Can counseling help you to have a better life? And what if it’s in a group with strangers?

 

Many people don’t know what to expect from a counseling session. To get an answer, you may want to participate in . . .

 

 

Counseling Session 101

 

     “Good evening. Welcome to Counseling Session 101. My name is Dr. Thera P. For this evening’s group session and the nine that follow, we will go by our first name and first initial of our last name only, in order to maintain anonymity and a level of comfort. It is time to get to know one another, discuss our symptoms and history, and set goals for the counseling process. We are sitting in a circle so that we all are visible to one another. Let’s begin tonight’s meeting by introducing ourselves. We’ll start with the young woman to my right.”

     “Uh, this is making me feel somewhat uncomfortable, Dr. Thera P. I don’t know if I can do this.”

     “Please, take a deep breath.”

     “Okay.”

     “Now let it out slowly. Are you starting to feel better?”

     “Yes, I think so.”

     “All right then. What is your name.”

     “Uh, my name is Chara T.”

     “Well Chara T., tell us something about yourself.”

     “I’m a very giving person. I want to help people who don’t have the means to help themselves. I clean out my closets twice a month and donate clothing and household goods to our local mission for the homeless. Do you want more?”

     “No. You’ve done an excellent job. Let’s go on to the person to your right.”

     The room became silent. A number of the group members began squirming in their seats.

     “Sir, did you hear me?”

     “Yes, I did.”

     “Then what are you waiting for?”

     “I’m not here because I want to be. I’m Curtis C. and I’m doing this because my wife insisted upon it. I’m trying to be a good guy and be respectful.”

     “That’s a very good statement, Curtis C. Thank you, and let’s continue with the next member of our group.”

     “This is amazingly upsetting.”

     “What are you telling us?”

     “I have no business being here. I’m a wonderful person. I’ve never done anything wrong. I have a great career. And, if you haven’t noticed, I’m beautiful.”

     “I understand. Please tell us your name.”

     “Vana T.”

     “Dr. Thera P., can I clear this up?”

     “Clear what up? Just introduce yourself. You’re next in line.”

     “I’m Clara T. I see what nobody else does. I make the truth stand out so others can see the obstacles in their way. I catch the points others miss, for I am Clara T.”

     “Well, thank you, Clara T., for helping me to see my misstep. Let’s move forward so I can make it right.”

     “This is getting too damn serious. Let’s have some fun.”

     “But it’s not your turn, Miss.”

     “Put a smile on your face, Dr. Thera P. Enjoy life. That’s what it’s all about. My mission is to bring happiness and joy to the world.”

     “Well, young lady, let’s start by introducing yourself to the group.”

     “So be it! I’m Blissful E.”

     “Then I guess I’m next, Dr. Thera P.”

     “Fine, go ahead.”

     Buzz, Buzz, Buzz.

     “What are you doing?”

     “Just introducing myself. My name is Honey B. I’m the sweetest person you’ll ever know. But don’t get on my wrong side, cause my sting will shock you in a way you’ll never forget.”

     “Fascinating introduction, Honey B.”

     “Yes, it was, wasn’t it.” Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .

     “Now, let’s move on.”

     “I’m next. I’m next, Dr. Thera P. I can make all this right.”

     “You can? What makes you say that?”

     “Because I’m Warren T. I will guarantee everything, at least for a period of time. I promise.”

     “And your commitment is for how long?”

     Quiet fell upon the room. Not a word uttered. The participants stared off into space. “That’s what I thought,” I stated with conviction.

     Then a sweet voice sung out, “I believe it’s my turn. Please follow my lead and our journey will take us to ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ and we will be blessed by the Lord, Himself, forever.”

     “How can you be so sure?”

     “Because it’s all in a name.”

     “I’m listening. I guess you’re inferring that the name you are talking about is yours.”

     “Why, yes. For I am Faithful E., and I do everything in a loyal manner—letter for letter.”

     “I didn’t believe anyone could leave me speechless. But you’ve come close.”

     “Well, thank you, thank you, thank you for appreciating my magnificent manner and style.”

     “Excuse me, I think I’m . . .”

     “Are you all right, Dr. Thera P.?” Faithful E. asked, looking a bit puzzled.

     “Uh, I’m fine. Just something caught in my throat. And now our last group member.”

     “Hello, everybody. I’m a winner beyond all winners. I’m the man. People are astounded by my accomplishments and impressed by my stamina, as I cross the finish line. For I am Victor ‘Y,’ pronounced ‘E!’”

     I regained my composure and leaned back in my chair. My audience of nine anxiously awaited my next remarks. But I said nothing. My mind drifted and my eyes drooped. My chin fell to my chest and I pictured large gray clouds drifting through the air.

     Not completely separated from reality, I heard the door to the room squeak open. With my eyes glazed over, I saw a figure, dressed in a black suit, shirt, and tie, come through the entrance and stand before the group.

     With lips dry and throat parched, my efforts to speak were uneventful. I thought, This can’t be happening. 

     The group’s eyes moved from me to the intruder. They looked at him as if he was their savior. The clouds I’d pictured were now fluffy white. And then he spoke . . .

     “The ‘psycho’ therapist, the crazy lady, can no longer invade your inner selves and pretend to have your best interests in mind. She wishes only to control your destiny. But I am the one who opens the doors to set you ‘free’ and allows your souls to grow. Remember me, your forever leader—Fredo M.”

     Then something strange happened. God reached out to me. His message, “The ‘Devil’ will never have the power to control my ‘Kingdom.’ So, stand up my child, and do what is right.”

     And I did. With a strong voice I didn’t know I had, I stated, “Indeed, that was a ‘fabulous’ introduction, Fredo M. But I’m sorry to say, ‘freedom’ is God’s gift to bestow upon us, not yours. I have been set free to do what is right. So take a seat behind us, keep your mouth shut, and listen, as we prepare for our second ‘Counseling Session 101.’”

     However, before he could, he was propelled into a now black clouded sky on his way back to the depths of Hell.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.

Sometimes it becomes unclear what we’re going to do. But we know we have to do it.

 

Then the unexpected occurs, and we wonder, . . .

 

 

Can We Do It?

 

      It was a cool, autumn evening. A bit too quiet for my liking. Kelly and I sat on the park bench staring at a full moon, as we talked about our next escapade.

      Life could be a bit dull if we didn’t pursue our dreams. So when we were able to get out of the house, we did what we wanted to do.

      “You really think we can do this?” Kelly asked, shaking his head, as if he had bugs crawling through his hair.

      “We’ll never know unless we try.”

      “But don’t we need the four of us?”

      “I don’t know. However, they are our partners. We should ask them?”

      “Yeah, guess so, Winslow,” Kelly muttered.

      “Let’s meet back here in an hour to get it done.”

      “You think we can get Lizzy and Toni to agree to come so quickly?”

      “That’s not the problem.”

      “Then what is?”

      “Getting out of the house again. It’s getting late.”

      “Maybe we should put it off until tomorrow.”

      “Nooooo!”

      “Don’t get so upset, Winslow. We’ll do it tonight,” Kelly groaned.

      “Okay, then let’s go. See you back here soon.”

      Well, off we went to get our partners and prepare for the great adventure. My heart raced in anticipation of our evening endeavor.

      Arriving home, I entered the front yard through the open gate and headed into the house. It was so quiet, it was almost eerie. Only one light was on in the living room. And the TV sound was low. 

      Toni lay on the couch watching it, I think. She didn’t move when I came in. Probably didn’t hear me. So not to scare her, I gently nuzzled her ears. Slowly, she lifted her head and gazed at me. My heart fluttered. Afterall, she was my soulmate.

      It didn’t take much, however, to convince her to come with me. Since the others who shared the house with us were not home, we were able to exit, without explanation, and head to the park to meet Lizzy and Kelly.

      As we crossed Fireside Boulevard, the bright lights at the entrance to the park spooked Toni. She started to back away.

      “Toni, what are you doing?” I asked.

      “I’m going home. This place frightens me. Why are we here, anyway, Winslow?”

      “Because we have something important to do,” I responded.

      “Like what?”

      “You’ll know as soon as I do. 

      “You don’t know?”

      “Uh . . . oh, there they are.”

      “Who?”

      “Lizzy and Kelly.” 

      Toni and I pranced toward the park bench area. Lizzy looked at us, shook her head and tossed her golden hair back. She was quite cute, I thought.

      Kelly looked at me, stuck his nose in the air, and grunted, “You ready to get it done?”

      “Yeah, I think I am.” 

      “You really don’t know what we’re going to do. Do you?” Toni, asked, somewhat angrily.

      “Well, it’s a thing, a big thing,” I responded.

      “A thing!” Lizzy shouted in a way that made me shake.

      “Then she turned toward Kelly, glared at him and yelled, “What thing?”

      Looking bewildered, he said, “I don’t remember.”

      Then the evening took a frightening turn—one I’ll never forget. Two men in black shirts, with the words “Animal Control” printed on them, ran toward us. “You take those two and I’ll get the others,” the big fat man yelled.

      That was my cue, and I finally knew what we were meant to do tonight. . . . “Run like hell!” 

 

 

Copyright © 2026 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.

Technology has changed our lives in unforeseen ways. Will we ever be free of Artificial Intelligence?

 

Who’s in control? You or . . .

 

 

Artificial I . . .

 

     “Artificial Intelligence” is a prominent factor in our lives. We can’t go anywhere or do anything without being affected by it.

     It seems like it’s monitoring our every move and we’ve become dependent on it to survive. From eating, to shopping, to driving and to going to school, to work, or to a health provider’s appointment, we’ve become entangled in its snare. And working on the computer or using the phone can be an absolute nightmare.

     But artificial intelligence may not be the only artificial entity making our lives more complicated, unpredictable, confusing, and difficult to navigate. And these have been with us since the beginning of time. Many of them may turn our lives upside down, as is the case in the following scenarios.

    

 

     The bell rang and Ms. Shelden stood in front of the classroom staring at a room full of sixth graders. Getting their attention was almost impossible. “Please class, listen to me. What I have to say is very important. Jeremy, what are you doing? Didn’t you hear me? Aren’t you paying attention?”

     “Yes, Ms. Shelden, I’m delighted to take in all your good words. My future depends on it.”

     “What you’re saying, young man, seems more false than real.”

     “Then you’ll just have to accept my ‘Artificial Interest.’” He began to laugh uncontrollably.

 

 

     Noises and smells from the kitchen enhanced the environment of the restaurant. Deborah looked across the table at the guy she met on the “Single Not Forever” website. She didn’t know much about him, but wanted to make a good first impression. She smiled and chanted, “Hi handsome. I’m one lucky girl to have met you.”

     He replied, “Just give me one reason why.”

     Silence permeated the environment. Then she sputtered, “Uh, you have a wonderful smile.”

     “With the fullness of my beard, I don’t know how you can tell,” he said. “Artificial Infatuation” ended the evening that was probably never meant to be in the first place.

 

 

     The auditorium was packed with ardent admirer’s awaiting the guest speaker’s presence. The emcee’s voice resonated from the front of the room, “Let’s give a warm welcome to Dr. Charles Bigmouth. The words that he speaks will change our lives. He has done things we can only dream of doing.”

     The audience clapped loudly and awaited the entrance of this man of note, but nobody entered the stage.

     “Where is he?” a young woman in the first row yelled.

     “What’s taking so long for him to come out?” A man screamed.

     After five minutes, a small, meek gentleman appeared. With head bowed, he mumbled, “I have nothing to say.” It became clear, the emcee had delivered an “Artificial Introduction.”

 

 

     It was a beautiful evening. There were stars in the sky. Two woman danced down Main Street. And then one screeched, “I am the ‘Queen of Mean.’”

     The other chanted, “I am the princess from the world beyond.”

     Each held a bottle in hand and twirled around one another. One onlooker looked at his partner and said, “They’re really quite drunk, aren’t they?”

     The other responded, “I don’t think so. The label on their bottles says, “Spring Water to Die For.”

     This was definitely a case of “Artificial Intoxication.”

 

 

     Police sirens blared throughout an otherwise quiet neighborhood and then grew silent. People stared out their windows onto an empty street. But then what they saw made them shake. A figure dressed in black and wearing a mask moved toward the third house on Laurel Lane. Where are the police when you need them, they thought.

     The masked figure grabbed something from his pocket. Could it be a gun? they  pondered. One concerned neighbor reached for his phone and dialed 911. But before someone answered, a noiseless police car pulled up behind the culprit.

     The neighbors believed, They got him. Yes, they got him, We’re safe now. Then, the officers grabbed the man and ripped the mask from his face, and . . .

     The “criminal” yelled, “But officers I live here. And I’m wearing the mask because of COVID. I’m eighty-five and need the protection.”

     The police released him. And the question, “Was this just another incident of ‘Artificial Incrimination?’” ran through their minds.

 

 

     Thomas kept to himself and didn’t engage much with others. Friends and neighbors wondered what kind of a future he would have? Would he be forever alone in a world in which he was afraid to speak up?

     One afternoon, he lay on the couch in his living room, engaged in thought. With a sharp mind, he could do anything. But did he have the courage to do so. A knock on the door shook him out of his contemplative state.

     Opening it, he saw a beautiful woman, with tears running down her cheeks. She stood looking at him in silence.

     In his heart he knew he had to do something. “Can I help you, he asked?”

     “Yes,” she replied.

     “But how?” he requested.

     “You were my neighbor twenty years ago, when we were both six. You knew everything about me and I knew everything about you. We talked forever. And I need my friend back.”

     A door opened to a future Thomas never expected. He finished college, went on to graduate school, and became a therapist so he could help others. Was what he’d experienced, before the knock on the door that changed his life, just a state of “Artificial Introversion?”

 

 

     The wind blew through the trees on a warm October evening. Sherry and David stared into each other’s eyes.

     “I believe in you, with all my heart,” Sherry murmured. “You are my all.”

     “I love you, too,” David whispered.

     Two young adults looking at a lifetime together, Sherry and David had it all. The future was bright and they would climb the stairway to heaven as a team, supporting each other to achieve their dreams.

     Three years after they met, the loving couple recited their vows before Father Gorden and made their forever commitment. They traveled life’s path in the way only lovers could.

     Every night Sherry said, “David, you are my one and only. I will honor you forever.”

     David was overjoyed until he wasn’t. For one evening he came home earlier than expected and found Sherry, the love of his life, in bed with his brother. There was no doubt in his mind he had experienced, “Artificial Integrity.”

 

 

     Trapped in AI’s universe, we try our best to survive. But how do we deal with the likes of , “Yes, I’ll do it,” and then they don’t—“Artificial Intention.” Or, how about, “My name is Fred, your investment counselor, and I will make your money grow.” But he disappears, and takes your money with him, and his name is Ed—“Artificial Identification.” Also, what about the woman who goads you into taking the job that will change your life. And you do, but nothing she said was real. Unknowingly, you were tricked by an “Artificial Influencer.”

     So just keep smiling for you have no alternative. The world has been and will continue to be ruled by “Artificial I . . .,” now and forever.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 Alan Lowe. All rights reserved.