Dr. Jung offers a comment:
“This sense of powerlessness as a child is very common and is the source of childhood trauma when a young person is facing a threat that they can’t handle, such as sexual abuse or physical punishment. Your sense of powerlessness was much more benign. And you had an active mythic life which enabled you to experience the transformational emergence of power and personal control. Then, many years later, you took the risk of starting a newspaper and had to hope that some magical power would be granted for you to operate this business successfully. Some of this power came from Frank. And you remain connected to him and grateful for his invaluable contribution. This makes it particularly hard for you to push against Frank at the present time.”
Mitch begins to tear up. Dr. Jung once again offers Mitch a tissue. They both sat silently for several minutes. Then Mitch speaks:
“Yes, I am very grateful for Frank’s contributions both when we were starting the newspaper and when we automated our printing process. The question remains, how do I remain grateful for Frank’s magical source of energy and vision, while also turning to Gwen for her energy and vision. How do I keep both remarkable people close to my heart?”
Dr. Jung suggests that this the fundamental question to be addressed in their final sessions: “This is why you traveled 4,500 miles to meet with me here in Zurich.”
With this observation by Dr. Jung, our session came to a close. There was no homework. And no need for an assignment, since Mitch had much to ponder after leaving Dr. Jung’s office and joining Joan for an afternoon of strolling through the streets of Zurich and purchasing some of the Swiss coffee that Dr. Jung serves in his office.
Session Seven
Mitch entered Dr. Jung’s office with mild apprehension. The sessions have become increasingly challenging for him. They have been very beneficial, but also psychologically bruising for him. And since the last session, Mitch has been thinking (and feeling) long and hard about how to keep both Frank and Gwen “close to his heart.” He knows that he will have to meet with them individually and together when he returns to the States. But what will he say and do?
Dr. Jung seems to have sensed Mitch’s apprehension. He said to Mitch:
“Today, I want to suggest that we focus not on you but rather on the organization that you lead. We have been spending a lot of time examining your psyche. It is now time to examine your organization. With your permission, I would like to attend to the culture and climate of your organization. Some of this examination might be new to you. Much as a fish doesn’t realize it is swimming in water, most people don’t recognize the nature and dynamics of the culture and climate in their organization. As a leader of your newspaper enterprise, it is particularly important that you appreciate the water in which you are swimming, for it impacts on how you lead and the way in which you and others in your organization perceive your role as leader. So, can we shift our attention to the water?”
Mitch eagerly agreed to this shift in focus—perhaps a bit too eagerly. Dr. Jung indicates that there will be a return to Mitch’s personal psyche by the end of this session. But there first will be an examination of Mitch’s organization.
