The identified patient…

M. Scott Peck in his book, People of the Lie, tells about how he and his peers refer to their “child aged” patients.  They would describe the children they worked with as the “identified patient.”

Peck was an exceptional clinical psychiatrist and respected as a forward thinker in his field.  He was an expert.  Someone worth studying.  Someone worth your attention…

I work with mostly CEO’s and small business owners.  When they come to me, they come because one of their peers has told them about our work and what it’s done for them.  Our first meeting is very predictable.  Nine out of ten times here’s how it goes.

The CEO starts the conversation with a response to my easy peasy question, why are you here?

They proceed to tell me about the “identified patient.”  It goes something like this.  Chet, they say, I’ve been told about your work…