Therapie und Praxis (2002)

Talk therapist Roland Arnsberg has found his passion in his profession and has been sure that he and his colleague Chris have been in a good relationship for six years. But when Chris unexpectedly tells him otherwise, complaining that he hardly notices her anymore and that everything has become mere habit, the couple break up. As Roland is still thinking about how such “mistakes” could happen in his own private life, of all people, when he is a therapist who has rather prided himself on his knowledge of the human psyche, a dog jumps on him from behind and he falls into the water. The dog’s owner bravely jumps in after him, but gets nothing but ingratitude in return. Roland’s father quickly realizes that his son needs some encouragement to get through this crisis in his life, and gives him his concert tickets because he himself can’t go. By chance, Roland runs into the dog’s owner at the concert, and this time she is impressed by his sentimentality, which is unusual for a man. They meet again the very next week, and during their conversation Roland discovers that his new acquaintance is the wife of one of his patients, who is currently seeing him over his marital problems. He intends to end the affair before it has really begun, but Regine Meier takes him by surprise. Roland knows that getting involved with a patient’s wife could cost him his license, so, for simplicity’s sake, he wants to end Bernhard Meier’s therapy—or refer him to a colleague. Meier initially seems only disappointed, but Roland has to realize that the man is so attached to him as his therapist that he cannot let him go. So Roland remains caught in a dilemma and seeks advice from his ex-girlfriend. But she, too, only advises him to end the whole thing, which he fails to do. By day, Bernhard Meier talks to Roland about his marital problems and the various affairs they have driven him into; at night, Roland meets with Regine Meier. In the sessions, Roland learns that Meier’s wife has somehow changed lately, and that he suspects there is another man, so he wants to have his wife followed. This makes things complicated for Roland, who has to come up with all sorts of ways to keep either of them from finding out about his “double game.” The situation comes to a head when Bernhard Meier insists on bringing his wife to the next session. As a result, they both learn the truth, but reconcile in the end. Since Roland still meets Chris regularly, they both realize they are not quite indifferent to each other after all. However, they still can’t bring themselves to admit it. Roland throws himself into his work, but increasingly catches himself being mentally absent during therapy sessions. So he decides to close his practice and take a year off to find himself. Chris has had a new boyfriend for some time and is in the process of moving in with him. Roland even helps her carry furniture, and once again they realize that they still care for each other. But they both wait until it is almost too late: Roland has nearly left to begin his sabbatical. Only at the last moment does Chris rush after him.