First Session; Gaining Trust

“I-I’m not sure where to start” Renee answered after Jessica asked her to explain her situation from her point of view.

“I’ve got the rundown from Principal Walker after offering my services. I’m sorry to make you relieve such mortifying moments but to help you I need to hear them from you. To get an honest understanding of how you viewed them and how they affect you currently” Jessica explained.

Renee gave a fed up grunt and said “even if I did want to relive those moments to get your help I don’t think you’d understand anything I went through or felt.”

Jessica just sighed and said “usually I’d go through the recommended spiel of how someone, especially a licensed therapist, doesn’t need to have gone through what you have to empathize and find ways to help move and work through your trauma.”

Renee raised an eyebrow and asked “but you’re not?”

“No, instead I’m going to show you that I am very aware, which is why I specifically offered to help” Jessica said as she pulled something up on her computer, before swiveling the monitor around so that Renee could see.

Renee was flabbergasted to see a young blonde woman around her age restrained to the back of a school bus… butt ass naked. A block of text popped up along the side of the video indicating this was an old live stream being watched by at least over a hundred people. Dozens of demeaning comments flashed across the screen about the young blonde’s bare body.

“Th-that’s you?” Renee asked incredulously.

“Mhm. Ten years ago I transferred to Sunny Vale High for my senior year because my father had become a teacher there. This incident happened on the first day, all because I pissed off and got into a fight with the wrong girl” Jessica explained.

“Oh my…” Renee trailed off.

“Either way, I saw your situation and realized you were exactly the type of girl I got into therapy to help. As my own therapist was what got me through those tough times and feelings after this incident. As you’re probably well aware of how cruel your young peers can be, never letting you live it down. Though your situation is probably much worse as it’s all constantly refreshed in their minds. I’m sorry I can’t help you avoid the people targeting you, but please believe me when I say I want to help you work through this terrible traumatic patch of your life. That I want you to know that it isn’t the end of the world and you will eventually get past it some way. Both physically and mentally” Jessica explained.

“...”

“...”

The room went still with silence as Renee took her time to think and Jessica let her.

After a while Renee sighed and said “fine. It all started when I took a stupid risk wanting to take a swim…”