Her new therapist’s name was Wendell and he listened patiently as she poured out all the details of her heartbreak. Because of these symptoms, he was expecting a simple answer essentially, he wanted the author to give him a quick fix that would help him sleep and be less stressed.Įven though she didn’t realize it at the time, she was just as blind as her clients when she stormed into her new therapist’s office and began to tell him all about her former partner. He told her that he was having trouble sleeping, that he was stressed all the time, and then he often argued with his spouse.

For example, when a successful Hollywood producer came to see her, he thought his symptoms were fairly simple. This is what the author tries to do for every patient she sees. But your presenting problem also means that it’s time to do some more work to reach the heart of the matter. It’s great that you’re aware of this problem and it’s even better that you’re seeking help. However, the presenting problem isn’t always the full story. For example, you might tell yourself, “I’m going to the doctor because I have a cold.” Similarly, if you went to a therapist because you’re feeling depressed, your depression would be the presenting problem orthe story you tell yourself. This story is what we tell ourselves to identify and cope with our problems. The presenting problem can also be thought of as a type of story.

In the case of the physical health problem, your congestion is what the medical community refers to as “the presenting problem.” This is the problem you’re presenting to the doctor as evidence that you don’t feel well and you need some help.

Maybe you should see someone