8 The Therapy Room
Jacob stood stunned as he looked around the room, drinking all the rich details in. The room looked like something out of a movie, the wood polished to perfection, the sea outside a rich dep blue., he bet if he walked outside, he would even hear birds chirping.
How perfect everything was...It was honestly freaking him out a little.
Before he could think more on the subject a sudden ringing drew his attention. Looking to the side, right next to the leather brown chair, sat a desk table with a mounted tablet; said tablet was the source of the noise.
Looking down at the screen, he noticed it had the same interface as his own phone. Quickly swiping the alarm to the side, it stopped ringing. A compulsion seemed to come over him as he slowly relaxed into the leather chair and opened the tablet with a finger print scanner on the side.
His mind relaxed as he slouched into the chair, getting more comfortable. The screen flashed for a few seconds before opening with a message.
(Identity Confirmed.)
(Welcome Counselor)
(Would you like to start introduction?)
[Yes] [No]
Wanting to find out what was going on Jacob quickly tapped yes.
A pair of speakers crackled to life waking Jacob from his stupor as he looked up. He couldn't see where they were, but he could hear a new voice begin to talk. At the same time, said information was also appearing on the tablet.
The voice was slightly mechanical and masculine, but drew his attention surprisingly well.
"Welcome 'Counselor' to the 'Therapy Room'".
"This room is were all in depth therapy sessions will take place, as well as any requests."
'Requests?'
"If you could look to your right, that door to the side leads off into the request rooms and are for patients only, unless Counselor is requested to sit in."
Throwing a glance to a wooden door off to the side Jacob filed the information away, he didn't know what 'requests' were, but knew he would find out later.
"The 'Therapy Room', is considered an independent space, knows as a 'realm' or 'independent universe' and other such names. As such it is tailored to give the best experience for each patient as well as help them through any trauma they may suffer through. This includes a natural calming aura for all present, as well as a safe space for any dangerous abilities or actions."
'Does that mean there can be no violence in the 'Therapy Room'?'
"Please look down at the tablet".
Jacob looked down as prompted as a new menu appeared before him.
[Next Session: 5:30:00]
[Bookings]
[Environment]
[Memory]
[Spoiler]
[Review]
[Internet Access]
[Exit]
"The Tablet gives you direct control of the 'Therapy Room' and all its aspects as well as your therapy bookings. This can be seen in the [Bookings] function as it mirrors your [Consol] application equivalent outside, while [Next Session] indicates the time until your next therapy session
"By pressing on the [Environment] function, the 'Therapy Room' can be changed at will be the Counselor to accommodate or help therapy sessions along. Once pressed please think of the new environment to initiate change."
Jacob's eyes widened in shock as the details started to sink in on where exactly he was and what exactly he had gotten himself into.
"Please note for the 'Lounge Chair' as well as the 'Chaise lounge', their design and color may be change, but they may not be removed. Each chair can be used to facilitate physical and mental healing on patients as well as facilitate [Memory] and [Spoiler] function."
"To facilitate memory viewing please Navigate tablet to [Memory] setting and select function, then ask patient to picture memory to initiate. Note that the 'Therapy Room' will help patient find and remember specific memory for ease of use."
Jacob was getting more and more overwhelmed as the voice went on.
'He could view their memories? How was that even possible?'
Though so much had happened already, this new revelation shook Jacob to the core. Memories were such a personal thing, they were arguably what made a person themself, and the system was talking like it was a forgone conclusion that he would have to look into their memories and help them through traumas.
He wasn't a psychologist, he wasn't a trained professional, he hadn't the faintest clue what he was doing.
But he had applied for the job and somehow got it; heck there was a person that would be seeking his help, in just a few hours.
Jacob felt like he should be panicking, no, he knew he should be panicking!
'Why isn't my heart beating faster? What if I mess up and hurt this person?!'
Those thoughts ran through his mind, deafeningly so, but time did not wait for any man.
"As the Counselor is considered competent by [The Admin], there is no restriction on system functions and information use. Any and all therapy sessions are up to the Counselor to decide upon and administer to patients. Because of this fact, the functions, [Spoiler], [Review] and [Internet Access] are accessible."
'Oh, this couldn't get any worse....'
"The [Spoiler] function can be used at any point the Counselor deems fit to show knowledge not known to the patient. This refers to any meta knowledge the Counselor himself knows, including; comics, literature, movies, tv series, any and all alternate realities of the patient, and much more in-depth information. This function is specifically used to project this knowledge in a realistic fashion for the Patient to view."
'OMG' Jacob's mouth hung open in shock.
"This ties into both the [Review] and [Internet Access] Functions. The [Review] function can be used by the Counselor to review Patient information, giving detailed files about the specific patient. Including universe designation and overview, current situation and any other pertinent information regarding said Patient."
"While the [Internet Access] function can be used to supplicate Counselor knowledge while in the 'Therapy Room'. This gives basic connection to the internet, as well as multiversal internet access to all connected worlds for in-depth information gathering and collection."
"As this is an independent space each 1-hour period spent inside is considered 10 minutes outside to all worlds connected by the [Consol] application. This is to accommodate for more patients in the future and their therapeutic needs."
"The Therapy room can be accessed at all times by using the [Consol] application outside. The Application has been updated to accommodate this aspect and can be seen next time application is opened. Please use the [Exit] Function whenever you would like to leave."
"Introduction has now finished, Good luck Counselor."
Jacob sat, an unnatural calm coming over him, as his eyes flicked around the room. He spent the next few minutes going over everything he was just told, even looking over the introduction again in its written format.
If he was being honest with himself, he was lost, completely and utterly. He knew what was expected of him, but he didn't know if he could or even should, do it.
But he didn't have a choice.
His eyes flicked back down to the tablet and came to rest over the timer. [Next Session: 4:00:00].
He had four hours to get up to speed on Jean Grey, the one that would be visiting him anyways. Sure, he knew her character, some bits of her history and future here and there, but he didn't know everything.
He let out a small sigh as he slouched even more in his chair.
He knew he wasn't the best person for the job, maybe he would be a bit too direct, maybe he could irreversibly hurt those he tried to help.
But that wouldn't stop him from trying his best, he was locked into this now, the least he could do was help them.
His finger hovered over the [Review] function.
The money...well the money was a nice bonus at this point, these were people's lives.
AN.
I will be putting this here as well as putting a proper disclosure in the next chapter or the one after when the MC actually starts the therapy session.
To be brief. I have never myself done a psychology course; I cannot and will not recommend anything written in this novel to be taken as a way to deal with any trauma, physical or mental. Please if you do need help seek a professional Psychologist or Therapy.
I was thinking to look up a bit of psychology and place it in the novel but that would be disingenuous and also dangerous as I do not know what I am talking about. The Mc will reflect this fact as he will be more direct when dealing with patients giving them future knowledge and facts as well as having fictional tools to help him along the way, mentioned in this chapter. The Mc will be direct, probably say some things he shouldn't and can stuff up at times. Please keep this in mind.
I am also looking for more 'characters' to add to the patient roster later on, so would love suggestions in the comments as well as feedback from any people that actually do have psychology experience.
Thank you guys for reading.
