Ladybug's field notes

This trail of thought started with a question the other day, "Don't you get addicted if you are in therapy long term?" To which I said, "Would you say that about a gym or a walk when one does it long term?"  I felt so thankful for that question because that was exactly the question I had in my mind when  ​a few  years ago I got into therapy ​!  I wish someone  ​ p ​ointed to  me the strangeness of such a question.  Alain De Botton is one of my favourite philosophers of this time and he says it very clearly, "Why do we need therapists? Therapists are trained to be with you through your own exploration of your mind. They are following you in your journey into your own mind and giving you a little bit of assistance. ...." "It (therapy) provides a concentrated normally 50 minute session during the week when it's about you and your mind and you can cement declarations, and moves, a little bit more easily in the presence of a witness. You go, I'...

When my 18-year-old came back home from Bangalore within 7 days of going back to his hostel after a mid-semester break, neither him nor I expected it to go beyond 3 months. I, the development sector worker in charge of 96 people working in various parts of the rural India was more worried than him of course but, going by his reactions later, I guess he expected it to last even less than that. He thought he could finally spend his birthday with his friends as his semester dates changed. His birthday always coincides with summer holidays and when I said, “I want to come and spend time with you that weekend!” he had been in two minds about how to politely turn it down.  The mid-semester break in the first week of March in Delhi with me was spent well. The teenager avoided talking too much with me but we also visited a few restaurants together and went to a jazz performance that we targeted from long ago. We talked a bit about dating. His and mine. I was intrigued by his reflection tha...