I was staying in the same Lima hotel as Richard & Jane and I would knock on their door to see if they were in. During one of these sessions something made me remember a few simple shrink tests.

I asked Richard to imagine he was walking through a forest. After a short while he comes across a bear. After another interval he comes to a wall.

At this point I stop the journey and asked him to describe the forest and how he first felt in the forest, after that I ask what happened when he met the bear and how he felt about that. Finally, I asked him what happened when he got to the wall and what he did.

'It was a lovely sunny day and the trees were all green and I was happy'. Your initial feelings are supposed to represent how you feel right now. Naturally, it can change from day to day and minute by minute.

'The bear was sweet and cuddly so I gave him a pat on the head and he started to follow me'. This is supposed to be your reaction to strangers. No problems here then. The replies have varied between 'it was a lost fluffy toy so I picked it up' to 'he was huge and frightening, so I ran way'.

The wall represents how you deal with problems. Richard's response was unique:

'I sat down on it and ate a sandwich'.

Jane burst out laughing.

'That's exactly what he does', she said.

'He stops what he's doing and works out a solution.'

I have done this on many people over the years and it is often very accurate.

The second test is even more fun. You need a pen and paper for this one.

I asked Jane what her favourite animal is.

'A dog'.

'Ok, give me three adjectives why a dog is your favourite animal.'

'It's fluffy, friendly and happy'.

'Good. What's your second favourite animal?'

'A cat'.

'OK, give me three adjectives why a cat is your favourite animal.'

'They're soothing, clever and comforting'.

'The last one now. What's your third favourite animal?'

'An elephant'

'Three adjectives?'

'They're funny, wise and baggy'

'Wonderful'. I said.

'Are you ready?'

She looked slightly anxious and apprehensive.

'Ok, the first one is how you see yourself: - fluffy, friendly and happy'.

'The second one is how others see you - soothing, clever and comforting'.

'And the third one is what you really are - funny, wise and baggy'.

This is one thing that is quite safe to try at home.