Ep 4. Walter - Week One

Walter is a man in his sixties who is a successful CEO. He is seen visiting Dr. Paul Weston, a therapist, for the first time in this episode. Walter first tells Dr. Weston about the reason why he is seeking treatment: his children have told him that he is not himself and as a result, they have asked him to step down from his CEO position so that he can start to get some help. Walter explains how he has been feeling more irritable and has been avoiding certain situations.

Dr. Weston begins the session by trying to understand what might be the source of Walter’s problems. He asks Walter to describe his upbringing and Walter talks about being raised in a modest home with parents who were hardworking but emotionally distant. Walter also acknowledges a moment in his childhood when his father physically abused him, but goes on to say that this only happened once.

Walter then tells Dr. Weston about his professional life and how he started his business, which has been very successful. He describes the pressure that comes with being the CEO and the expectations put on him by his board and shareholders. Walter also confesses to feeling guilty that he has not been able to give his family as much attention as he would like.

Dr. Weston probes into Walter’s relationships with his family members and tries to understand how Walter views their roles in his life. Walter admits that he has a difficult time expressing his emotions and tends to hold his feelings in. He also tells Dr. Weston that he has not been able to connect with his wife in the same way since she had a stroke some years ago.

Throughout the session, it becomes apparent that Walter has a lot of pent up anger and frustration. He is not sure how to express it and instead tries to suppress it, which only serves to increase his stress levels. Dr. Weston encourages Walter to consider how he might be able to communicate more openly and honestly with the people in his life.

As the session comes to a close, Walter agrees to come back for another appointment. However, Dr. Weston encourages him to try and make an effort to express himself outside of therapy, instead of waiting for their sessions to let his feelings out. Walter seems hesitant but agrees to at least try to take Dr. Weston’s advice.

Overall, this episode of In Treatment dives into the struggles of a successful CEO who is struggling to balance his personal and professional life. Walter’s inability to communicate his emotions effectively is causing him immense stress and jeopardizing his relationships with loved ones. The session provides insight into how therapy can help individuals gain insight into their emotions and learn to become more open with others.