Psych eval

Posted on 22 Jan 2014 @ 6:13pm by Ensign K'os Beaumont & Lieutenant Teth Miir

1,438 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Starfleet Medical
Timeline: MD 10 - 0800

[ON]

K'os Beaumont's feet slid out from under the covers and quietly rested on the floor as he sat on the edge of his bed. His eyes were closed and he breathed in a few deep breaths. Just like every single morning since he'd created this routine when he was a child on the third inhalation his alarm sounded. With a smile of triumph he sprung from his hotel bed. Ever since he was a child he made a game of trying to time when he woke to be at the same time as his alarm. He was quite good at it. Continuing on with his routine he completed his calisthenics then finished his one cup of coffee while reading the headline news. When he was fully dressed and ready for his day it was 0700 hrs. He sat at the small desk and with the aid of his personal PADD he planned out the rest of his day. He sent a request to the general counseling department inbox requesting an appointment date for a psych evaluation. His records would have been transferred into the database by now, and he might as well get it scheduled and over. Not expecting to hear a response until after shoreleave, he continued with planning his day.

=^=Lt. Miir to Beaumont.=^=

Curiously he reached for his communicator. If that was who he thought it was they certainly worked quickly. He cleared his throat then replied with a crisp "Yes Sir?"

=^=I recieved your request for an appointment, crewman. Please report to room 4-0-1-2 at Starfleet medical, level 11.=^=

"On my way, Sir."

K'os wasn't a stranger to these sorts of appointments any more. He'd been through so many now the he no longer felt anxious or upset about it. It was just nice to talk with someone else privately for a little while even if it was uncomfortable to do so at times. He knew others that dreaded it and they were usually people that avoided thinking about unpleasant things. He didn't blame them, after all isn't that sort of what he did? Within half an hour he was sitting in the rather comforting atmosphere of the reception area. He breathed deeply, consciously sharpening his mind. He smiled at the thought that at least he had good control over himself today.


Teth stepped into the small waiting area where he saw a young, dark haired crewman with a content expression on his face. The counselor almost didn't want to disrupt what seemed like a happy ans relaxed moment for the man. None the less, he stood in front of him, he hands behind his back as he spoke.

"Mr. Beaumont, I presume? I'm counselor Miir." and he extended his hand in the human tradition of greeting.

K'os stood and shook his hand. He'd always thought of himself as somewhat tall, but the counselor must be well over six feet. He'd say 6'5 but the mane might have thrown his guess off. He resisted the urge to ask and instead said, "It's very nice to meet you. I hope I'm not pulling you away from shoreleave?"

"Not at all," the Caitian said, leading him into his office, "I already had some things to attend to here at Starfleet Headquarters. Please, have a seat."

Teth motioned K'os to a dark blue arm chair beside a large fake plant as he shut the door behind them before taking his own position behind the desk.

"So, you are here for your annual psychiatric evaluation?" the counselor said as he pulled he crewman's file up on his desk display, "Is there anything in particular you would like to discuss?"

He nodded in the affirmative to his first question but took a moment to consider his words for the second. "Nothing pressing, but I do have questions if that's ok?." He said, smiling more so with his eyes than his mouth. "I'm not certain how transfer of care is handled. The personnel officer on the Mississippi wasn't helpful. My last counselor was Dr. Sharon Kovak but I transferred sometime after our last visit. We had set goals for me to work on. I was to practice adaptive behaviour exercises using more Vulcan behavioural modification techniques. Suppressing strong negative emotions, cultivating positive ones." He cut himself off, "I'm sorry, it's in your report I'm sure."
,
"Well, I prefer getting this kind of information from the patient. Reports are helpful but they often lack detail and nuance. What was the original reasoning for your behavioral therapy?"

That was a refreshing concept. It made the interaction suddenly feel a little more personal. "Due to medical reasons related to my hybrid physiology my brain has difficulty regulating the intensity of my emotions. I have tried several different therapies, techniques and medications. In most cases, the side effects haven't been acceptable, with the most recent being fatigue. Dr. Kovak was the first to suggest the blending of Vulcan practice with other techniques learned from Starfleet counselors which have begun looking positive."

"And just to be clear, you are a Vulcan-Human hybrid? The difficulty in regulating mood for people of your genetic background is actually quite common, as I am sure you are already aware. Would you mind describing the techniques you are currently using?"

He nodded. "My father is Human." He confirmed while he smoothed an invisible wrinkle from his pant leg. He gathered his next thoughts before he spoke again. "I'm currently using a combination of Wh'ltri techniques I learned when I was a child but only started using again a year ago. It's education that all Vulcan children receive. It's main teaching point is to use my Concentration to disconnect my emotions from my thoughts. It's difficult for me to describe how that process happens as it's as natural a reflex as consciously holding your breath. I've been told it's unique to Vulcans. The idea is not about suppressing emotions exactly but to allow thoughts to control emotions, not emotions to control the thoughts." He paused hoping he was explaining it clearly. "It takes a lot of concentration and mindfulness."

The hybrid chuckled at himself. "And I'm not very good at it yet. I get really tired and frustrated. So I use other human created techniques in conjunction with Wh'ltri. Zen breathing techniques and Vipassana meditation mostly. In practice, and when I'm feeling rested, it allows me to view my thoughts, environment and situations with a clear, rational mind. I'm then free to do with the emotions attached to those thoughts as I see fit using Wh'ltri. It's very difficult." He said again, this time looking at his hands. He looked back up with a smile, "But it has been working well so far. Dr. Allyndra has told me that my serotonin levels have normalized now."

"Well that sounds like very good news." the caitian said as he stretched back into his chair. "You said your last counselor had goals which she had set for you. Do you feel you have attained any of those goals?"

"I feel as though I have less moments of anger and frustration." He admitted. "I still get angry at my self when I loose concentration though. Especially when others are around because my emotions don't always seem appropriate for the situation and if I'm not concentrating I can display many different moods in a short time. I feel like sometimes others still judge me when it happens. It doesn't affect my work, but..." He pursed his lips and cocked his head in a but-what-can-you-do expression.

"Did you find talk therapy sessions to be helpful in the past? Along with the Vulcan and human techniques you're using on your own time, I mean."

"I want to say no because it makes me feel uncomfortable to talk about my thoughts, but it wouldn't be truthful. I do feel the benefits of it when I'm more mindful of myself."

"I appreciate your honesty. Especially since I am going to recommend bi-weekly visits with the counselor of your choice. That choice being limited to myself or Dr. Carlisle once we leave spacedock."

"I look forward to them, Counselor Miir."

"Since this is just a new-crew psychological evaluation, I mostly just have to assure that you are of sound mind for your duties- which you seem to be. Is there anything else you wish to discuss before I release you for duty?"

"Not presently." He confirmed. "Thank-you again for taking the time to see me."

END:

Lt. JG Teth Miir
Counselor
USS Galileo

&

PO3 K'os Beaumont
Matter/Energy Systems Specialist
USS Galileo

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