Imagine this as a Saturday Night Live Skit--no, not a dud, one of the funny ones:
PP: So, tell me about an average day.
Patient: Well, let's see, I get up in the morning, and...
PP: Please stop right there. Let's explore that a bit. Why do you get up in the morning?
Patient: Um, okay. I, uh, get up in the morning because I have to.
PP: No, no, no you don't! Think again--really, why do you get up in the morning?
Patient: I don't know--everybody does it--I guess it is just what you do.
PP: Okay. What I want you to do is think about that, really explore it truthfully, and at our next session we'll discuss it more. Okay, let's move on. What happens next?
Patient: Okay, after I get up in the morning, then I go for a run. Then I ...
PP: Wait--stop right there.
Patient: Okay.
PP: Are you running FROM something, or running TO something?
Patient: {Laughs nervously} ... I don't know. I never thought of it either way.
PP: Yes, well, what we are going to do here is really think about some things that you avoid thinking about because, perhaps, they are too painful for you, or too scary. Or repressed for reasons you don't know right away--but we'll work together to get to the bottom of them. So, again, are you running FROM something or TO something?
Patient: {Getting impatient} ...I'm just running! I get up and go for a run in the morning! I'm not running away from anything!
PP: So then you are running TO something?
Patient: No!
PP: I think you are.
Patient: I'm not! I'm just running!
PP: Yes, but what is the purpose of running? For thousands of years, man has run for safety, or for pursuing food, or to or from friends or enemies. But let's move on, we can explore this more at our next session, now that you have the chance to think about it. What happens next?
Patient: Okay. I wake up, I run, and then I come home and have breakfast.
PP: Stop Stop Stop! Right there! Now, why... really open up about your motives and fears now... why do you have breakfast?
{this continues... eventually Patient walks out frustrated; PP sits back satisfied with himself}
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