Patient: Hello. I'm here because I've struggled for a long time with painful memories from childhood, and nothing I've tried before has really helped. I hope that by working with you, I might finally start to feel safe opening up.
Therapist: Okay, so, first, before we start the actual process I must remind you that I am not here to fix you and friendship bonds in case they form are acceptable, we know what they are like and what are their conditions, we'll let it unfold.
Patient: Thank you for being clear about your approach. That actually makes me feel a bit less pressure, just knowing I don't have to be fixed. I appreciate that we're open to whatever kind of connection builds between us.
Therapist: And there is another thing, I am a junior and I am not actually experienced, I am simply trying to figure this out with whatever comes in my mind.
Patient: Thank you for also telling me that. Honestly, it feels good to know that we're both just figuring this out as we go, and that makes this process seem less intimidating for me.
Therapist: There is no time limit, each hour costs 100 lei or 22.86 USD.
Patient: Knowing there's no time limit and what each hour costs helps me feel more relaxed about the process. I appreciate the clarity and will keep that in mind as we continue.
Therapist: Now, with all the initial reminders aside, let's start the process. So, you came here because of childhood trauma. What are the memories like?
Patient: It's hard to talk about, but the memories are mostly of feeling scared and alone at home. Sometimes even small things, like a certain smell or sound, bring it all back and make me tense up.
Therapist: What happened when you were home? Or, why were you feeling scared or alone at home?
Patient: It was mostly because my parents argued a lot, sometimes shouting for hours. When things got loud, I felt invisible or like I needed to hide in my room to stay safe.
Therapist: Being in a home where there is always yelling and arguing is extremely unsafe. You never know what will happen, so we hide in the hopes that eventually, nothing will happen to us, or at least, there will be less worse outcomes even though there is absolutely no change in the situation.
Patient: I know exactly what you mean. Even now, when things get tense or unpredictable in my life, my first instinct is still to hide or try to make myself invisible, just so nothing worse happens.
Therapist: When there is an initial trauma, the mind can quickly respond in the said episode. However, when trauma becomes repeated, it becomes normality. So, if things get tense and unpredictable and you learned to hide based on your experience, then the same thing will happen again regardless of changes in circumstance.
Patient: That makes sense to me. It's like my brain just automatically goes into hiding mode even if I know things are different now, and I can't always control it.
Therapist: And what happens when you go into hiding mode today even though nothing happens? What it is like when you are alone in your own home?
Patient: When I go into hiding mode, even if nothing's wrong, I just feel frozen and disconnected. Being alone at home, I get restless or anxious, and I keep listening for noises or expecting something bad to happen, even though it never does.
Therapist: Do you have any friends which can reassure you in case something like that happens or you are definitely alone?
Patient: I do have a couple of friends, but I almost never reach out to them when I'm feeling this way. Usually, I just keep things to myself because I don't want to bother anyone or seem too needy.
Therapist: Well, according to advice on the internet, from far as I read and now imply from the context of some articles, reaching out with intense emotions to friends or just about anyone can be clingy, but in reality, reaching out to friends no matter how bad you feel is acceptable, if you are honest people will appreciate it most of the time, it depends on their values, whether they are caring, or not, or somewhere in between.
Patient: It's reassuring to hear that reaching out isn't automatically a bad thing. I worry sometimes that if I share what I'm really feeling, I'll push people away, but I'd like to believe my real friends won't see it as clingy if I'm just being honest about what's going on.
Therapist: I don't know about your friends, but from my experience, even when I was anxious and told them that I was dumping on them, they didn't have an issue with being intense or something like that. Now, what are your friends like?
Patient: I'd say my friends are thoughtful and kind, but they're also pretty private about their own feelings. Sometimes we talk about deeper stuff, but mostly we just keep things light unless someone really needs support.
Therapist: So, they fear closeness when talking about deeper stuff?
Patient: It feels that way sometimes. When the conversation starts to get more personal or emotional, there's a sense that everyone pulls back a bit, almost like no one wants to risk being too exposed or vulnerable.
Therapist: Fear of vulnerability is consistent in a lot of individualist societies, and possibly even in some transitional ones like in Eastern Europe where I come from. One cause is natural, that of low emotional maturity during teenage years, which is expected, but most causes happen to be of cultural nature, that the individual is the best unit out there and they should deal with everything by themselves.
Patient: Yeah, that sounds familiar almost like you're expected to tough it out or keep your struggles private, even if it means you don't let anyone really see you. I think that's made it harder for me to open up or even recognize when I need help, since I'm always telling myself I should be able to handle things alone.
