Trusting your therapist

Posted on Sunday, 10 May 2020 - 2:05pm by Lieutenant Ryan Rose MD & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali
Edited on on Sunday, 10 May 2020 - 2:33pm

Mission: Operation: Recall
Location: Counsellor’s office
Timeline: 2393 MD3

Making his way to T'Lanna's office wasn't getting any easier. But Ryan was used to hard work, and put his focus to the task at hand. He had a session with T'Lanna and hoped to make some progress. He settled the bag he carried on his hip as he sounded the chime.

T’Lanna smiled as she looked at the chronometer, Ryan was right on time for his appointment. Greeting him at the door she motioned for him to enter. “Come on in Ryan, make yourself at home.” He knew the routine and she’d even replicated him a drink. “So how have you been getting on?”

"Thank you." Ryan took the water, and set the bag down on her desk. "I brought donuts, we won't tell." He then grabbed one out of the bag and took a seat without having to be asked. "I've been ok. Having some trouble sleeping, but that's not unusual."

“We can work on that one, see if we can get you a descent night’s sleep” T’Lanna smiled. “Mind if I grab one of those?” She waited for a nod before taking a donut. “Mmmm seriously bad but I love donuts!” She grinned as she took a bite, emptying her mouth before speaking again. “So any more feelings of panic attacks coming on or have you managed to keep relaxed?”

"No, thankfully. Nothing like that. I think that was more shock than anything else. Having your estranged wife up and leave is hardly a normal trigger. I've had better luck staying relaxed now that I've scheduled journal and art time. Thanks for that push by the way, it has helped."

“I’m glad it’s worked for you” She paused to take a sip of her drink. “So where are you up to with the journal entries? Are they proving easy to do? Is getting your thoughts out into a journal entry proving easy or harder than you expected?”

"Well it's never been easy. It's definitely proving harder than expected lately. I tried writing it in third person. I figured it might help to try and write it from a distance like that, but I wasn't connecting to what I was writing. I've been writing it in first person again. But short entries." Ryan sighed. "I know they are important, and helpful, but I'm not seeing the reward through the stress of writing them."

“Right Okay” T’Lanna nodded. “Then we need to find you a different way, it’s no good writing them if it’s causing you stress. Do you have any thoughts on what might suit you better?”

"A double dose of Xanax and a nap." Ryan quipped. He immediately straightened up after saying it though. "Sorry. Ummm, I honestly don't know. I think I just need to stick with it. I was just venting."

T’Lanna grinned. “You can vent all you like, that’s what I’m here for. If you can stick with it then do so. Maybe voice entries rather than written ones would be easier? That way you can vent your feelings into it all you like!”

"I'll have to try that." Ryan smiled. He then covered a yawn by taking a drink of water.

“How long has it been since you had a decent night’s sleep?” T’Lanna smiled before stifling a yawn of her own. “Says she who is permanently tired these days!”

Ryan grinned. "Sorry, I was contagious. It's been a few days. Looks like little one is keeping you up?" He asked.

“Not exactly....I’ve met someone.” She gave Ryan an embarrassed look. “You could say I’ve been burning the candle at both ends! That and the fact that my energy levels aren’t really that high anyway. If it continues I’ll pop by Sickbay and you can check me over.”

Ryan nodded. He trusted T'Lanna to know if and when she needed help. "That's great." He offered a sincere smile.

“So back to you!” She offered a warm smile. “How goes the newly arranged schedule that we put together? Does it need any tweaks or are you happy with it the way it is?”

"Ahhh yes, back to me." Ryan refocused. This was his therapy appointment after all. "So. I was talking to my sister, and nosy busybody that she is." But Ryan was smiling broadly, so clearly he was teasing at his sister's expense. "Claims that there is no space in my schedule for socializing. Which is patently untrue. It's just that free time usually ends up spent with my nose in the latest medical journal. So, I'm thinking I need to buckle down and get that comedy night in the lounge going, as well as some other activities. If I'm in charge, I can't exactly back out. Would you be willing to help?"

“Sure!” T’Lanna smiled. “Just don’t expect me to take part, I hate being on stage.”

"Fair enough." Ryan agreed. "If we limit the lounge to 20 people, and have several shows spread out over a couple of days, that should give anybody who wants to a chance to participate. I'll host." At least if he agreed to host, he wouldn't be expected to actually have a comedy routine.

T’Lanna nodded. “Sounds good to me. It’ll give people a chance to unwind and have fun.”

Ryan nodded in agreement. "I think it will be good for the crew. Hopefully I can make a good enough host that people will want to come back for more activities. And I can mark off 'social time' from my agenda. Ryan grinned. He really was looking forward to it. Left to his own devices he knew he tended to hole up and do nothing but work.

T’Lanna grinned. “It’s nice to see you so enthusiastic about doing this, it’s doing you good.”

"Well I hope so." Ryan nodded. "I'm well aware I have a tendency to hermit. It's really not intentional. I just get very focused on work. If the crew gets something out of the endeavor as well, then it's a win win."

T’Lanna smiled. “Let’s see how you go shall we? So far I’m impressed with how much you’ve improved. I’m happy for you.”

Ryan shrugged, slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable. He really wasn't even back to where he'd been before the mission to Sam's colony. The last 9 months had been a whirlwind of changes, and he'd frankly let himself slip. "Umm, thanks. I'll continue to work on it, and I appreciate your help."

“My pleasure, besides you’ll be doing a lot to help me in the coming months.” T’Lanna smiled. “And i’m sorry I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

Ryan just smiled. "It's hardly the first time I've been embarrassed, I'll be fine." Ryan looked over his PaDD, making sure he didn't have any other notes. "Am I missing anything?" He asked.

“Err...I don’t think so.” T’Lanna grinned. “Either that or the pregnancy hormones are making me scatty!”

Ryan chuckled. "Pregnancy brain is a real thing. My sister always complained that she had to take twice as many notes so she didn't forget things. If you need help with paperwork or anything. I'm sure Sam wouldn't mind."

“Thank you. I don’t want to be making any errors in my notes. The Captain wants me to concentrate more on my intelligence duties anyway, I’ll still be keeping up with your sessions though.”

Ryan gave a slight frown. "I don't want to cause over work for you. I'm sure I can think of something else."

“No way!” T’Lanna smiled. “I’m still doing your counselling sessions and that’s that. Besides I’m only sitting down when I’m Counselling you, it’s not that strenuous.”

"Ok, fair enough." Ryan quickly agreed. Selfishly because he felt they could actually make some good progress. He felt at ease around T'Lanna, and although he hadn't totally opened up to her, he was slowly getting there. "And on that note. I should let you get back to work, and myself as well."

T’Lanna smiled and nodded. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”

Ryan nodded in return as he stood to leave.

Watching Ryan go, T’Lanna smiled to herself. If it wasn’t for Raith she could easily have fallen for Ryan but she was happy with being friends. She tapped her PADD and got to work updating Ryan’s psychological records.

{OFF}

Dr Ryan Rose
CMO

Lt T’Lanna Vali
Psychologist