therapist of the valley

Adria Ali | the thinker | she/her | 33 | new therapist in Pelican Town

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

Elaine was an absolute expert at distracting herself. She picked up hobbies, she threw herself into her work, she made up mindless projects for herself; anything to not think too much– or at all, if she could help it. “Well, um, I stopped competing about… two years ago? Early 2019, I think. After my injury, my mom asked me to stop, so, uh, I did.” A small shrug. “I mostly just practice on my own now for exercise.” At Adria’s next question, Elaine pauses; almost curling into herself as if she feels exposed. “I… I mean, I don’t know. I’ve always done this. Whenever my dad got deployed, I would just kind of… find new things to do, ways to… entertain myself until he came back. Stuff like that.” She shrugs again, eyes shifting temporarily towards the clock. How long did she say these sessions last? “It’s what works.”

Adria responded with a short nod. Stopping for the sake of further injury made sense, but perhaps there was another alternative if it was something Elaine needed. “Do you miss that outlet or are you getting the same effect boxing just for practice?” There was a shift in Elaine’s demeanor at the next list of questions - slight, but Adria could tell that she was poking at sensitive subjects. Okay, she wouldn’t go much deeper today. But she did note that ignoring feelings seemed to be Elaine’s way of dealing with them. “Well, our session for today is getting close to the end, but I would like to assign you a project until our next session if you feel comfortable scheduling another with me. I would like for you to challenge your coping mechanism - when you think about your dad, I would like for you to write what you are thinking about. This can be in a notebook, telling a friend, or messaging to me your thoughts. Whatever you are most comfortable with, and I am always available for emergency counseling if writing about these thoughts gets overwhelming. I think it would benefit you to face these emotions. Are you up for this task?”

[adriaali]

@qvietlight | Henry’s birthday

On April 14th, (totally on time *cough*) a card arrives in Henry’s mailbox. A birthday card with a short note is included.

Happiest of birthdays Henry,

Wishing you a calm and peaceful day. Please remember, taking a day for yourself is not selfish and, instead, an act of self care and love. I hope you are able to take the day (or one soon) to enjoy yourself and breathe.

Enjoy your special day,

Dr. Adria Ali

[adriaali]

dcwdrops​:

Okay   …   so this was awkward. Lizzie’s luggage bumped lazily against the rough cobblestone of Stardew Valley, and she breathes in deep when the fresh breeze hits her face. She’s missed the town, missed the people, but she couldn’t say she was excited.

She’d kind of left things on a sour note. Moreso, she’d kind of been gone for multiple months. Without so much as a goodbye. Oops   …

Adria could hear the sound of wheels struggling over cobblestone and looked outside to see an unfamiliar woman with a suitcase. Seemingly in the same position Adria had been in less than a year ago. Since all she was doing in the moment was enjoying her morning coffee, she decided to set the drink down and greet the unknown woman.

“Good morning,” she cheerfully greeted. “Do you need any help with your luggage or finding your way around town?”

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

 “I mean… hypothetically, there are people, I guess.” Her brows furrow, half in thought, half in faint frustration. “I never really… my family never really talked about it. I… we were there for each other, but we just… didn’t mention it outright.” Especially after her father’s passing, it had been mostly Elaine and her brother carefully watching over their mother as she grieved. Elaine didn’t feel like it was her place to express how she felt, so she bottled it in. How did she grieve in the past? It’s an odd question, because she’s never really thought about what she’s done to deal with her emotions. She just… does it subconsciously. A few stand out, though. “Um… Well, I work a lot at the shop. I, uh, try to keep myself busy. I also… I started boxing after my dad… I still do every now and then, but, um, I just to participate in these… these amateur matches in the city. Um, I stopped doing that, though, after I had kind of a bad injury.”

Hearing the word ‘hypothetically’ gave Adria pause. The picture of Elaine’s distance to others was slowly growing clearer. For now, she nodded at the mention of her family not discussing or working together through their grievances. Clearly Elaine needed to work through these emotions and not just distract herself from them. “How long ago did you stop boxing? And do you feel like these methods truly help you, or that they are a distraction from dealing with the emotions? If you’re struggling to answer this, try to reflect on how you coped with issues prior to this event.” Their time was a bit more than halfway through and Adria was starting to get a sense at how they could start digging deeper but it was dependent on Elaine remaining open with her. 

