THE Board of People Who Know Better

Planning a smooth termination.

That was the phrase they drilled into us.

But what does it really mean?

Let’s say you have been in therapy for a few years and you get better, boom, we need to get you moving along back to the society. Whatever small issues you have, just tell them to cab drivers and bartenders.

As a counsellor, my job is to prepare my clients for the termination process but I have never been quite good at it. either I keep the clients on for more time than necessary sending us both into a constant work of negotiations like we were in a courtroom drama. And its not only from my end, some clients for a variety of reasons usually drag the sessions to keep from moving forward.

I have been working at Hills Wellness Clinic for about two years now. It was a small place and there were only for of us counsellors; Serena, Stephen, Barney and yours truly. And neither of us had a sure way for termination.

The endings.

Which is why we created the board of counsellors – In theory it’s a referral safety net. In practice? It’s like a fantasy football.

My mind was still healing from the debacle of that dinner with Nicole when the door opened and in came Stephen, trailing behind Serena.

This was already a bad sign. Stephen never trailed. He strutted. The fact that he was lagging behind her suggested (1) he’d lost an argument, (2) she was ignoring him, or (3) both.

“Morning,” I said, giving them my best therapist smile, which was basically just me baring my teeth like an anxious Labrador.

Serena flopped into the chair across from me, crossing her legs with practised ease. Stephen sat next to her, arms folded, his expression already in full brooding statue mode.

“So,” I said, flipping open my notebook. “What’s new?”

Serena smirked. “Well, aside from Stephen checking out every jogger within a five-mile radius....”

“Really?” I asked. “I thought you liked Susan.”

“What?!” Stephen frowned at me. “Checking out hot babes and being in love are two totally different things.”

Serena arched an eyebrow. “Maybe that’s why she doesn’t love you back.”

“Ouch,” I muttered before I could stop myself.

Stephen whipped his head toward me. “You don’t know that. One day she’ll come around.”

I scribbled something in my notebook just to look busy. It read: Dear God, don’t drag me into this.

Serena, of course, wasn’t done. “Speaking of love, I finally nailed down my date for the wedding.”

And just like that, I forgot how to breathe.

For context, I am the date she is talking about. No worries though, I can keep a secret, like right now I’m observing the great ceiling tiles of my office, avoiding eye-contact. See, secret’s safe with me, don’t know about Serena though.

Stephen perked up, leaning forward like a kid hearing about free ice cream. “Oh yeah? Who’s the lucky guy? Don’t tell me it’s Dave again.”

“Please,” Serena scoffed. “I’d sooner take my cat.”

“So who is it?” Stephen pressed. “You can’t just drop that and not tell us.”

Serena smiled. That dangerous, I know something you don’t know smile. “Let’s just say… it’s someone who knows me better than Dave ever did.”

I coughed into my hand, pretending to read my notes while my brain was screaming: Abort mission. Retreat. Fake your own death if necessary.

Stephen groaned, slumping back in his chair. “Ugh, mysterious types. You know those never work out. He’s probably some boring dude with, like, a diary.”

Serena shot me a sideways glance. Just a flicker. Enough to make me sweat through my shirt.

“Maybe,” she said sweetly. “But he’s fun at weddings.”

Stephen huffed. “Whatever. Bet he doesn’t have my abs.”

That was true. Then again no one had Stephen’s two abs.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Okay, let’s circle back to the actual reason you’re here. Termination planning. If we’re wrapping things up, we’ll want to discuss referrals, supports, all that good stuff.”

Stephen waved a hand. “Sure, sure. Refer me to Serena’s wedding date, maybe he can give me tips.”

Serena laughed. “I’ll try but he’s a bit grumpy. In any case, shouldn’t we wait for Barney.”

“Nah,” Stephen said flipping a book on my desk. “Barney said he’d already wrap things up with his five clients.”

He sighed. “Looks like it’s a threesome for today.”

“Was that necessary?” Serena arched a brow.

“Swear to God, that one was by mistake,” Stephen stretched in the chair. “So…who’s dumping which client on whom?”

“Referral,” I corrected. “Not dumping.”

“Tomato, tomahto.”

I exhaled slowly. “Let’s start with you, Stephen. Anyone you think is ready?”

He rolled his neck like a boxer preparing for a round. “Okay. I’ve got this guy. Mid-thirties. Relationship issues. Still in love with a woman who hasn’t texted him back in… I don’t know, six months.”

Serena didn’t even blink. “You mean you.”

“That is wildly unhelpful,” Stephen said. “This is about him.”

“Sure it is,” she replied sweetly.

I tried not to laugh. Tried.

Stephen continued. “Look, he’s not in crisis. He understands his patterns. He just… needs a small nudge to get him there, y’know.’”

“Sounds like a termination candidate,” I said carefully. “But only if he has support outside therapy.”

Stephen nodded. “That’s the thing. He doesn’t. and it’s not just the ex thing….i don’t know I was hoping to refer him to someone who works on attachment patterns.”

Serena frowned. “No way.”

“Please,” Stephen clasped his hands together. “We’ll trade.”

“You must ….really care about this guy huh?” Serena tilted her head. “Fine but I’m giving you hoarder Harry. He’s starting too freak me out.”

“How?” I asked.

“Well, the other day I found him waiting outside my apartment,” she said looking at me.

Stephen exhaled. “I’ll transition him. Maybe refer him to you, Max. you’re good at holding on too people like the squirrel guy.”

“Bob? You think I’m holding to him?”

“Maybe you like the company.”

Serena raised an eyebrow. “Anyway. “I have a client. Late twenties. Burnout, perfectionism, over-functioning in every relationship. Takes responsibility for everyone else’s emotional state but avoids their own. Any takers?”

“Don’t look at me. I still got my Todd and Diane to deal with.”

And not to mention other personal stuff too.