Illness in the therapist: the eye patch

During the second year of my psychiatry residency I began to experience an illness (corneal dysplasia) which necessitated the wearing of an eye patch for unpredictable lengths of time. I will use this particular even in the life of a therapist to focus on the array of feelings, reactions and meanings such an event stimulates in therapists, patients and colleagues. In addition to describing transference, countertransference and personal reactions, I will link the concept of such an occurrence as "special event" with the therapist's belief in his own specialness, which magically immunizes him against illness and death.