Bean Shots

First Session (age 16)

It was Matt who first suggested to L that Bennett have a therapist to talk to. He explained to L that Bennett is very different from him and that he feels things more, his emotions are just much more keen.  Matt understands that's not something L can relate to, but he expressed that Bennett could really benefit from having a professional just to talk to and work through some things with because Bean does get nightmares about being alone and about losing his father the same way he lost his mother, or even about losing his mom all over again...this can then lead to nightmare-induced panic attacks, and it can get rough sometimes.

Bennett has agoraphobia.  He needs to be closed in.  The hoodies help that.  He always sleeps with his back against a wall, curved into a corner preferably, and hugging a pillow.  Or, he will sleep on the couch oftentimes when they are in hotel suites because he prefers to stay in the room with L.  When he does get panic attacks, the best thing is a corner... on the floor against the wall or on a couch.  He'll sit with his knees up and his ankles crossed, and he'll shove his fingers up into his hair and pull on it... if Matt's there, he makes sure he's not pulling too hard.  Bennett also has a bad tick in his left hand that can get really painful when he has anxiety attacks.  It's like pins and needles shooting up from his fingertips to his elbow.  He's VERY sensitive to touch during and just after a panic attack.  He usually goes nonverbal afterwards... not in an emo way, but more in an exhausted sense.  He usually is pretty nonverbal after therapy too... but contemplative as well.

He was a nervous wreck his first session... but looking back, it has proven to be a very good thing for him.

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Bennett sat with on foot on the ground and the heel of the other on the edge of the upholstered chair.  He was slouched down with his headset on and a drawstring hanging from his teeth, and he was visibly nervous.  L sat beside him, mildly intrigued by some article in a magazine.

The door opened then, and a pleasant-looking, middle-aged African British woman with lots of long, thin braids stood in the doorway with her hands clasped before her.  She smiled warmly. 

"Hello!  Come on in."  She gestured with her hand.  "Why don't you both come in to get acquainted, and then we'll go from there?"

Bennett visibly relaxed that he didn't have to go in by himself right away.  He stood up, shoving both hands into his hoodie pockets after turning off the music and moving the headset to around his neck.  The hoodie string moved a little as he chewed a few more times on the end of it.  Then he let it fall to hang again as he and L followed the doctor into the room.

The woman appeared more motherly than doctorly... her office was painted a light shade of pretty green, and she had colorful knick-knacks here and there.  She shut the door after all three had entered, and then turned to outstretch her hand toward Bean.

"Bennett, I'm Dr. Christine Montgomery, but I'll just go ahead and tell you that everyone calls me Dr. Chris.  Pleasure to meet you."

A polite little half smile lifted Bennett's mouth as he took the handshake.  "You too.  Um... thanks..." he said hesitantly.

"Oh, not at all, not at all... and who do you have with you today?"  She looked over to L, her dark eyes smiling even more than her mouth.

"This is my dad."

"Ryuzaki."  L shook the doctor's hand.

The kind doctor smiled warmly with the handshake, then clasped her hands casually before her.  "Well!" she exhaled pleasantly.  "I am SO blessed to see that Bennett has such support.  A good support team is going to be so so crucial for Bennett... and your job as every bit as important as mine... well, MORE, really."  She gestured outward with a calm smile on her face, her casual eye contact moving smoothly between the two.  "So Bennett..."  She looked directly at him then.  "You are NOT alone.  We are here... we are ALL here... for YOU.  Okay?"  The laugh lines around her eyes creased with her encouraging nod.