“Have you read all of these books doctor?” the patient asked, teasingly.
I said nothing, simply gesturing to the chair. She winked, flirting with me to throw me off. She wanted to make me feel uncomfortable because she was annoyed that she had been ordered by the court to come to these sessions.
“Everyone one,” I said, exaggerating.
She sat down and I started the metronome on my desk. The arm began to swing back and forth, making a tic-toc sound as it went. The steady beat continued, though both of us put it in the back of our minds.
Tic-toc.
Back and forth.
I noticed her eyes going to the swinging arm, tracking its movements.
Tic-toc.
Back and forth.
“Do you remember what we talked about last time Megan?” I asked sitting down at my desk. To look at me she had to look past the metronome.
Tic-toc.
Back and forth.
“I remember sitting down in this chair and you starting the ticky thing. But that’s about it.”
Tic-toc.
Back and forth.
“I gave you some phrases to repeat to yourself. Do you remember those?”
She nodded, “Yeah. I am calm and peaceful. I’m supposed to repeat that when I get angry. To calm down.”
“Yes, good. And did you use it?”
“Once. A guy cut me off in his car, and I wanted to rearend him.”
“Did it work?”
She nodded, “Yeah, I relaxed.”
“Anytime you repeat that phrase you relax a little more. Repeat that phrase Megan.”
“I am calm and peaceful.”
Tic-toc.
Back and forth.
“I gave you one more phrase to repeat to yourself. Do you remember that one?”
She considered it for a moment. Sitting in the chair and listening to the tic-toc had relaxed her. Gone was her combative attitude, replaced by a more relaxed bearing. She settled back. Repeating her calming mantra twice had further taken her down.
“No.”
“That’s fine. Your phrase is Good Girl Megan Obeys.”
“Good Girl Megan Obeys?” she asked, looking puzzled. However as soon as the phrase left her lips her body relaxed more and her face went blank. She repeated it, “Good Girl Megan Obeys.”
I smiled, “Good Girl Megan Obeys. Stand up and remove your clothes.”
It was time to help my patient learn her place.