interior tuned his thoughts to active work. Here is a freakishly curved vase by the window, composed as if of pieces of broken glass, paintings in the art nouveau style All these nice nuances made up the general composition and remained distinctive separate elements at the same time. The furniture was laconic without fussy details. The guests were seated in soft brown sack chairs, and there was no space at all for a lecturer. A standard glossy white board hung on the wall, and above it a clock of the same white color with black strokes in a circle that conventionally denoted the numbers of the dial.
«Nothing taxing on the mind, nice, Roberts mind raced. Nothing to be distracted by.» He looked at the people. The consulting room was filled with all sorts of clients. This fact surprised and intrigued him at the same time. To Roberts right sat a young, moody-looking girl with a notebook in her hands. The closest to the board, with his back to him, was a man in his fifties, looking through something on his smartphone. Two middle-aged women, dressed as if for a dinner party, took seats near the exit. They were talking animatedly. Right next to Robert sat a young man about his age, dressed in a simple but cozy brown sweater and black worn jeans. The young man was jotting something down on a clipboard, but at the same time he looked frequently at his guests, and at Robert as well. It was not difficult to guess that it was this young guy, noticeably different from the inhabitants of this provincial town, who was an psychotherapists assistant.
So when he once again stared at Robert, the latter, without taking his eyes off him, asked:
Im here for the first time, maybe you can tell me what format its going to be in?
Um The guy hesitated.
Then, with a slight furrowed brow, answered loudly, no doubt attracting the attention of everyone present:
Jessica is now writing a new book that will be devoted to testing a new method for dealing with negative emotions and attacks of the outside environment, as she says. To ensure that the method receives sufficient support among readers, clients and practitioners alike, she has set herself the goal of gathering a group of test subjects, who will then become the protagonists of the book, so to speak And Im on the team.
This is the first time Ive heard of this approach.
Robert could not help but admit that what he heard clearly interested him, so he moved his chair closer to the young man and asked:
In the team?
Ah, well Roberts interlocutor grinned.
Tapping the tablet lock screen and looking at Robert again, he continued:
Thats what I call those who Jessica has already selected to her group. By the way, Im Mark.
Nice to meet you, Robert.
Introducing himself, Robert said that Mark looked not only a very agile, quick-witted and enthusiastic man, but also incredibly cheerful and energetic, animatedly taking part in everything that was happening and as if charged with something from inside.
And how is the selection process carried out? Robert asked a question that naturally arose.
But he didnt get an answer, because a young woman entered the room, where about 15 people had already gathered, and with a springy gait, looking at everyone present one by one, approached the blackboard. She didnt seem to lose sight of anyone, and the attentive gaze of her dark eyes also stopped on Robert and Mark. She fit wonderfully into the interior of the room. There was nothing pretentious about her appearance: a dark blue woolen dress with a closed neck, high booted boots without heels, brown hair pulled up into a bun above her head. And absolutely no jewelry, not in his ears, not on his neck, not on his wrists. An absolutely calm and laconic image. Nothing about her could distract the listener from the penetrating gaze, the half-smile that almost never left her face, and the highly entertaining conversation that captivated everyone in the room from the very first seconds.
I am very grateful to all of you that on this Sunday morning you decided to spend some time talking to me, the coach began her speech, and Robert immediately understood why there was no chair or chair for the psychologist: she didnt stand still, but walked tirelessly around the room. I will introduce myself to those with whom we have not yet met. Jessica Highlander, psychotherapist and motivational coach.
Highlander didnt make a pause in her speech and, stopping right in front of Robert and Mark, continued, slightly lowering her voice:
In fact, each of us is a pretty good motivational coach for ourselves, arent we? Im sure that last week, and the week before, was not without its difficulties for all of you. I confess that I did too: a heavy flight, having to prepare a place for a meeting, negotiations with representatives of the local administration.
Jessica smiled, defusing the situation. And Robert noted that for the first time in his practice the confidential tone was used so successfully. No tedious introductions, no boring enumeration of their own achievements. A relaxed and open conversation was immediately initiated. Therefore, the revelations expressed by a complete stranger previously he wanted to respond with a conspiratorial tone: «Yes, and I had a hard time this week, and last week, and in the end, all the previous ones, too! But Robert didnt have time to say it out loud. The girl seated by the window answered on behalf of all those present, whose despondent look, which had previously touched him, was now truly despondent: