Louise and Richard

Psychotherapist Susie Orbach explores the private relationship between therapist and patient. We join Susie in her consulting room, where she meets a different client each day.

All of the clients are played by actors, but these are not scripted scenes. Each client profile has been carefully constructed by therapist Susie, director Ian Rickson (former artistic director at the Royal Court, and director of the highly acclaimed 'Jerusalem') and radio producer Kevin Dawson. The client profiles have been given to the actors who have learnt about their characters lives, backgrounds, and individual reason for seeking therapy. The scenes have then been improvised and recorded on hidden microphones at Susie's surgery.

Today, Susie meets Louise and Richard who are expecting their first child in a few days.

Elsewhere in the series, we meet Helen, a high achieving corporate lawyer who is struggling to identify what is wrong - but knows that something is. John is older - in his 60s and a retired railway trade unionist. His wife and children are gone, but his therapy is helping him to turn his life around. We also hear Susie's first meeting with Jo - a new patient and an out of work actress.

We hear the therapist at work, eavesdropping on the most intimate of exchanges. To help us with our understanding of the process, Susie Orbach commentates on what is happening in the room, shining a light on the journey both she and her patient have embarked upon.

Presenter: Susie Orbach
Producer: Kevin Dawson
Director: Ian Rickson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.