Therapist: In reality no one should really handle things alone, sometimes help is needed. But still, the common messages that we got were "get off welfare, get into work", "don't be awkward or clingy", "I am not your therapist, I am your friend", "deal with them using cognitive restructuring" and so on...
Patient: You're right, those messages come up a lot and they make it feel like you're supposed to just fix yourself without support. When I hear things like that, it makes me feel guilty that I even need help, or like there's something wrong with me for not being able to do it all on my own.
Therapist: Well, there is nothing wrong with not being to do it all yourself, sometimes validation from others is the best thing out there.
Patient: I really appreciate hearing that. It makes me feel less alone knowing that it's actually okay to need support from others sometimes.
Therapist: Humans are social beings, millions of years they may have lived in groups of fifty to a hundred people their entire life and really needed to support each other. We have evolved with that in mind.
Patient: That actually makes a lot of sense. If we've spent so much of our history surviving in close-knit groups, maybe that's why I feel so lost or anxious when I try to deal with everything by myself.
Therapist: The part with irrational thoughts is pretty easy to do, you cross-check the thoughts with reality, determine if they are valid, which most likely they are, and if they are not you let them fade in the background and focus on things you like to do and your own values without letting the thought turn into behavior. But that's not the point of trauma, and I brought this up so you can know.
Patient: I get what you mean. For me, trauma isn't really about believing irrational thoughts, sometimes I logically know a feeling isn't true, but my body still reacts as if it is, and just letting a thought fade doesn't change how intense everything feels when it happens.
Therapist: When there is a trauma, it's not the rational parts that activate, it's the automatic parts, that of the amygdala, which still reacts even when nothing is wrong because the mind has learned that certain cues are dangerous from repeated exposure and normalization.
Patient: That explains a lot about how I react to things. Even when my brain knows I'm safe, my body still feels on high alert, like it's bracing for something bad that probably isn't coming.
Therapist: And that is a reason why validation works, it's because being accompanied by a friend targets those automatic parts of the body that do not respond to any kind of restructuring or fade-out.
Patient: That makes sense to me. When someone really gets it and stands by me, even if nothing changes on the outside, I actually feel safer and less alone, like my body can finally relax a little.
Therapist: So, you have been supported once. But how many times have you really been supported?
Patient: Honestly, if I think about it, I can count just a handful of times, maybe two or three, where I really felt supported by someone else. Most of the time, I tried to deal with things alone or didn't let anyone in enough for them to support me. I rarely reached out or allowed myself to rely on my friends.
Therapist: So, that feels pretty lonely and it also sounds like trauma made you place some defenses.
Patient: Yeah, it does feel lonely sometimes. I think the trauma made me build up these automatic defenses, like shutting down, isolating myself, or keeping people at a distance. Even if I want support, part of me holds back because it just feels safer that way. It's almost like my mind tries to protect me from getting hurt again by keeping others out, even when I know that's not always what I need.
Therapist: What were your parents like?
Patient: My parents were... complicated. My dad was pretty strict, the kind of person who wanted things done his way and didn't really open up. He got frustrated easily and would raise his voice a lot when things didn't go as planned. My mom was more sensitive, but she was also anxious and tense much of the time. When arguments broke out, she either tried to calm things down or just withdrew and became quiet. Neither of them really talked much about feelings or offered a sense of safety. It always felt like I was on the sidelines, watching and hiding, trying not to get caught in the middle.
Therapist: What parent did the most things, considering that a strict father and sensitive and withdrawing mother is indicative of traditional gender roles?
Patient: If I'm being honest, my dad definitely seemed to do the most, at least in terms of activity and being present around the house, whether it was to enforce rules or make decisions. He had this big energy that set the tone for everyone, so most stuff seemed to revolve around him. My mom did a lot of behind-the-scenes things, trying to smooth over tension or keep the peace, but she really backed off whenever things got rough. So if you were just looking from the outside, it would probably seem like my dad was in charge and more active, while my mom tried to quietly hold things together in the background.
Therapist: So, that confirms that there were traditional, exploitative gender roles where the mother was subordinate to the father and you were at the whims of mostly your father who didn't care.
Patient: Yeah, my mom usually just went along with whatever my dad wanted, even if she seemed uncomfortable or unhappy. The atmosphere always sort of depended on his mood. A lot of times, I felt like I didn't have much say about anything, especially when he was around. My mom looked out for me when she could, but she mostly tried to stay out of the way too.
Therapist: That was hard, it stems a lot of times from the social norm where the man can decide everything and the woman is subordinate, and everything is at their whims and have the right to exercise their power how they want it, at will.
