He took a breath, anchoring himself in his chair. He didn't mirror her anxiety; he provided a container for it.
The rain drummed a steady, rhythmic beat against the window of Leo’s small practice. On his desk sat a well-worn copy of It wasn't just a textbook to him; it was a map he consulted when the fog of other people’s pain became too thick to see through.
Instead of explaining the "mechanics of swimming," Leo simply nodded, letting the silence hold her words. He imagined himself standing in that water with her, not pulling her arm, but just holding a lantern so she wasn't alone in the dark.
By the time Sarah left, the rain had turned to a drizzle. She wasn't "cured," but her knuckles were no longer white.
"It feels like everything is moving too fast to catch, doesn't it?" Leo said softly.
Sarah’s shoulders dropped an inch. "I feel like I'm screaming underwater," she whispered. "Everyone tells me to just swim to the surface, but I don't know which way is up."
He took a breath, anchoring himself in his chair. He didn't mirror her anxiety; he provided a container for it.
The rain drummed a steady, rhythmic beat against the window of Leo’s small practice. On his desk sat a well-worn copy of It wasn't just a textbook to him; it was a map he consulted when the fog of other people’s pain became too thick to see through. Being Empathic: a Companion for Counsellors and...
Instead of explaining the "mechanics of swimming," Leo simply nodded, letting the silence hold her words. He imagined himself standing in that water with her, not pulling her arm, but just holding a lantern so she wasn't alone in the dark. He took a breath, anchoring himself in his chair
By the time Sarah left, the rain had turned to a drizzle. She wasn't "cured," but her knuckles were no longer white. On his desk sat a well-worn copy of
"It feels like everything is moving too fast to catch, doesn't it?" Leo said softly.
Sarah’s shoulders dropped an inch. "I feel like I'm screaming underwater," she whispered. "Everyone tells me to just swim to the surface, but I don't know which way is up."