A/N This was inspired by my FanFiction buddy who believes engine therapists can be a thing in someone's Thomasverse and a story I read once with one it it. Not hers, but she does have plans for an engine psychologist to appear later. Other inspiration's a Luke series in which he's depressed I read and people thinking Toby has anxiety, Percy and Henry being timid or worried, respectively, Oliver and Thomas, because of the scrapyard in the former case andJBS in the latter case and how Edward got depressed in a fic I read and his flawed self in canon's depressed, along with being bullied into mild depression, perhaps in his first story in book canon.
Emily, the young engine therapist, was setting up in Vicarstown. She was a friendly, idealistic, sensitive person and liked to inspire others. Those who knew her said she was understanding, warm, supportive, passionate, creative and could show high empathy. Some of the Sodor engines were joining her clientele, Edward, Luke, Henry, Percy, Toby, Oliver and Thomas were their names.
Luke was the first to have a session with Emily.
Emily asked Luke and his crew what he was here for.
Luke's driver said, "He just hides in a tunnel and cries practically all the time. I've got to have a dry piece of cloth on hand whenever I'm with him just to dry his tears. I just speak soothing words and do my best to wipe his face, eyes included and dap his last tears away when he gets weepy. I wish I could wipe his sorrow, so I wipe the tears from his eyes".
The fireman said, "Our Luke's an extremely sad engine ever since he got off the boat here on Sodor."
"I was told by Driver I'm depressed," Luke said. "I feel grief, guilt and shame over pushing an engine into the sea. I'm just overwhelmed with my emotions all the time and I've shed a great many tears.". He began to cry, great tears pouring from his eyes, sobbing hard and sniffling long and loud.
Emily said, "You've got the right to let it all out. Just cry. Let tears fall like rain. It's your time to cry if you need to and your driver can dry those eyes. Engines in my therapy can have their tears dried by their crew or if the crew aren't present, me, if you consent. I've got hankies for anyone in my therapy to sob into, if they want. Luke, you can be yourself without judgment from me, even if you're a waterfall of tears. It's okay to vent. If you want, I can help you find the words to express your feelings and even help you see from a new perspective when you're ready."
Luke's driver said, pulling out a cloth from his pocket, "Cry it out, Luke. I wish I could wipe your unhappiness, so I shall wipe your eyes.". He dried Luke's tears, rubbing his sodden cheeks and wiping his tear-wet eyes, listening attentively as he focused on Luke, to pick up on his value and cues, letting him vent and feel his unhappiness without judgment, offering care and compassion. He pressed the cloth to Luke's eyes, letting him sob into it and wiped all his tears away as best he could.
Luke sobbed, weeping non-stop until he had no more tears left. His driver dried his last tears away, patting any stray huge water droplets from his cheeks and dapping tears in his eyes away until they were dry, then went back to the cab with the sodden cloth.
Emily asked Luke, "Tell me your story, the part before you pushed that yellow engine into the sea.
The session went on, as Luke told his story and then it was over and his crew gave him a drink.
Emily got ready for Edward, her next patient.
A/N Each chapter will cover each of Emily's clients having their getting to know you session with Emily. I had this idea last year, as of when I posted it my time.