Psych Discussion
From the Metropolitan Diary section of THE NEW YORK TIMES 10/5/98


It was a reception marking the end of hte academic year for graduating
psychiatry residents. A man whose wife was one of the graduates was left
on his own for a short time. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was
surrounded by what he called a sophisticated group of well-known
professors, residents, spouses andother members of the psychaitric
community. He was amused and impressed at the exchange he overheard
between two of the professors:

Prof #1: "I want to apologize to you."

Prof #2: "Oh really? For what?"

Prof #1: "Well, over the past six months or so, I fell that I've been rather
short with you. I haven't been supportive of your work and I don't think
that I've treated you with the respect that you deserve. But I just wanted
you to know that this has nothing to do with you. I've been having some
personal problems and I never meant to bring these problems to work."

Prof #2: "Oh no, no, no. Don't be silly. It's an honor to be the object
of your transference."