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Counseling for Brett and Ted

Brett Favre, Ted Thompson. | Photos: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Counseling for Brett and Ted

By By Jay Sorgi

Story Created: May 15, 2009

Story Updated: May 15, 2009

If it's true that football teams are a lot like families, then the Packers and Brett Favre have had one of the greatest marriages the sport has ever seen.

But now, that love affair has turned into, as Neil Diamond put it, "Love on the Rocks."

What's wrong with this green and gold love gone wrong, and how can Favre, Ted Thompson and company get it right?

We asked Dr. Christopher Adams, a clinical psychologist with Wheaton Franciscan Behavioral Health for his diagnosis.

"At a clinical level, what we're looking at here is a collision of two systems, basically, with some mutual, but with some very individual and disparate interests," said Dr. Adams.

Find more on this story below these links:

Audio: Favre's interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News Channel

Audio: Gilbert Brown's interview with Wisconsin's Morning News

Video: Find Part Two of Favre's interview

Favre Coverage:
• Favre Speaks: Part Two
• Favre: Might Show Up at Camp
• Favre Still Scheduled for Packers Hall of Fame Event
• Counseling for Brett and Ted
• Favre Speaks: Part One
• Few Fans Say "Bring Brett Back"
•
Packers Won't Release Favre
•
Favre Says "Release Me"
• Timeline: Retirement to Release
•
Packers' Friday Response
•
Scott Favre: "He's Not Wanted"

Blogs:
•
Jeff Falconio
• Gene Mueller
• The Llama Laments

More:
• Green Bay Press-Gazzette report that Brett Favre will petition for reinstatement from the NFL

• ESPN report that the reinstatement won't come right away

Real Marriage Problems: MayoClinic.com's suggestions

What Do Packers, Favre Want?

"The Packers and their management team, their primary interest, I'm not quite sure what that is," admits Dr. Adams.

Is it simply winning it all? is it moving on with Aaron Rodgers?

After all, Thompson said publicly after Favre's retirement that they're moving on with Aaron Rodgers

Even after Favre started the last few days of craziness with his "release me" statement, Thompson stated that if he came back, Rodgers would still be the starter.

And more so, does back-and-forth Brett have a clear handle on what his interests are?

"In Brett's situation, he has to deal with a large pool of individuals who have some influence and some say," explains Dr. Adams.

"Obviously, he and the team are going to be the ones with the greatest input into what goes on, but he's also got the fans, the rest of the NFL.

"He's got history to deal with. What is going to be said about this situation 10 years from now in reflection? Those kinds of pressures are there."

Much Like Actual Marriage Issues

This Packers family problem is a lot like what some real families deal with when they go for counseling

"When you put a family together, you're taking two adults who have come from perhaps similar, but often times very dissimilar backgrounds," states Dr. Adams.

"They will have different expectations about where marriage will go, different expectations about what the outcome will be, how they work together. They'll have different interests."

Brett and Ted on the Counselor's Couches

So if Dr. Adams got Favre and Thompson in the same room, how would he solve it?

"I'd put my focus, if I was doing therapy in this situation, to be to clarify what exactly those dynamics and interests are," says Dr. Adams.

"If they're going to start talking together, they're going to need to be focused on what is best for both people in this situation.

"How can we make this work financially? How can we make this work in our own abilities to work together?

"Compromise is obviously the best outcome."

When we asked Dr. Adams whether he'd want to take Brett and Ted's case on, his response?

"Absolutely not. I wouldn't know where to begin."

Still, this time we've spent with the good doctor can hopefully help Favre, Thompson and Packers Nation start the healing.

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