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Mr. Marcas:
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Good morning, Doctor Balis.
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Dr. Balis:
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Good morning, Mr. Marcas. Would you mind if I called you Logan?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I think Mr. Marcas will be okay.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh, you wouldn't prefer me to call you by your first name?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Doctor Balis, we're both professionals in our respective fields, and I don't think that my situation will warrant any need to get acquainted on a first name basis. As I said, it's my hope to wrap this whole situation up in a couple of sessions, and then we'll no longer have a need to communicate.
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Dr. Balis:
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You seem to be very uneasy about having to come here. Do you feel uncomfortable with therapists?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Not at all, Doctor. I'm glad that the company has utilized your services. You seem to have a quite professional practice. However, given the situation I was in and the provocation that caused it, I don't think that my situation is one that really needs the attention of a psychiatrist. It would also raise some eyebrows if it was generally learned that one of the persons most responsible for the various security operations in the company was in therapy. Wouldn't you agree? Oh...and please, when dealing with my little situation, the word "animosity" is a rather loaded one.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. However, I can't say that I agree with your perspective. Seeing a therapist shouldn't be seen as reason to question your proficiency in the workplace no matter what your job is. It just means that you are taking active steps to overcome some difficulties.
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Mr. Marcas:
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True, but that can be done without the aid of a therapist.
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Dr. Balis:
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Well, in any case, we do have to continue, if only so that I can deliver the necessary report. Besides, I think you owe me something, Lo...Mr. Marcas.
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Mr. Marcas:
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What could that be, Doctor?
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Dr. Balis:
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I sacrificed my normal procedures in order to cut right to the bone at your first session.
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Mr. Marcas:
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Oh yes. Hmm, I guess I do owe you a little peek into my personal life. Well, fire away. What would you like to know? I think you have a pretty extensive list of my leisure time activities on file.
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Dr. Balis:
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Unfortunately, I don't. So let's start. Tell me about your home life. Are you married?
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Mr. Marcas:
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No, I'm single, never married. I just moved to the Bay Area about a month and a half ago. I got the job at SII right away and haven't really had a chance to even unpack, much less go out.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why is that?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Well, when I was hired on, there were some big changes expected in Security. I threw myself into the work.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see.
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Mr. Marcas:
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The work I do is infinitely interesting to me, and I've told you of the many advantages to working where I do. We have the resources and the personnel to make some marked improvement in multiple facets of the department. You would be shocked on how primitive the systems were here when I started. We already have two new file security systems running on every file server on the network. We've also instituted some new policies for high security areas of the firm. I've even started some multi-planed firewalls. We've got encryption processes started that will make illegal file access nearly impossible even from the inside, unlike before.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm glad that you like your job so much, Mr. Marcas. So you have no plans currently to seek activities or entertainment outside of work?
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Mr. Marcas:
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As I said, there are still several projects that need to progress a bit more before I'll be satisfied enough with them to lean back a little. Don't worry. I've always wanted to see California. I'll be a regular beach bum pretty soon.
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Dr. Balis:
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Good. You seem to be a little more casual today--your attire and ease of expression...
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Mr. Marcas:
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Mr. Spunt and I talked the other day, and he agreed to let me telecommute to work for some of the online security measures that I'm in the process of implementing. So I'm doing my work on the SII network from home.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. When did you and Vice President Spunt talk?
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Mr. Marcas:
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He came over Saturday morning. I must say that he rather surprised me. I wasn't expecting visitors and came to the door in greasy cut-off sweats and no shirt or shoes.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is that how you normally dress at home?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Well...I mean, yes. When I'm at home on the weekend, I'm normally dressed down. But it was just a strange situation for me to be seen by a VP in such attire.
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Dr. Balis:
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I doubt he expected you in suit and tie on a Saturday morning.
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Mr. Marcas:
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You're most likely right. Still, it's rather amusing to me now. I was more embarrassed by the state of my loft than I was of my attire. As I said, I'm still not exactly settled--I'm living out of boxes, if you will.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did Mr. Spunt say anything to you about it?
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Mr. Marcas:
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He was amused that out of all of the things I had set up and established, first were my computers and my stereo. He also mentioned that my flat definitely needed a woman's touch.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why did he say that?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Most of the decor that I have unpacked is my automotive art and some of my old military stuff.
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Dr. Balis:
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What kind of military stuff?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I have cargo netting up in a couple of corners. I have some really old nose art from some WWII fighters hung up. I have my badges, insignias, and patches hung up. I have my flag up. It's things like that.
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Dr. Balis:
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What branch of the military were you in?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Army.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Mr. Marcas:
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I was in a couple of Airborne units.
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Dr. Balis:
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Really? May I ask which ones?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I was in the 82nd, and then I transferred to the 101st.
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Dr. Balis:
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How long did you serve?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I was in for five years. I went in a month after graduating from high school.
