Thinking about Katnissâs therapist from the end of Mockingjay tonight.
Thinking about how when I was a kid and I read those books, to me the therapist seemed like either a punchline â about how ineffective therapy is for someone as uncommunicative as Katniss, how little talking to one would change about her profound trauma and grief, or about how shitty mental health care would be in Panem â or an example of people around Katniss being negligent with her well-being.
But then I think back on it, and likeâŚI actually think napping though their appointments, not forcing Katniss to engage, was the best thing that therapist couldâve done for her.
Katniss did not have a choice about going to those sessions. After Prim died and Katniss was burned and mute and grieving beyond what words could describe, Katniss was forced to see a therapist by the new regime.
And even if Coin didnât personally order that the Mockingjay receive counseling, as a way to find out if Katniss still had the presence of mind to oppose herâŚI have no doubt she and dozens of others wouldâve had access to anything and everything Katniss said during those mandated therapy sessions.
Iâm not gonna pretend Katniss did not profoundly fucking need some professional help after all she went through. But when sheâs receiving professional counseling at the end of Mockingjay, itâs a total farce â Katnissâs well-being is not the point, not in the least because she still has received no catharsis, no certainty that the horrors of war are over.
Not forcing Katniss to say anything, especially anything incriminating, was probably the kindest thing that therapist couldâve done. He let her heal and piece herself back together mentally, in a place where Katniss felt safe.
When sheâs sent bad to 12 Katniss says her therapist testified on her behalf during her trial. That he told the court she was mentally unwell and couldnât be held accountable for killing Coin. She presents it as though it was some kind of grand deception, a sneaky trick to keep her out of jail.
But I think that therapist just saw a traumatized 17-year-old girl for what she was, and helped as best he was able.
