She's to relive her first embarrassing memory

"Hello again," Phoebe said as Mackenzie sat down. Mackenzie returned the greeting before the therapist jumped right into business. "Alright, well first thing's first. I think you should get undressed again."

"Seriously?" Mackenzie said, with some exasperation. She knew this might have been coming, but had hoped not. "I thought that was, like, a one time thing."

"Well, part of what I'm trying to do is get you more accustomed being nude. The best way to do that is to practice!"

Mackenzie groaned but stood up and disrobed again, placing her clothes on the table. Phoebe once again scooped them up and placed them in her safe.

"Is that... really necessary?" Mackenzie asked.

"I believe it is. I want to emulate those feelings of you being naked in public as much as possible. You couldn't access your clothes right now even if you wanted to. If someone barged in there would be no quick means of cover for you. If the building caught fire, you'd have to rush out just as you are. So, how would you rate your anxiety right now?"

"Definitely a 10!" Mackenzie said, her mind reeling from the embarrassing scenarios Phoebe had just described.

"Well, our goal is for that number to gradually come down over the coming weeks. Now, for today's session I was thinking we could try out some hypnotherapy."

"Hypnotherapy?"

"It's a way of using a state of hypnosis to re-experience old memories. I think it would be really beneficial if you'd walk me through some of yours."

Mackenzie reluctantly accepted, though she wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of having to remember some of her embarrassing nightmares. Phoebe pulled out a metronome, and the device began rhythmically ticking. She guided Mackenzie, who was lying down on the couch, through several relaxation techniques. This let her fall deeper and deeper into her trance-like state. After Mackenzie seemed completely at ease, Phoebe began speaking.

Mackenzie? Can you hear me?

Yes.

Good. I can hear you too. Can you open your eyes for me and tell me what you see?

There's... nothing. I don't see anything.

Perfect. We're ready to begin. Can you tell me about the first time you had an incident?

The first time?

Yes. The earliest time you can remember anything like that happening.

I guess that would be... at my friend's pool last fall, a few days after my 18th birthday party. Whoa! I-I can see it! I can see her backyard just like I remember it! But with even more detail!

Yes, Mackenzie. Hypnotherapy allows you to go deep inside your own mind. You're not just remembering things like you normally do. While you're in this state, it will feel like you're actually reliving your memories. The human brain is an amazing thing, especially our memories. I think you'll find these experiences have far more detail than you can ordinarily recall.

You're right! I can see everything, clear as day!

Tell me what you see.

Well, my friends are in the pool, standing in the shallow end. And two boys are there too. They're Jess's brother and a friend of his. I'm standing on the diving board. That's right! We're seeing who can dive in and swim the farthest underwater using just their legs, and now it's my turn. I bounce as hard as I can and plunge into the water with my arms out in front of me. My eyes are shut but I dolphin kick as hard as I can. I keep going and going, and just when I feel like I'm about to run out of air, my fingers touch the far wall of the pool. I stand up and whip my hair back, gasping for breath. But I smile proudly. I did it!

And that's when I notice that everyone is silent. Amy starts giggling, Lily gasps, and Jess is gaping at me. I can see the two boys gaping at me too. I look down and... my bikini top slipped down below my boobs! Oh god everyone can see them! I grab at my top and-

Hold on Mackenzie! Pause right there. Don't cover yourself just yet.

What?! Why not?

Because this is the crucial moment we've been trying to get to. Just imagine you've paused the memory. Does that work?

You're right. Everyone else looks like they're frozen in place. How weird...

Now, you said this was your very first incident?

Yes. This is the first time I've ever had a real wardrobe malfunction.

And how do you feel?

Embarrassed! I want to pull my top back up!

And why do you feel embarrassed?

B-because everyone's looking at my boobs! No one's ever seen them before! Oh my god I wanna die!

Okay. Now I want you to accept that you feel embarrassed.

I definitely do!

Good. Now I ask you. So what?

Huh?

They're looking at your boobs. So what?

So what? It's embarrassing, that's what!

Ah, but you've already accepted that you feel embarrassed about this. Now you can move past it. Put aside those feelings and answer me: so what?

So... so people shouldn't be able to see them! They're supposed to be private!

Okay, let's say you're right. They've seen them now, and in a few moments they'll be out of sight again. Is that the end of the world?

Well, no. But it's still bad!

Bad things happening to us is a part of life. It's our job to learn how to deal with them and move past them. Can you move past this?

I... I guess... maybe it's not that big of a deal.

Good! And how do you feel now?

Uh... well still embarrassed. But...

But?

But, I think, a little less embarrassed?

That's great, Mackenzie. Great job, really. Now let the memory play out again.

Okay. I pull my top back... I pull my... I... My top won't move! I can't pull it back up! This is different than I remember!

Yes you can, Mackenzie. Just stay calm.

My top is gone! My friends are all laughing at me! This isn't how this is supposed to go!!

Mackenzie, listen to me.

It's different! Why is it different?!

Mackenzie-

My bottoms are gone too! Oh god, I'm naked! Everyone's laughing at me and I'm naked!!

Repeat after me! I am calm. I am centered.

Oh god oh god oh god...

Mackenzie! I am calm! I am centered!

I am calm! I am centered! I am calm. I am centered...

...Mackenzie?

I'm... I'm back in the nothing. I don't see anything.

Perfect. That's good. You're back now.

What happened? That wasn't how it really went.

I'm not quite sure. It might be your subconscious catastrophizing your perceived memories as a result of the later traumas you've suffered since that day...

Huh?

Don't worry about that for now. I'll have to analyze that more later. For now, let's try reliving one more memory.