Introduction

Abstract

In the beginning was the chair, and the chair was reclined, and behind it sat the man with the notepad and the cigar, and he peered into the submerged part of the iceberg, asking questions about the childhood of the patient who lay down, staring at the moldy corners of the ceiling. Then, the chaise longue became smaller, grew sturdy arms, and became upright; the figure with the notepad, formerly out of the patient’s sight, sat across from them, perched behind a wooden desk, listening intently till the exchange started to feel obstructed by the bulky table. So, they ditched the desk, each retiring into their own respective chair, and they sat facing one another, communicating through verbal and nonverbal cues, seeking insight, clarity, and healthier coping skills.