Doctors Log Ch.2 Doc 1
Each chapter of Doctors Log is from one of three doctors logs (Doc , Doctor, and Doctor Love). One Doctor is the therapist of a variety of youth , another Doctor is the owner of a halfway house for drug addicts , and the last doctor is Doctor Love the author of a best selling book on relationships.
I've been a therapist for a very long time and in my many years of mentally helping my patients I do believe they have drawn me to a point of needing someone in my own profession. I remember my firts day , not when I was hired, not when I was looking for patients, Im referring to the day I actually sat down with my firt patient. That was the day I realized two things. One is that my line of work was more complex than expected, and two is that my career was sure to be one worth reading about.
You see my patients were of a spicific group from the general population. I helped teens and young adults primarily from ages 13 to anywhere around 30 to 35. I myself was only 27 at the time , fresh out of college and expecting to save the world one troubled youth at a time. What I didn't know is how troubled the youth could be. Text books and power points in college classes minimize the depth at which real people are capable of being fractured and dare I say rather crazy. But it was too late to turn my metaphorical life back around and pick a different path, I was locked in with no where to run or hide.
There were three things that made ny job what it was. Patient therapist confidentiality meant that legally I could not repat anything said to ne by my patients . The aspect of majority of my patients being hormonal and most often immature was a constant struggle. But what might have been the biggest stone on my back is how my office purposely gave me the more outlandish patients for the beginning of my work with "Michael an Miguel's mental consultants". It was something done to every new therapist hired as a slight joke.The joke ends once you realize that patients dont come in for one session alone, they come in for multiple sessions sometimes with no foreseeable end to how many times we might see one another.
My patients weren't necessarily crazy, but some might argue that the problems they needed working through weren't as glamorous as depression or multiple personality disorder. But the best way to understand is to just get right to it.
So without further delay , Patient 1 .
Male
Squirrel
Age 18
Name: Preston Nader
He was a small skinny kid . He looked well groomed and had a scholarly look to him with his back pack, school shirt, and shorts on. And what stood out the most from the moment he walked in and took his seat was the way his eyes were so lit. For those unfamiliar with terminology what I would call him was very normal and in good mental condition.
He took a seat in a chair mirroring the one I was sitting in.
Preston- so how does this work exactly
Doc- well , we can start off slow perhaps you'd like to tell me what made you consider seeing me for help today
Preston- my friend told me that a lot of first years need help adjusting to college life
Doc- so your having trouble with school
Preston- no , not at all , school is easy whats hard is my roommate
Doc- your roommate, tell me more
Preston- well ... this its a little embarrassing
Doc- this is a safe place , I can assure you no matter what you say it will remain between you and I
Preston- I know that , I read the pamphlet about the doctor patient confidentially thing , but this is really embarrassing... you see Im a squirrel and he's...
Doc- he is what exactly
Preston- he's a Hyena
Doc- and is there a problem with him being a hyena
Preston- yes there is a problem and I just said it , Im a squirrel and he's a hyena
His tone of voice was more cheerful before that out burst but he soon returned back to his previous vocal state.
Doc- perhaps we should take a moment to relax
Preston- no , no I'm fine
He looked away as if he were afraid to look me in the eye as his posture became slightly flustered.
Doc- What is wrong with your roommate being a hyena
Preston- he could eat me for one , and for two I could die
Doc- unless you would have me believe that your school has you staying in a room with a feral hyena Its my opinion that you may be experiencing more stress and panic than what is necessary
He took a breath before aligning his eyes with mine.
Preston- I understand its wrong to judge people by their species and its even worse to buy into all the predator prey phenomenon that everyone has been on lately but he gives me legitimate reason to worry
Doc- in what way does he worry you
Preston- he shows up out of nowhere as if he's following me, he comes back to our room late at night every other night , and when ever I try to talk to him he does this thing
Doc- what thing
Preston - he says nice things and acts normal but in an off way
Doc- I'm afraid I don't quite understand
Preston- have you ever seen one of those super hero movies with the killer clown guy , he acts so nice but you can tell its just covering up what he really is under the smile
Doc- and you believe that , I'm afraid you haven't told me the name of this hyena
Preston- Max
Doc- yes as I was say , you believe that under Max's smile he is trying to...eat you
He looked away again.
Preston- well maybe not eat me but he is definitely dangerous or something and he might want to hurt me
Doc- Preston its perfectly normal what your feeling
He relaxed and allowed his eyes to return to ny attention.
Preston- really
Doc- yes , your a young boy away from home for the first time in a place with people you've never met before and naturally there is fear that comes with so much change, from what you have told me so far I believe that it is your inexperience with this new place and new person that has you forming unlikely fears and worry about Max
Preston- I hear you doc really I do but if you could meet him you'd see its not just in my head
Doc- perhaps, but unfortunately that is all the time we have for today
Preston- what, that was hardly ten minutes
Doc- yes and for good reason, you payed for our weekly help sit down plan , our first session is simply meant to be an introduction so that we can get familiar with one another and the conflicts or problems that you might want to work through
Preston- so Ill see you next week
Doc- yes next week , you can schedule a spicific hour to come in with my secretary at the front desk