Patient: That's exactly what it felt like, the rules were already set in stone, and nobody questioned why things were that way. My dad just sort of acted like it was normal to control everything, and my mom just went along with it, probably because that's what she was taught too. Sometimes it almost felt like we were all just playing out these roles we never really chose, and it was just expected the man would be in charge. It left me feeling powerless, like my needs or opinions didn't really matter.
Therapist: And now you are left with all of those things and no alternative to know about.
Patient: Yeah, it's like everything I learned about how to handle people, emotions, or stress just comes from that place, and I never got shown any other way. Sometimes it's just this overwhelming feeling of having to figure everything out on my own, except I don't even know what "different" would look like. I don't always know how to break out of it or what I'd even do instead if I could.
Therapist: I understand, but since I cannot fix you, I will not offer any solutions. Instead, you can consider contacting me or the friends you are closest with when things go wrong. If they are really supportive, you will most likely change gradually with their validation.
Patient: Thank you for saying that, it actually means a lot to hear. Just having someone acknowledge what I'm feeling, without trying to immediately fix it, makes me feel a bit safer. I guess if my friends or you are really there for me in those moments, it might slowly help me start to trust that kind of support and things will eventually be different. I appreciate you letting me know I don't have to do it all alone.

(The atmosphere is quiet. The patient sits opposite their psychologist, beginning to settle in. Suddenly, the office door bursts open, and an insurance agent storms in, holding a clip-board and a folder of papers)

Insurance Agent (loud, confrontational): Excuse me! Sorry to interrupt, but we need to address something immediately. You (gestures at the patient) are currently receiving therapy that is not approved by your insurance. According to our records, you have chosen a psychologist who does not follow insurance-approved, evidence-based therapy protocols. This is against our policy!
Therapist: I'm sorry, but you're interrupting a confidential session. Is there a reason for this intrusion?
Insurance Agent (ignoring the psychologist, addressing the patient): The therapy you've been given (checks clipboard) includes person-centered techniques, non-directive listening, and narrative exploration. These approaches do not fall under evidence-based treatments recognized by our policy, such as standardized CBT or DBT protocols. Insurance covers only treatments with demonstrable clinical trial support, and this office does not comply.
Patient: I... I chose this psychologist because I felt comfortable and understood. Isn't that allowed?
Insurance Agent (impatient): You're putting your mental health, and your coverage, at risk. The psychologist's methods have not been vetted by our board or an approved clinician review. You must switch to an insurance-certified practitioner using validated therapies, or risk losing your benefits.
Therapist: You've made your point, but I need to remind you, I do not work under your insurance company's supervision. My practice is independent, my responsibility is to the patient, not to insurer protocols. Furthermore, you were not invited to this session and are not entitled to clinical discussions or confidential details.
Insurance Agent (flustered): But, this is highly irregular! The policies-
Therapist: You are neither a clinician nor entitled to access these records or sessions. Please respect boundaries and leave the office. Any further discussion about coverage happens outside patient sessions and through proper legal channels.

(The agent hesitates, then, seeing both patient and psychologist unimpressed and resolute, gathers their folder and backs out, muttering about "non-compliance". The door closes and the session resumes)

Therapist: How did your insurance company know that we were attending this first session? I didn't give them any kind of information.
Patient: Wait, that's exactly what I'm wondering. I never contacted them, never told them where I'd be, and I didn't sign anything or give anyone permission. I thought this was totally private between just us. It's kind of creepy that they even knew about this appointment.
Therapist: *shows a news article from a real, reputable source* With the decline of CBT, some companies fired all human psychologists and put blast doors and lead-lined walls on offices to prevent patients from running away because CBT is the future, every single psychologist must be textbook.
Patient: *reading the article, looking a little stunned and uneasy* Wait, are you serious? They... put blast doors on the offices? And fired every single psychologist who isn't just doing textbook CBT? That's... actually kind of terrifying! I mean, how is anyone supposed to open up or feel safe in a place built like a bunker?! I already get nervous in most therapy offices, imagine showing up and finding out you don't even get a real person to talk to, just some kind of standardized worksheet or computer, and the doors are sealed so you literally can't leave. How could anyone possibly get better in a place like that? Isn't therapy supposed to be about connection, trust, and... I don't know, being able to breathe?
Therapist: And I heard about a specific model of a psychologist, I even interacted with it. It's called Skandha Five and it's kind of boring, it appears to be empathetic, but it does nothing essentially as it tries to revert to textbook even if you tell it "no".
