What if accountants managed their practices like psychotherapists?
“Are we finally ready to get my tax return filed?”
“I’m sensing a lot of anxiety. Would you care to talk about it?”
“Yes, I’m anxious, and, no I don’t want to talk about it. It’s April 13th and I’ve been here every week since January. I need to get this done.
“Now, here are all the receipts for all the repair parts I’ve purchased.”
“I see. Now how does that make you feel?”
“I feel like I’m going to go to jail or have my house seized by the IRS if we don’t get this finished! Look, just take these receipts and do your calculations so we can get this finished!”
“Hmm, I see. How do you think that his affects your relationship with your mother?”
“Well, considering that this is a family business, and my mother is the office manager, she’s going to be pissed if we don’t file our taxes on time.”
“Oh, dear. I see our time is up for this week. I say we continue next week. Shall we?”
“I’ve got a better idea. Tomorrow my mother is going to stop by and find out why our taxes aren’t done. Don’t think that not showing up at the office will help you—she’ll find you. I know. I stayed out half an hour past curfew once. ONCE! I was so scared that I hid in an abandoned quarry in a rattlesnake pit two counties away. She found me in twenty minutes.”
“I’m still sensing a lot of anxiety. Why don’t you leave all those receipts with me and I’ll see what I can do.”
[Knock on door]
“Son, is everything done and ready to file?”
“Not, quite, mom.”
At that point, my mother looked directly at the accountant.
“I’m not afraid of you,” the accountant said.
Suddenly, my mother’s sounded a little raspy, as she added, “You will be. You will be.”
sfnowak 
Outstanding !!