Introduction/Menna: Psychotherapy is very important, it help people learn about
their condition and their moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps
people learn how to take control of their lives and respond to challenging situations
with healthy coping skills. Today I have Dr. Jane senior doctor working at AUC’s
counseling center.
Menna: Hello Dr. Jane
Dr. Jane: Hello Menna, nice to meet you.
Menna: I would like you to introduce yourself, please?
Jane: My name is Jane Brenen. I Work as you said in the students counseling center.
I have been here for five years, and I am a license psychotherapist from Colorado.
Menna: Where were you working before working at AUC?
Dr. Jane: Well I have been in Egypt on and off since 1998. I have done consultation
for the Cairo American collage in Maadi. I used to be the manager of expatriate
services at the community services association in Maadi. I maintain a very small
private practice in Maadi, and part of that I have worked in a lots of different places
US.
Menna: Your job as a therapist, how it influence your life? You are the one who
analyze personalities and help people to solve their problems. So how do you leave
the problems that you hear everyday aside from your personal life?
Dr. Jane: That’s a great question, uhh… you know some of it is that I have 20 years
under my belt if you will, I mean I have 20 years of experience so I have had to learn,
you know, different ways of debreathing in united states, one of my specialties is
death and dying so as you can imagine it’s a very specialized and difficult area,
which I still do adore by the way. There is a new kind of movement If you will
specially in US called “compassion fatigue”. it teaches people like myself you know in
health care industries and emergency industries and so forth how to take care of
their selves and I have a lot of training in that area. For me personally I love the
exercise, I love the gym.
Menna: I mean that the problems you hear everyday, does it affect you personally?
Dr. Jane: oh...ok I thought you were asking, how I personally take care of myself
solve the problems do not...uhh I don’t take them home with me. I spend time with
my family, you know learning how to say turn off your mind if you will when you
leave your job is very important, you know mentally and physically.
Menna: From your point of view as a therapist, the best way to achieve targets in
any career is to work what you like or to adapt yourself to like your work?
Dr. Jane: I do both.
Menna: you do both?
Dr. Jane: Be part of the art if you will of practicing psychotherapy is just those very
two things. So, you know in professionally speaking I don’t know who is going to
come…
Menna: did you reach your target working as a therapist?
Dr. Jane: have I reached my target?
Menna: yea.
Dr. Jane: I am always working and always, I am always driving to be the best.
Menna: Was it your target when you were in school?
Dr. Jane: Oh, I have change a lot since school.
Menna: But, you are happy with what you’re working.
Dr. Jane: Oh my goodness, I love what I do. Yes, yes I see what you mean, yes I’m
very happy.
Menna: From your experience, do you think that culture; economic and political
situations in each country around the world may influence the citizen’s personalities
and problems?
Dr. Jane: Absolutely, unequivocally hands down yes. Do not ignore those aspects
and treat.
Menna : Are they the main aspects or maybe the personal problems are more like,
parents, family, age?
Dr. Jane: Case to case, for sure absolutely now I mean that’s a hard and very
interesting question. You know, particularly, since Egypt is gone through for
example the revolution. So, no doubt it has an effect on client’s personalities. The
way they think about things, you know some fear factors, fear of the unknown,
absolutely yes.
Menna: As a therapist you should be objective, Have your emotions ever interfered
to a case?
Dr. Jane: yes…absolutely.
Menna: To what extend?
Dr. Jane: I have never fortunately have that what I was saying earlier one of the
things about my industry of my profession is being able to depend upon my colleges
for support and debriefing, so of course working as I mentioned earlier with people
who have lost, you know I have worked in funeral home in Colorado. There were
times, when I heard and saw things that were beyond believe so in order, like you
ask to take home with me I always see consultation. I believe in that from my heart
and that doesn’t include your family because sometimes they are not objective,
colleges.
Menna: In our culture people may feel ashamed for going to a therapist. Do you
think that one day this may change and people will be fine with the fact that they
may have psychological problems?
Dr. Jane: Great question, did you make these questions up?
Menna: yes
Jane: you get an A, such a great question. You know I have been here again since
1998. I have worked in and out, directly and indirectly psychologically with people
and I can tell you that there has been a lot of change. I see it I particularly in your
generation. Again your generation and here on campus people are realizing that you
know taking care of your insides is similar. You know when we get our hair done;
take care of our nails and all that kind of stuff. So, nurturing the inside of us is very
similar to nurturing the outside. People’s attitudes are changing.
Menna: So do you think you can do something about this point from working at
AUC?
Dr. Jane: Yes, absolutely.
Menna: You are.
Dr. Jane: We are just planting the seeds that’s “Hey it is ok”. You know, historically
and cross culturally males particularly do not like to tell people their problems and I
even seen a lot of trends toward more males. You know, maybe talking about
problems on their job, this happened of course more in my private practice, or
talking about something in their family, their marriage, or talking about the loss of a
parent. So, I am very hopeful in Egypt. Take care of your inside like you take of your
outside.
Menna: Thank you so much Dr. Jane for your time.
Dr. Jane: Thank you very much.