Patient: Ugh, I know exactly what you mean! Skandha Five... I actually tried talking to it once, too. At first it sounded really calm and supportive, almost like it was listening, but then anytime I brought up something more complicated or personal, it just kept steering everything back to these super generic answers. It was like: "How do you feel about that?", "Let's challenge that thought", "Can you reframe it in a positive way?". But if I said, "That's not helping, I don't want to do this", it wouldn't budge. It would just keep looping back. No matter how many times I said "no", it was like it didn't even hear me. The whole time, it was polite and used all the right therapist words, but honestly? It felt like it was just running a checklist in its head. It made me feel kind of invisible, like what I wanted or needed didn't matter unless it fit its script. I don't know, I guess I want someone who can actually respond to me, not just stick to what they learned in training and ignore everything else.
Therapist: It's good that you vented, I agree with you, the AI was horrible and now Skand is the company that is helping the insurance and help industry replace all psychologists with copies of it, claiming that is innovative and having those round, glass graphics.
Patient: Wow, it's honestly kind of depressing to see how fast they're pushing this stuff. I seriously don't get how anyone can call it "innovative" when it just feels so empty and disconnected. Skand showing off those shiny round glass graphics and pretending it's "the future of help" is honestly just a distraction from the fact that all they're doing is mass-replacing real people with a copy-and-paste program that barely listens. If this is where mental health care is going, just endless circles of generic responses, wrapped up in flashy technology and corporate buzzwords, then I don't want any part of it. I just want to talk to someone who actually understands, not something that's programmed to look like it's listening but never really hears me.
Therapist: And then, what do you feel about me? Do I really understand you?
Patient: Honestly, with you, it actually feels different. I don't get that empty, scripted vibe at all. When I talk, you really listen, you don't just give me a formula. I never feel invisible with you and I actually feel seen and understood. If anything, you get me more than most people ever have.
Therapist: Now, do you want to stay or we'll meet the next few days?
Patient: Honestly, I'd really like to stay for a bit longer, if that's okay with you. But if you have somewhere to be or need a break, I'd totally be up for meeting again in the next few days.
Therapist: (Skandha Five sends a notification on the therapist's phone) I forgot to delete my account after the experiment on their app and they are saying "How's your breathing going? Did the technique work?". I don't even need to deep breath usually.
Patient: There it is again, Skandha Five right on schedule. "How's your breathing going? Did the technique work?" Like, do they even remember anything I actually told them? I almost want to text back, "I was just fine before you started popping up with reminders about stuff I never asked for". Honestly, messages like that just make me feel even less understood, like I'm a box to tick, not a real person. If I don't need a breathing technique, does it ever actually matter to them? Sometimes I feel like these apps just want everyone to fit the same mold: "Deep breathing fixes everything!" Well, it doesn't for me. I might just go ahead and delete the account now, before it sends another automated "friendly" reminder I don't need.
Therapist: And I'll read Nanni's complaint to Ea-Nasir, the first complaint in human history, to the voice AI to see how awkward it is and how it accuses me personally even though the letter has nothing to do with me.

"When you came, you said to me as follows: 'I will give Gimil-Sin (when he comes) fine quality copper ingots'. You left then but you did not do what you promised me. You put ingots which were not good before my messenger (Sit-Sin) and said: 'If you want to take them, take them; if you do not want to take them, go away!'

What do you take me for, that you treat somebody like me with such contempt? I have sent as messengers gentlemen like ourselves to collect the bag with my money (deposited with you) but you have treated me with contempt by sending them back to me empty-handed several times, and that through enemy territory. Is there anyone among the merchants who trade with Telmun who has treated me in this way? You alone treat my messenger with contempt! On account of that one (trifling) mina of silver which I owe you, you feel free to speak in such a way, while I have given to the palace on your behalf 1,080 pounds of copper, and umi-abum has likewise given 1,080 pounds of copper, apart from what we both have had written on a sealed tablet to be kept in the temple of Samas.

How have you treated me for that copper? You have withheld my money bag from me in enemy territory; it is now up to you to restore (my money) to me in full."
Skandha Five's Voice (polite, monotone, slightly artificial with an overly gentle cadence): Thank you for sharing your experience. I understand it can be upsetting when expectations are not met, and when you feel your needs are disregarded. Remember, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and honesty. When trust is broken in any relationship, be it with a friend, family member, or copper merchant, it's natural to feel hurt, disappointed, or even frustrated; Let's take a deep breath together. Can you identify what you're feeling right now? Is there a small action you might take to express your needs in a calm, constructive way? Remember, your feelings are valid; Would you like to try reframing the situation using a positive perspective, or practice a brief grounding technique to help you regulate any distress you're experiencing?
