When you returned my first phone call, I felt like I had grabbed a 'life line'. You also made me laugh, just for a moment. We talked a great deal, ( I think that was the point), and it was a good thing, because life had much more to show me. You didn't fix everything, but you gave me tools.
I found Dr Richards' attitude and treatment of me, as a patient, to be demanding and thought-provoking without causing stress or tension. He made me think, and he drew honesty from me. He didn't "cure" me, and I don't think he meant to. He DID mean for me to look for answers, reasons and solutions. I will not be so dramatic as to say he "saved my life", but he did help me to keep my sanity and deal with life events that seemed, to me, at the time, to be overwhelming and get them into perspective. It has been a number of years since I saw him, and, during that time, I feel that I returned to my duties with a new perspective and the ability to deal with a number of challenges that I met in my profession in a successful and satisfying manner. I have, since that time, come into contact with other mental health professionals, and I still find Dr Richards' approach to be much more preferable for effectiveness.