Post Therapy Session

Today was my first therapy session with a real professional. She was very good. I could tell that she was experienced in bereavement issues. Joey, one of my book characters has just been weaned off the ventilator. He is in ICU. It is about 17 days after his tragic accident where he was a passenger in a pickup struck by a train. A social worker has been assigned to his case. He has amnesia but he must be told as soon as possible that three of his best friends have died. The social worker doesn't have much time to do it. He will find out from visitors he has, but now they aren't allowing visitors other than his mom, dad and step dad. Mom wants to protect him from reality. She can't face it. She doesn't want to hurt her son. She wants to be in control. The counselor has her work cut out for her in dealing with the family on how to best handle the issue. She has to convince the family to set aside their own needs and desires and to focus on what is best for Joey. They need to transition from denial to reality. Joey will be hurt, he may cry, he will get angry, he may reject everyone. He will need counseling. A conspicuous note has been placed on his hospital chart informing the nurses not to mention anything. She has outlined the plan as how and when they are going to tell him. Unfortunately, a nurse has already documented that he is asking of the whereabouts of Travis, one of the dead victims. The nurse didn't know who Travis was. She thought it would be a good idea for Travis to come and see Joey. She didn't know that Travis was dead. In the book, I have to create a scene narrated by "Phyllis" the social worker where she counsels the family and then tells Joey and then there is the aftermath of receiving the bad news. Can the family remain calm and be the support to Joey that they should?

The way that I approached the interview, was to have the therapist read excerpts from the book hoping she could get some insight into the characters involved. She got it immediately. She started describing the personality of Joey's mom-perfectly. She came up with a plan. She realized that Joey's mom will be a problem. She got sucked into the book so I'll give her more pages to read along with my draft of the dialogue between the therapist, Joey and the family. It will be challenging to write. I like drafting dialogue. It can tell the story more clearly than just writing paragraphs. It can also be a detractor. My book is full of dialogue because it was the best method for me to bring out the emotion in the story.

More later.