Outtake: Visit Dr. Newton
Dr. Newton
I called Bella into the room to have our first session together. Edward was right about Bella, she was worried. She asked me if Edward could come in with her. I told her no because it would just be with me. When she was in the room, I closed the door behind her.
I told her to have a seat, and I walked behind my desk. She was nervous. I could tell. I told her to relax because nothing was going to happen to her. She looked up at me.
First, I told her a little about myself, and I also told her fiancé and I were good friends. I also have had patients a lot like her so there was nothing to be worried about. Everything she had to say would stay with me.
I asked her a few things like,"Can you tell me why you are here? Did you agree to meet with me," and so on. The main thing I told her was that if she told me that she was going to hurt herself and/or someone else, I would have to report it. Bella told me "no", so we started our session.
"Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and relax," I said.
"I am scared," she whined.
"You don't have to be," I mumbled, pulling my chair next to her.
Bella took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I could tell by her reaction to having her eyes closed that she was uncomfortable.
"It's okay, Bella. You're safe," I whispered.
She tried not cry, I placed my hand on her arm - to try to calm her down. I put on some smooth music. It helped to relax most of my patients.
"Okay, Bella, tell me what you see. You are safe. Remember that," I whispered, as I watched her facial expressions.
At first, she moaned before she spoke. I knew what was gonna happen next. Bella yelled, "Don't hit me, please." She pushed her arms out like she was pushing someone away from her.
"It okay. He's not here," I whispered.
She had her hands above her face like someone was going hit her. I told her to open her eyes and relax.
"I am so sorry, Bella," I said.
"No, it's okay," she replied.
"I think we need two months of sessions," I reassured her, as I walked her out of the room. I waved to Edward.
Then I walked back in the room and wrote in her file. I knew she would feel better after a few sessions.
She had a lot of issues. Abuse and being raped, to name a few. That's all we accomplished in the first session. I felt bad for her.
Bella, who hit you? And why did you stay with him? Why didn't you just leave him? Those were the questions I was going to ask her during our second session before she did the exercise.
I wondered how Edward was dealing with everything Bella was dealing with. I would ask to have a session with him too, so he could talk to me about it. I usually did a session with their boyfriends or girlfriends to explain what was going on with the ones they loved.
The exercise helped, and it helped my patients to relax, especially with music.