[adriaali]

amethvsts​:

it had been a whirlwind of a month for zola. she had been called away for a special tour for ana indiana, something about a nostalgia reunion with her and some other stars when they were on the same tv show back in the day (they were children and wore awful clothes, but they were also best friends – just busy best friends). media sources these days were really banking on nostalgia as a selling factor nowadays. anyway, she was back in stardew valley, a place she can’t exactly call home yet, but that’s where her stuff was stored for the time being. she came crashing into the saloon, having lost control of her luggage and knocking over one of the chairs. “oh, shit… that’s my bad… sorry!”

“Sh- crap,” Adria nearly cursed as her drink spilled down her stockings. Give she had been conducting some research and the counter space was limited, she’d made the decision to put her drink on the chair beside her - apparently to her detriment. The woman quickly grabbed some napkins to start soaking up the iced tea. “It’s fine,” she sighed out, thankful none of her notes got wet. “It probably wasn’t a smart idea to place my drink on a chair anyways...could you hand me some of the napkins from the other table?” The napkins she’d used were already soaked through. 

[adriaali]

gabe’s birthday | @jupiterdrcps

On the evening of February 14th, a package is left sitting up by the flower shop door. Inside is a chalkboard with a shelf , and a pack of chalk in different colors left with a note addressed to Gabe.

Rumor has it that today is your birthday - and by rumor, I mean your daughter mentioned it last time I was in your shop. Happiest of birthdays, Gabe! I can imagine you are incredibly busy today so I hope you don’t mind me just leaving this out front. I thought you could use this chalkboard for a display, or for Thalia if not!

I appreciate everything your flower shop brings to this town and having flowers in my office constantly, so I hope you don’t mind this gift! 

I hope you get a chance to enjoy your day despite the insanity.

Kind regards, Adria

[adriaali]

elaine’s birthday | @silvcrlining

On February 12th, (not at all after the fact...) a card appears in Elaine’s mailbox. Inside is a punny birthday card with a short note included. 

Happiest of birthdays Elaine. 

May you have a peaceful and joyous day. Remember, taking a day everyone once and a while for yourself is not selfish and, instead, an act of self care and love.

Enjoy your special day,

Dr. Adria Ali

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

Elaine wants to be nuanced. She wants to give something more than yes or no answer because she feels like that’s what she needs to do; explain herself, justify what she has or hasn’t done. But at that question, she comes up blank. She pauses, frowns at her lap, and the only thing she can answer is: “No.” It’s not like she’s ever talked about it, not even with her family. Death just… happened, and whatever pain that left in its wake was just… there. “I… No.”

Adria gave a nod and sat forward a bit, making sure it was clear she was fully present in the moment. “Let’s see if we can find some ways to help you find some closure, okay? There’s no magic solution, it doesn’t magically go away, but there are methods to help...” Adria paused for a moment to let Elaine process. “Do you have people you can speak with these losses about? What did you do to grieve in the past, if you did? How did other close loved ones support you in this time? And let me know if these questions are too much. You do not have to answer if they are too uncomfortable.”

[adriaali]

wintcrwinds​:

“We’re not open yet,” Fry says gruffly, setting the last box of his stuff down on the bar with a thump. He’d been hoping for a moment’s peace in the aftermath of Gus’s departure, but it doesn’t seem like he’s going to get it.

Adria hadn’t noticed she’d been lingering outside of the saloon waiting to grab a quick lunch. But the sudden voice made her aware that she was. “Oh, my apologies, I suppose I got a bit eager...do you need any help with the boxes?”

[adriaali]

amethvsts​:

zola loved seeing weird things. whenever she was on tour, she’d make sure that they made pit stops at the odd sights that you could google whenever you visited the city. so when she heard whispers of a ufo sighting in stardew valley, zola got ready to catch the sight. she dragged a telescope through town square to get to the mountains for a good view. “oh shit…” she said under her breath. she turned to the nearest person and asked, “how the heck do i get to the mountains from here? i have no signal so google maps is useless.” 

