Latest Treatment Suggestions

John Piercy: Get a Hobby , I was lonely and depressed
I took Digital Photography
Also Marty ,, lose the 1950's Professor look ,lose the tie and shave the face
Loosen up a bit

Dionysius: Dr. Fletcher, I think it is time for Marty to get a new dog or just a new friend. This will give him something to show affection to and will perhaps allow him to relive the his happy times he had with his Susan.

dave lesser: my therapist did this with devastating effectiveness: just stop paying attention when the patient gets off course and is running in circles.

Jude Crane: When you?re in mourning it?s sometimes a good idea to pretend that you can still talk to the person who?s gone. If Marty hasn?t tried that it could be just what he needs.

Marty P.: Commend Marty on how well he "sits" in his discomfort. Most people are scared to allow themselves to feel so horrible for such a long time. Marty's resolution will come from compliments paid to him for his bravery and fortitude. He does not want to change he just wants someone to notice how amazingly painful his life is. Take it from me, my name is Marty too. We're all like that.

Jimmy H: Marty thinks he?s doing the right thing by holding onto Susan but he?s only making himself depressed. Tell him this cycle of depression has no value at all.

Liz: I spent Christmas with my father and he's exactly like this. I'll stay tuned in case you find a way to cure him. But I doubt you will.

Judy Kowalski: The last thing you should do is let Marty go on about his grief in his therapy sessions. You simply need to change the subject every time Marty brings up Helen. If he won?t move on in life, at least make him move on in these sessions. Give him a fair chance to think about other things. He's not giving himself that chance.

Pyreneesia Iriarrte: This might be a good time to stop exploring Marty's relationship with the dog and start asking questions about his relationships with human women...if he has had any. I would also find out if his parents had dogs and what those relationships were like. Did his parents, for example, love their dogs more than their children? Did he, as a child, entertain fantasies about his mother's dog?

Will Schiano: He needs to stop making up excuses for himself ? he?s a malingerer. You should try mirroring his behavior.

Marge: Perhaps it is time for Marty to think about another dog that may need companionships. There are many dogs at the pound that need to find a good home.

Ron Greenberg: Force him to internalize that this was just an animal he lost. His whole attitude is inappropriate.

Pyreneesia Iriarrte: Marty must become his pain in order to get over it. He must in essence become Susan. I recommend that he go for a walk in the woods and roll in excrement. Then he should eat the decomposing corpse of a woodland creature, go home, and throw it up all over the livingroom carpet. You enter the room, put a leather leash on his neck and spank him with a newspaper. End the session by sniffing each other's butts. At this point, Marty will have experienced what Susan would have considered to be a perfect day. It will jolt him to understand that this, rather than eating kibble out of his hand, was her idea of a really good time. This will give him a new perspective on whether or not the absence of such behavior is worth mourning the rest of his life.

Danni: Perhaps aversion therapy would work with Marty. Or, maybe operant conditioning. Slowly rewarding him with something positive (reinforcement? verbal encouragement? sexual favours?) each time he speaks of something that does not involve his dog.

tim: use the tree to start a fire
to burn the passport

the smoke will show an image of
susan the dog, caz the customs
officer's eyes to tear and he will not see you slipping over the border

Liz: What did this person actually do with their dog. He doesnt have her stuffed or something does he?

Kent Hardburg: Marty's problem is lies. It's too easy for him to lie. He makes up one lie and then he has to follow it with another, in a vicious cycle. Nothing good will ever come of it. Nothing good ever does.

Eva R: I suggest you tell him to remember how happy he used to be with his dog and think about how some use of his time different from constant mourning could be able to bring him back to that level of happiness.

Ron Greenberg: Dr. Fletcher, when did you stop telling this patient to cut out his obscene behavior? Presumably sometime in your first 87 sessions with him. You're right -- you probably do need to take a new tack with this guy. Sadly I have nothing to offer. Except maybe mirroring his behavior. Make up excuses and cancel a few sessions. He'll figure out what he's doing to other people.

david: jeremy, what are you, a moron? the bottom isn't that far down? try chasing meth with listerine three times a day like i used to do. substance abuse. what a great suggestion.

Jeremy: Seems like maybe he should start drinking - a good idea for him. Let him hit rock bottom and then rebound. That's what worked for me. The secret is the bottom isn't that far down and you bounce right back up.

Bill Whitehall: Tell him to go see that recovering alcoholic. I hope he doesn't try to get out of it. AA vets know a lot more than alcohol. it seems like grief is this guy's addiction so AA may have some wisdom for him.

Danni: Perhaps you could suggest having him start playing with other dogs. Perhaps at a shelter. Maybe also just tell him to get a life.

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