FH Clinic (5/30)

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan's outside again, this time with a table as well as the umbrella and lawn chairs. She's hoping people will show up, but if they don't? She has a John Le Carre' to keep her occupied.

Comments

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy's early morning talk with her mother hadn't gone so well. So here she was. Standing outside the clinic, giving it a very doubting look.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Are you looking for someone?" Susan put a bookmark in her book, and shaded her eyes. "I'm Susan Pevensie."

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

"Um. I don't know..." Buffy hesitated. "Some shrink lady?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan smiled in amusement. "That would be me. I'm the school counselor. I don't believe I know you?"

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

"Oh! Um, I'm Buffy Summers. Mom told me to go talk to you." Buffy made a face. "But I'm totally fine!"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan cocked her head. "Ah. Well, you certainly can't be forced into therapy against your will. But why does your mother think you need to see me?"

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy sighed. "It's this whole thing. She thinks I have issues. It's not like I burned down the gym without any reason! But it's not the kind of thing I can really explain, and so. Can I just have, like, one session thing or something? So I can say I've done it so mom'll get off my back."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Blinking, Susan cautiously said, "I don't like to make open-ended promises like that, but you're free to leave therapy at any time. If your mother contacts me, though, I'll need to be able to tell her something if you're claiming you were in counseling." She leaned her chin on her hand, studying Buffy. "Why can't you tell her the real reason?"

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

"..It's complicated."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"I'm a good listener," Susan offered. "And I shan't think you're insane if you're seeing flying children, talking cats, snow monsters, or very tiny dancing rabbits. I found those the most amusing of all." She leaned back. "And just because you're talking to me, doesn't mean you need counseling. Some people just find it a relief to talk to someone."

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy grinned at Susan's example. "I don't know. I mean, maybe? It doesn't involve looking at spots and being in love with my brother, does it? I don't even have a brother."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan laughed. "Heavens, no. I'm not a Freudian. I studied a completely different type of therapy, Jungian. We tend to believe you if you tell a therapist you don't want to kiss your brother, or that you're fine with not having gotten a pony when you were five." She cocked her head. "I do art therapy too, if you just want to draw pictures, or make collages. Some people prefer that to the talking."

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy frowned. "I don't know, I might still be feeling some bitterness about not getting a pony. I really wanted a pony."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Smothering another laugh, Susan said, "Why don't you stop by for a session, oh, next week? You can tell your mother you made an appointment, and think about anything you may wish to discuss, like the pony, in the meantime."

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

"I can do that," Buffy decided. "What day?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Tuesday? Same time, here?" Susan cocked her head. "There will even be lollipops afterward, to prove you were here."

[1ordinarygirl.livejournal.com]

Buffy brightened. "Lollipop! Okay, yeah, that works for me. I have Archery in the afternoons, so."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Right, then," Susan said, amused. "I shall see you next Tuesday, Buffy. Have a pleasant week."