Adria had come out when she’d seen someone dragging a telescope outside of her home. She couldn’t help the curiosity and approached the slightly frazzled looking woman. “I actually know where that is because of my morning runs. If you go up those stairs and keep following the trail to the right, and then go to the left past the carpentry shop, over the railroad track, you’ll get there...I can take you up there if you’d like. I realize that’s a lot of information at once.” She then eyed the telescope. “Is Mars or Jupiter visible tonight?”

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

Crash! Though a few eyes immediately shift towards the bar, the regulars who have been to the Saloon these past few weeks barely bat an eye. Jemma stares at the broken shot glass on the floor, brows furrowed in frustration like this definitely isn’t the first time she’s tried to do some cool trick that failed HORRIBLY. She glances up at the nearest person sitting at the bar, a guilty look in her eyes, “– If Gus asks, that was not me.”

Adria looked at the woman sympathetically. “I won’t speak a word of it.” With that, she mimed zipping her lips shut and ‘throwing away the key’. She took another sip of her tea and looked down at her mostly finished meal. Usually, she came by the saloon to try and socialize. Now she was given an easy opportunity. “Are you new to the world of bartending? I’m sure Gus would probably understand, after all, shot glasses are pretty cheap.” 

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

The question makes her tense, and she shifts once again her seat. “I… um, well, my dad was in the military, so I moved around a lot as a kid. Friendships didn’t really last that long because of that, so…” Elaine shifts again. She knows she has to at least mention it; but the true losses she’s experienced are ones that she’s never really talked about to anyone. It’s still hard. “My dad also… he died in combat… Um, I was nineteen. And then… my grandfather, I lived with him when I moved here– he, uh, passed away two years ago, so… yeah.”

The shift in the atmosphere was clear when Elaine began to scratch the surface of her past relationships. There was the urge to apologize for her losses, especially given how uncomfortable Elaine looked, but Adria knew that would not help in this instant. Instead, she stuck with a sympathetic nod and took a quick note. “Loss is tough to deal with, but especially when two happen so close together. Do you feel like you got closure to any of these losses? In all cases you mentioned?” They still had another twenty minutes left, so she could keep diving, but Adria would have to be careful not to dive too deep as they neared the end.

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

“… Okay. Um…” Okay, she guessed this was it. They had to get into shit now. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I guess I can give an example? Uh, there’s this… guy that I met at the beginning of the year. We were friends– or, um, becoming friends, and he was very nice, but then… um, after summer–” She thinks of what she crossed out in the papers. “– I couldn’t… I couldn’t be his friend. I can’t. I just started feeling so anxious, like… like I couldn’t stop thinking that if I let him get close, if I ever lost him, it would… hurt too much.” She cleared her throat, glancing briefly at Dr. Ali before back down at the floor. “So I just, uh, started avoiding him… We don’t really talk that much anymore.”

Adria gave a nod at the explanation as to what was bothering Elaine now and how a problem was manifesting. But the context was missing, something that had been missing from the intake form as well. Adria had her theories- it sounded like a case of distrust caused by abandonment, but she needed Elaine’s answers before she formed any improper ideas and gave inappropriate advice. “Have you experienced loss before in a personal relationship? And I mean loss in a very broad sense, just an abrupt ending. I am trying to place some context for this reaction you are having to developing a close relationship.”

[adriaali]

qvietlight​:

Henry nods at what Doctor Ali says, satisfied with the boundaries she has set in place. He knows he would never dream of approaching her for help outside of these sessions, but it is a comfort to know that he could, if he ever needed. God, he hopes he never needs to…

He’s quiet for a moment as he considers her question, trying to figure out how to express the swirl of dread and anxiety that fills his stomach and clouds his thoughts as something halfway intelligible. “I… I can see myself falling back into old patterns,” he begins, staring resolutely at his hands, still clasped in his lap in front of him. “You know I had therapy before, back when I lived in Zuzu City, and I… I feel worse now than I did then. I’ve been trying so hard… I’m- I’m scared I’m going to be like this forever.” The last sentence comes out in a garbled rush, and Henry squeezes his eyes shut as his voice cracks. Admitting it makes it real. It’s terrifying.

