Vivi

The Jordaan has kept Vivi for four years, mostly because it never asks her to rush. She gives the impression of having all the time in the world, and does.

Near enough to the Vondelpark to walk in it before work, she brings that unhurriedness up the stairs with her. Portuguese, Spanish and English are all hers, and none gets much use once an hour is underway. Her bookings run long by preference, two hours at the least, often the evening, sometimes the night, and she will make up a pair with a second therapist when that has been asked for. The late part of an evening gets as much care from her as the rest, on the principle that it is still the evening.

Vivi decides which bookings she takes and may decline any of them; she sets the limits for what a session includes, says what they are, and may end a visit at any point, as the terms set out.