Ep 7. Alex - Week Two

Alex, a Naval pilot, is in his second week of therapy with Dr. Paul Weston. He opens up to Paul about his experience in the military, mentioning the pressure he faced from his father to enter the Naval Academy. Alex describes his father as a dominant figure in his life, something that caused him to feel insecure and doubt his own abilities.

As the session progresses, Alex reveals that he was involved in a fatal mid-air collision with another pilot. He is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he survived while the other pilot did not. Alex tells Paul that he can't go back to flying, as he's terrified that he'll make another mistake.

Paul tries to help Alex understand that survival guilt is a common reaction in situations like his, and that it's natural to feel responsible for the outcome. However, Paul warns Alex that he can't allow that sense of responsibility to overpower him and stop him from doing the things he loves.

The session ends with Alex admitting that he's been drinking alcohol to help him cope with his feelings of guilt and anxiety. Paul tells him that it's not healthy to use alcohol as a crutch, and that he needs to find healthier ways to deal with his emotions. Alex leaves the session with a lot to think about, and Paul makes a mental note to bring up the drinking issue in future sessions.

In his session with Laura, Paul shares his concerns about Alex's drinking. Laura is critical of the way Paul is handling the situation, questioning whether he's taking the correct approach with Alex. Laura challenges Paul's authority, pointing out that he has no real training in dealing with substance abuse and that his approach is potentially dangerous.

Paul is visibly frustrated with Laura's questioning and her attempts to undermine his authority. He feels as though she's attacking him personally, and lashes out at her. Laura responds with anger of her own, and the two end up shouting at each other before Paul storms out of the room.

The rest of the episode is spent exploring the dynamics of their relationship. In flashback scenes, we see Paul and Laura's first encounter. It becomes clear that Paul has been struggling with his own feelings towards Laura since the beginning of their sessions. He admits to his own therapist, Gina, that he's attracted to Laura, but knows that acting on those feelings would be inappropriate and potentially damaging to their therapeutic relationship.

As the episode comes to a close, Paul and Laura meet again, this time with a better understanding of each other's perspectives. They talk through their disagreements and come to a truce, agreeing to put their differences aside for the good of Alex's treatment. However, the tension between them lingers, and the future of their relationship as therapist and patient remains uncertain.