The woman gave a gentle nod as he mentioned falling back into old patterns and flipped back to his intake form for reference. She’d studied it before but wanted to be able to read his words back...until his voice begins cracking and he squeezes his eyes shut. “Well, I am proud of you for recognizing these patterns and having the courage to seek out help. That is a crucial step towards making a change. Would you take a few moments to do some breathing exercises with me?” however it is less of a question and more an instruction. She sets down her pen and begins to guide Henry through some deep breathing for a few cycles of breath.

“Very good. Do you feel comfortable talking about these old patterns with me today or is this a topic that is too challenging for the moment?”

[adriaali]

alwaysgcld​:

Ben took a moment to assess the group that had come together to help clear the mine entrance, looking for any signs that someone might need someone, whether it was water or a break. The last thing they needed was anyone pushing themselves past their limits and putting themselves in danger. They had enough to worry about already to add something like that on top of it. As he stood there, he was drawn from his thoughts by a familiar voice. He mustered as much of a smile as he could, genuinely happy to see her. “That’s a great idea, Adria. I have a few more boxes of emergency supplies I was going to bring up here before…” He paused for a second, glancing up at the pile of rocks. “We can go grab those if you’re up to it. Maybe whip some food up as well while we’re at it.”

Seeing Ben approach her also set some ease in her. It was much more challenging to really help when she didn’t know anyone in the area and people were, understandably, concerned for loved ones. “Yes, that sounds great. Honestly, I am just itching for some way to be helpful, as I’m sure you are feeling. Are the boxes at your office? And do you have a lot of cooking supplies at your place, or should we swing by mine to start getting some food prep underway?”

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

Elaine inhaled deeply for a moment, subtle but present, as she attempted to relax against the chair. This is just an initial session; she didn’t have anything to worry about, right? Plus, the more tightly wound up she made herself, the more difficult it got to answer Adria’s questions. So she settles for staring at her hands in order to regain focus. “Okay, um… Sadness is… it always pops up. Anxiety and, uh, fear too, I guess.” She shifts in her seat uncomfortably, swallowing and taking another breath. It’s almost a minute before she answers the last question. “I guess… Usually when, um, when I feel like I’m growing closer to people… or when– when I think about my relationships with people and stuff.”

At the mention of anxiety and sadness, Adria gave a short nod, noting the associations. There was one mention from Elaine’s file that had been scribbled out that Adria wanted to bring up, but decided against it. Not for the initial session. The woman feared a comment like that would scare the other off. Perhaps if Elaine did seem ready to stick with sessions then she would. “When you are growing close to people, alright- in your file you had mentioned difficulty in previous relationships and I get an inkling the two are related. Do you feel comfortable explaining to me today what you had meant by that and/or providing me with some detail?”

[adriaali]

silvcrlining​:

Elaine was ready to run at any moment. That much was evident from her posture: sitting up almost too straight like she didn’t want to touch the chair too much, hands wringing in her lap, eyes darting about the room. But she’s trying; even though this was technically a mistake and she didn’t want to be here, didn’t feel like she could be here… she was trying. “Um…” She isn’t the most introspective person. She tries to avoid it when she can, so it takes her longer than she wants to to respond. “I guess… It can be different things. Uh, sometimes it’s… memories. Other times it’s, like, people– like, um, my interactions with other people or… stuff like that.”

Adria sat patiently as Elaine thought of her answer to the question. She gave her the space to just think. And when an answer was given, the woman nodded. “Okay. Let’s try and find some commonalities with those thoughts. Is there any particular emotion tied to the thoughts that pop up, like sadness or shame? Or do you find any type of situation triggers these heavy thoughts to enter your headspace? It is okay if you don’t know the immediate answer,” she added. There was more the woman thought about tacking on, but decided to allow space once more. Therapy wasn’t always about just rehashing childhood and what not, it was often about the here and now, but she did need some context to be able to provide Elaine with potential strategies.