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Dr. Balis:
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I assume that's where much of your initial interest in security matters started?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I would say so. Though the more specialized interest that led me to what I am doing now started about my freshman year in undergraduate work at MIT. That was where I got interested in corporate and computerized security systems.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did you ever see any combat when you were in the military?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Yes.
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Dr. Balis:
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To what extent?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Well, Doctor, the two units I said I was in did some fairly high priority work at times. But just as you have a contract of confidentiality with your patients, my commanding officers and I have a similar contract of confidence. I can't really elaborate on any of the things I did when I was in a combat situation.
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Dr. Balis:
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Have you ever received counseling as part of your military service?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Yes. There were several routine sessions that many of us went through before and after certain missions. If you would like, I can see if I can get you the contacts to have those transcripts sent over to you. Since you are in the medical field, I don't think there should be any problem with you looking at them.
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Dr. Balis:
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That won't be necessary. Thank you for the offer though, Mr. Marcas. How about your family?
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Mr. Marcas:
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My father lived all his life in Missouri, still does. My mother passed away about three years ago from an aneurysm that kind of surprised us all. I only have one older sister, and she lives in North Carolina where she's a partner in a law firm. My aunt and uncle on my mom's side still live about twenty minutes away from my dad. And I seem to have cousins spread out all over the country.
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Dr. Balis:
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But no one near by?
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Mr. Marcas:
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No. But I hear Seattle isn't that far of a drive from here.
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Dr. Balis:
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That would depends on what you call a long drive. Do you have much contact with your family?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Yes. We communicate quite often by e-mail, and a couple times a week, I speak by phone to different members of my family. My cousin from Seattle and I have talked briefly about a possible visit--I'll come to stay for a weekend with her and her family when I get some time off.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why are you waiting for time off? Why not take a regular weekend and go and visit?
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Mr. Marcas:
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The condition revolving around the job and the incident with Ms. Wolfe has left me unwilling to just up and leave the state. I was also hoping to established an opportunity to telecommute with Vice President Spunt. And as I've said, I'm still trying to get unpacked and settled.
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Dr. Balis:
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Were there ever any criminal charges brought up? I was never under the impression that you couldn't leave the state.
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Mr. Marcas:
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I think the incident report said something about no criminal charges being brought up as long as I went to these counseling sessions.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. Last time, you said you were waiting for Mr. Spunt to give you approval to apologize to Ms. Wolfe. Did that ever happen?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Yes it did. Mr. Spunt suggested that I send a card to the hospital wishing a speedy recovery and an apology to Ms. Wolfe.
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Dr. Balis:
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And did you?
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Mr. Marcas:
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The very same day.
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Dr. Balis:
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And do you think it will be accepted by Ms. Wolfe?
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Mr. Marcas:
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I hope so. I'd like to offer an apology to her in person as well, as soon as we both get back to work. When I was writing out the card, it seemed to hit me even harder what I had done. I can't believe that I attacked a woman, much less a fellow worker. I really hope that she will accept my apology. I'd just like for things to get back to normal and get back into work.
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Dr. Balis:
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And away from our sessions?
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Mr. Marcas:
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That as well, Doctor. No offense.
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Dr. Balis:
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None taken. Are you still uncomfortable with our sessions?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Actually, not uncomfortable. I must compliment you, Doctor. You are incredibly pleasant to talk to, and I have to agree this chair is awfully damn comfortable. But as I've said, I still have some uneasiness about one of the directors of security for a high technology corporation being in therapy. Given the wrong perspective, it might tarnish the reputation of our department and the work we do.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see. And how do you think the incident--a seemingly calm and collected director of security violently assaulting a co-director at a full staff meeting--comes across? Do you think receiving counseling for such a behavior would be seen as an appropriate action by SII personal?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Touché, Doctor. Point well taken.
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Dr. Balis:
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I don't mean it to sound like I'm intellectually sparring with you, Mr. Marcas. I'm just trying to get you to see that what the company and I are offering you is some help. I don't believe anyone will see your therapy as jeopardizing your position in the department.
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Mr. Marcas:
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I see where you're coming from. Thank you for explaining it like that. Well, I can see that we're almost out of time. I do hope that I'm making progress towards receiving a shining recommendation for me to get back in the office.
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Dr. Balis:
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Some progress, Mr. Marcas. I think that another session would be beneficial.
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Mr. Marcas:
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Okay.
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Dr. Balis:
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How about next Tuesday at this same time?
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Mr. Marcas:
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Is that the first opening you have?
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Dr. Balis:
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I think it's wise to put a little time between each session, Mr. Marcas.
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Mr. Marcas:
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Well, you're the doctor. I'll see you on Tuesday.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'll see you then.
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Mr. Marcas:
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Thank you, Doctor Balis.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Mr. Marcas.
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Mr. Marcas:
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Goodbye, Doctor Balis.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Logan Marcas' Communications
