Dr. Lance Sweets (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lifetothefullest) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hadriel2017-05-23 04:08 pm
lifetothefullest) wrote in hadriel2017-05-23 04:08 pm
Entry tags:
002 [Video]
[He supposes this is as good a time as any considering the events of the past few days and Rosen's recent post, so...
Lance is looking more put together than he has recently, although he hasn't completely returned to the formal look; he has bothered with a suit but not with a tie, and his hair's getting slightly out of control and distinctly curly. He also looks a bit like he's either gotten too little sleep or too much, although his voice is steady and even and he certainly sounds more professional than he did in his last post.]
Due to recent events, and in followup to Dr. Rosen's announcement, I think this is a good time to reiterate that should anyone be in need of someone to speak to about anything that may be bothering them, I'm always available for counseling or just to talk.
[He's gotten the impression this is something a whole lot of people here probably need, and it's important to make sure they're aware of the option and don't have to go hunting for information on who to contact.]
My name is Dr. Lance Sweets and I'm a clinical psychologist, which, for those whose worlds don't have such a profession, means that I work with helping individuals work through any mental or emotional issues they might be having. Although I've counseled patients on a range of subjects, my primary work has been with the FBI and therefore often in the area of coping with witnessing or experiencing traumatic events.
[Which is fortunate, since there seems to be a lot of that here. Which, itself, is unfortunate.]
Meetings can be as formal or informal as you're comfortable with, and where we speak can also be decided upon on an individual basis. I'm also willing to answer any questions you might have before making any agreements or arrangements.
[Because he's very aware that a whole lot of people don't get the idea of psychology at all, and he's also expecting at least a few 'aren't you twelve?' comments.]
Lance is looking more put together than he has recently, although he hasn't completely returned to the formal look; he has bothered with a suit but not with a tie, and his hair's getting slightly out of control and distinctly curly. He also looks a bit like he's either gotten too little sleep or too much, although his voice is steady and even and he certainly sounds more professional than he did in his last post.]
Due to recent events, and in followup to Dr. Rosen's announcement, I think this is a good time to reiterate that should anyone be in need of someone to speak to about anything that may be bothering them, I'm always available for counseling or just to talk.
[He's gotten the impression this is something a whole lot of people here probably need, and it's important to make sure they're aware of the option and don't have to go hunting for information on who to contact.]
My name is Dr. Lance Sweets and I'm a clinical psychologist, which, for those whose worlds don't have such a profession, means that I work with helping individuals work through any mental or emotional issues they might be having. Although I've counseled patients on a range of subjects, my primary work has been with the FBI and therefore often in the area of coping with witnessing or experiencing traumatic events.
[Which is fortunate, since there seems to be a lot of that here. Which, itself, is unfortunate.]
Meetings can be as formal or informal as you're comfortable with, and where we speak can also be decided upon on an individual basis. I'm also willing to answer any questions you might have before making any agreements or arrangements.
[Because he's very aware that a whole lot of people don't get the idea of psychology at all, and he's also expecting at least a few 'aren't you twelve?' comments.]
no subject
Good; then you know what you need to start. It might be difficult, especially with people you aren't familiar with, but try to stick with just reading body language and tone and using that to tell when you're overstepping your bounds. It's also perfectly fine to ask someone if you're unsure if you're upsetting them or prying too much; even if you've already crossed a line and are unaware of it, asking shows you didn't do it with any ill intent. That's important to people.
[Asking for clarification is one of those things people are often too unsure about to actually do, but it's incredibly useful.]
Most of the time, emotional and mental boundaries have to do with sharing information. Generally, let people share what they want to with you, instead of asking or pressing for information; there are some exceptions to this, of course, but for now it's a good rule.
[And probably enough to focus on for now. He also feels he should add something else, though; Ushahin probably has already mostly figured this out, but it ties into the mental and emotional boundaries subject well enough that now is a good time to mention it.]
The reason why your psychic abilities are considered so invasive to others is that it doesn't give them the choice of what to share and what to keep to themselves. Maintaining that control over your own thoughts and feelings is incredibly important, and sometimes it's all that someone has control of.
no subject
[Ushahin listens intently to the information he's given. He's never really had to ask permission for people's boundaries before. Always, he'd merely taken what he wanted from their heads. To do so otherwise would be a novel experience if nothing else. He didn't know how long he would be able to keep it up for, but it was worth at least trying to do what was right.]
I shall strive to do as you have suggested. Though it is...difficult, sometimes, to keep such rules in mind. The temptation to search out what a person is really thinking is a strong one, especially when they lie. I don't like liars.
[His fractured eyes glitter, and for the first time, there's a glimpse of the darkness that makes up Ushahin's mind.]
And then sometimes I can't keep the voices out no matter much I try to keep them at bay.
no subject
You're not expected to be perfect, especially not immediately. What matters is that you make a purposeful effort, and that if you hurt someone you try to make it right.
[Whether by apology or action. Intent is the most important thing right now, early on in whole process of trying to make a change like this.]
no subject
I feel I have already made progress simply by coming here and listening.
[It has reaffirmed in his mind that what he was doing was correct. It was all he could really hope for in the end.]
Next time, I shall bring Fetch in. You would like to meet him.
[The raven followed his own rules, having lived his whole life as a spybird. Generally, he was a good bird, being Ushahin's eyes and ears in the cave, rarely using his own psychic powers for anything other than to ask people for food.]
no subject
I'm glad to hear it. Who's Fetch?
no subject
Fetch is a friend who came with me from home. He is a raven with an ability similar to my own. He can project images of things he has seen into people's heads. Here he seems to use it mostly to ask for food from people, the glutton.
[Ushahin sounds awful fond of his little companion. No matter what he had gone through here, his raven had staunchly been with him through thick and thin.]
no subject
That's so cool. What do ravens eat?
[Asking for, you know. No reason.
Lance really likes animals a lot, even if he's not super knowledgeable about them; he does know a decent amount about ravens' behavioral patterns and intelligence, though. Somehow the idea of a psychic raven is just not as surprising as a psychic human, either.]
no subject
Well, the ravens of Darkhaven will eat just about anything they can get their claws on. They're true omnivores. Fetch is very fond of corn and little scraps of meat.
[He decides to tactfully omit the part where those little scraps of meat usually came from the bodies of the dead on battlefields. No need to mention that until it became actually relevant.]
no subject
I'll see what I can bring for him, then.
[He will make friends with all the animals he can, okay. It's his mission.]
no subject
He will greatly enjoy that. Anyone who feeds him is a friend. Did you know he started off life as a chick so small that he could be cupped in a single hand? My cousin Tanaros found him shivering in the snow and cared for him all winter until his feathers grew in. Now he's nearly as big as a hawk.
[That was one big raven. But for all that he was a bird bred to be a spy during war, Fetch was not a mean sort. He was loyal to those that showed kindness towards him and had save the lives of his two-legged friends on more than one occasion. Having him here was a nice reminder for Ushahin of the good qualities of home that he missed.]
no subject
They're really smart and have great memories, don't they?
[He's pretty certain they do, but who knows if ravens might vary from world to world especially if this one apparently has some sort of psychic powers. But the point is that the bird surely knows and remembers what Ushahin's cousin did for him.]