Visit 13
“Good afternoon, Hermione.”
“Hi Dr. Stone,” my face hurts from smiling.
“I take it you have good news?”
“Well, the papers haven’t figured it out yet, but yes we’re dating. We’re taking it super slow to make sure we maintain the friendship that we’ve form over everything else.”
“That’s a really smart way to go about it. Anything else?”
“Pansy asked me to be the godmother and Theo to be the godfather. I think this baby is going to have multiple godparents, but I’m so excited.”
“That’s amazing. I’m really happy for you Hermione. You’ve come so far from the first session. How are you feeling right now?”
“The best I’ve ever felt. I feel so happy.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. Any additional news from the mind healer?”
“She said that there’s a lot of experimental technology being tested in the States right now that are up for approval by their version of the Ministry. She’s hoping once one gets approved we can take it into consideration. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“Everything has just felt like it's moving in the right direction lately. The application opened and I submitted for my spot in the curse decoding and education department as a chief. I feel really good about it and everyone on the board seems really receptive to the idea of me working as a board member and a healer.”
“I’m glad that everything seems to be falling into place.”
“Me too.”
“I think that we’ve reached a point in your progress where we can meet every two weeks or once a month. You can always reach out if you need to come in sooner or if the attacks and nightmares come back, but based on your progress and how little we have seen those lately I think you’ve reached a good place.”
“Why do I feel sad about that?”
“I think that we become comfortable in our routines and this is a safe space that you haven’t had before,” he smiles, “But the great thing is, this safe space will still be right here no matter what, we’re just stretching out the time between sessions. This is a good thing, Hermione.”
“I know it is. I’m so proud of myself that it makes me emotional.”
“We’ll do one more week between sessions and move to two weeks after that. Does that sound better?”
“Yeah.”
“Done. We’ll still meet next Thursday as planned. What is something we’ve been working on the most consistently?”
“Control, I have the control.”
“So, if you need a session tomorrow?”
“I have control.”
“That’s right. I’m not taking away your control, I’m just trying to let you see the freedom that you now hold.”
“I am free.’
“Yes you are.”
“Thank you for your help through all of this, Dr. Stone.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m glad to see all the progress we’ve made and the personal growth that you’ve experienced. Your personal growth was always the goal and you’ve made great strides.”
“Everything feels like it’s moving so fast right now.”
“Is that a good or a bad thing for you right now?”
“It’s amazing. The last time I felt like everything was moving quickly was the war and I had no say or control in it. Now, everything is moving fast because I have goals that I want to reach and plans that I want to make it to. I feel like I have complete control over every decision and get to focus on that.”
“So everything is at the pace that you want.”
“Yes.”
“Good, as long as it is what you want, then I’m glad.”
“I feel confident that I’m in the exact pace of life I want right now.”
“Good. Are you ready for our check in today? It’s going to be slightly different.”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Perfect. We usually start off with any attacks related to anxiety. Today I want you to look back in your journal through each of your anxiety attacks and see how you feel about their triggers today.”
“Okay. The first one was the glass breaking. Today, I feel confident in saying that I could separate that sound from the memory if it were to happen again. I think that if I was completely caught off guard on a bad day, I’d be able to use my tools in order to curb the attack.”
“Wonderful.”
“The next one was a curbed attack when Theo slammed a cupboard by accident. I think I wouldn’t really have a reaction today but on a low day I’d be able to curb it again.”
“Great.”
“Yeah I think that’s all of them that I had written down.”
“That’s all great progress. Are you ready to discuss the nightmares?”
“Yes,” I turned through the pages, “The first one was the Battle. Most of them were just different portions of the Battle in all honesty. Lately I’ve been able to either wake myself up or shift the dream in other directions. I think I have gained control of them in general unless the lucid ones come back. I have a plan for those, I think I’ll just try out different methods of shifting them to see what works best.”
“That’s a good plan. And the self-harm or suicide?”
“The first instance was related to self-harm. I really considered drinking a lot when he was in the hospital and I hadn’t gone on sabbatical yet. My biggest reason not to drink was always my patients, I knew I needed to be prepared if anything changed and I was called back in. Now, I have a new reason not to drink as a self-harm tactic, my soon-to-be goddaughter.”
“That’s a great point of view.”
“I think so too. The other instance wasn’t exactly self-harm or suicide. It was the moment I wanted to murder the lawyer.”
“I don’t think that really counted.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so either but I really hated that guy.”
“I did too, the cross-examination within the closed chamber portion of the trial, he was a difficult personality. That’s the kindest words I can use.”
“Makes total sense in my mind, he was an arse. You can’t say it so I’ll say it for you.”
“I appreciate that, Hermione. How do you feel about this check in?”
“I feel great.”
“Do you feel ready for the upcoming week?”
“I feel really good.”
“Great. I’m going to give you the option to really sit and reflect on your progress or you’re free to leave for today. I’m really proud of your progress, Hermione.”
“Thank you, Dr. Stone. I think I’m going to just sit for the last fifteen minutes if that’s okay.”
“That’s perfectly fine, Hermione. If you don’t mind, I’m going to run some paperwork around the office while you sit. If you need me back here, just ask the front desk and they’ll alert me.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”