therapy. (part 1)
every time yena feels vulnerable, she focuses her gaze on something stationary. her emotional anchor changes depending on whateverâs around her. whenever sheâs in her therapistâs office, it tends to be the carpet beneath her feet. she detests how the speckles of color are all muddled together and indiscernible from one another, but at the same time, the carpet is familiar so it brings her comfort. her therapist is spewing some words as she drifts off into a daydream about nothing in particular, everything heâs saying going through one ear and out the other as if itâs some meaningless song. it isnât until he shouts her name that she pays attention, looking at him in his eyes.
âyes?â she says with a dry tone. with most people, she wouldâve spat out âwhat!?â with a scowl after having her name called out to her, but she actually respects dr. jung, so sheâs a bit sweeter to him. heâs more palatable than most, and he actually seems to at least somewhat understand her, and thatâs enough to warrant some respect by yenaâs standards.
âyou started going away again. tell me what youâre thinking about.â dr. jung inquires further, patiently clasping his hands together as he anticipates yenaâs answer. yena has the tendency to drift in and out of dreaming while attending therapy sessions, her mind frequently drawing blanks. she stares at him for a second, playing with the frayed edges of a ripped spot in her denim jeans.
âiâm thinking about how i donât want to be here,â she says plainly, crossing her arms across her chest as if sheâs protecting herself from the emotional lava thatâs brewing inside of her. her statement doesnât seem to faze dr. jung, and he calmly takes his glasses off and puts them onto the side table beside him, relaxing into his chair afterwards.
âthatâs fair. is there anything that you want to talk about in particular?â dr. jung asks, seeming to already know the answer to his own question before yena has the chance to respond. heâs always so patient with her, and the fact that he hasnât given up on her in the same way that her past mental health professionals have has given him the opportunity to reveal a lot of things about her that she doesnât normally tell anyone. for example, she was often rejected all throughout her primary education years and has trouble forming authentic friendships due to this. she also carries guilt for existing every single day since she feels like she burdens everyoneâs lives. although she seems nonchalant on the surface, she cares deeply about how other people view her and she has some layers to her that most people donât get the privilege of digging into.
ânot really,â yena responds, which is exactly what dr. jung predicted she would say. âiâve been watching a lot of nostalgic cartoons lately, though. i wouldnât mind talking about that.â itâs always easier for yena to discuss seemingly simple topics such as this one, but what isnât known to her, is that thereâs actually a lot of psychological significance that can come to the surface due to which cartoons that sheâs been watching lately.Â
dr. jung offers her a pleased smile after her suggestion, already conjuring up a bunch of discussion points and inquiries for the topic at hand. âthat sounds perfect. start whenever youâre ready.âÂ