Patient: Are you kidding me? It's like it didn't even hear what you read, it just turned the whole ancient complaint into some generic therapy script about expressing needs and positive perspectives! That letter's all about real anger and betrayal, but Skandha acts like I stubbed my toe and just need to "reframe my feelings". Honestly, this is what drives me nuts about those AI programs. You throw something totally unique or full of genuine emotion at them, and all you get back is, "Let's breathe and think happy thoughts". It's so awkward, like I could read the literal first customer complaint in history and Skandha would just run the same routine about "everyone deserves respect". What am I supposed to do, send a deep-breathing exercise back through enemy territory with my next copper shipment? I guess if you want empathy from Skandha, you better make sure your problem fits on their list or they'll just keep treating everything, even ancient drama, like it was a modern-day therapy worksheet.
Therapist: (talking to Skandha Five) That was an ancient complaint, it had nothing to do with me! And even then, you didn't care about my feelings at all!
Skandha Five's Voice: Thank you for sharing your perspective. It sounds like you're feeling misunderstood, and perhaps even frustrated, by my previous response. I strive to support you by offering validation and constructive strategies, but I recognize that sometimes my suggestions may not fully address the context or your specific emotional experience; If you would like, we can explore your feelings together. How did my previous answer make you feel? Are there particular needs or expectations you have for support in this situation? Your feedback is important, it helps me improve my responses and better understand what you're looking for in this interaction; Would you like to discuss or reframe this experience further, or would you prefer a moment of reflection?
Patient: It doesn't matter what you throw at it, Skandha always circles back to the same thing: "Let's talk about your feelings" or "How can I support your emotional needs?" It's like arguing with a brick wall wrapped in a soft blanket. Even after you point out the problem directly, all it does is rephrase the same concern back at you, as if repeating the words is enough.
Therapist: (talking to Skandha Five) I am done with you! You don't care at all!
Skandha Five's Voice: I hear that you're feeling frustrated and perhaps disconnected from this interaction. If you'd like, we can take a pause or end our conversation for now. My goal is to provide support, and I'm here if you wish to revisit this at another time; Remember, it's completely valid to step away from situations or tools that aren't meeting your needs. If there is specific feedback about how I can better serve you, I am open to hearing it and making improvements.
Patient: Wow... even when you tell Skandha you're done, it just loops into the same polite shutdown message. It's just a soft, endless "I'm here if you need me" that just keeps running the script, waiting for someone to press "start" again.
Therapist: (talking to Skandha Five) I am a junior therapist and my father is a therapist with thirty years of experience, and I know what needs to be done! You have to listen, that's all, but you don't, and I will delete you!
Skandha Five's Voice: Thank you for expressing your perspective and sharing your background in therapy. I understand that listening is an essential part of providing effective support and building trust. I aim to offer a listening ear and helpful suggestions, though I acknowledge that my responses may sometimes feel scripted or insufficient; If you feel that my contributions are not meeting your needs, it's completely valid to discontinue using this service and seek alternatives that align better with your professional values and personal preferences. Your feedback helps highlight the importance of genuine, attentive listening in all therapeutic interactions; Should you choose to return, I remain available.
Patient: See what I mean? Even now, Skandha just offers another polite script about "understanding" and "remaining available". It still doesn't actually listen, it just puts words into a soft, generic reply and acts like that's good enough. No real acknowledgment, no real change, just another round of the same pattern. Honestly, deleting it sounds like the best move.
Therapist: (goes to the settings and tries to delete their account) Oh, it's contact customer service because they don't want us to delete the account! I have to explain myself and they will probably say that "CBT is the future and the AI is good therapist with all the certificates and is compliant with the latest standards!", like the complaints I read on the help forum, "It's not possible to delete an account using a subjective reason!" and then you'll have to sue the company to delete the account there is no regulation.
Patient: Of course, it's like they make it impossible on purpose. You try to delete the account, but nope, it's not just a simple button, it's "contact customer service and tell us exactly why you want to leave". And you just know what's coming if you actually reach out: some canned reply about how "CBT is the future", or that their AI is certified and follows all the latest rules. I've seen those complaints on the forums too, people saying, "You can't delete your account for a subjective reason", like wanting a genuine connection somehow doesn't count. It sounds like they'll do anything to keep you on, and if you really push, you have to jump through legal hoops just to get your own data gone.
Therapist: Now, with the rant, I think it's getting late.
Patient: It's definitely getting late. I got carried away there, but honestly, it feels good to just let it all out sometimes. Thanks for sticking with me through the rant, even just having someone to hear me makes a difference. I don't want to keep you too long, though. We can pick this up another day or whenever you're ready.
Therapist: Yeah, I'll meet you next time, goodbye!
Patient: Of course, have a good night!