files and just let me know the inconsistencies. There is something big going on in my head, and I really can’t figure it out what it is. I really do need your help.”
David noticed that Burns became distracted as if something was just in reach of his memory but was fading fast.
“What are you thinking?” David asked.
It looked to David as if he was looking for the right words. David noticed Burns was lightly scratching his scar tissue on his scalp. Still, Burns seemed determine to answer David’s question.
“I have this strange feeling that I used to be a part of something important. I think I used to be a soldier. I think I used to help people or at least I protected people from the bad guys. It’s something important, Dr. Caulfield. I just can’t get it on my own.”
Dammit , David thought. His client was genuinely asking for help. Part of David was hoping that Burns would be resistant to treatment. If Burns was not open to treatment, David would be able to convince himself that he had tried and the patient was not interested in his help. But because Burns was open to help and had actually asked for assistance, David’s natural desire to help had been triggered. David knew that when he invested in a patient, he would take treatment as far as possible, no matter where it went. Maybe that’s why Samantha had him sent to me , he thought.
Andersen could plainly see Coleridge was still remembering that fateful day he took Burns on as a patient. Coleridge responded as if he was hearing a disembodied voice of a ghost. While Coleridge was blind, Andersen watched as his witness instinctively blinked and rubbed his eyes as if he was in a trance while he was trying to return to the present. Coleridge was physically trying to shake off his former self.
Recognition seemed evident on Coleridge’s face. His cheekbones and shoulders relaxed. Coleridge shifted his legs to cross the other direction; his hands returned to his lap. Yes, Andersen could see that Coleridge was back with him in the present being interviewed by an investigator at the North Reading Police Department.
“So how did it go?” Andersen repeated as a way of ensuring that Coleridge was firmly back in the present. Andersen knew that the ice pack was warm by now and Coleridge’s bump had to be throbbing less because his statement was moving at a pretty fast clip. Andersen was surprised that Coleridge had drunk the coffee. Most people had one or two sips and were done. Some criminals confessed to their crimes after they were only allowed warm water and cold coffee from the police station to drink just to end the pain. Andersen smiled for a moment. He had told Dempsey that theory in jest, but Dempsey told others as if it were an actual police tactic. Andersen’s train of thought returned as Coleridge started to talk again.
“Burns was quite the specimen, both physically and mentally. It took weeks of first preparing and then actual treatment.”
Coleridge slipped back into professional mode in explaining the treatment approach. Coleridge’s visage remained still and relaxed, but now he leaned forward and folded his hands on the desk.
“The approach for many of my trauma, anxious, and to some degree depressed clients is to use their own body to alter brain chemistry so as to decrease the barriers and unlock the guilt, secrets, and problems. In Burns’s case, he had the will and healthy physical baseline and time to accomplish this. I generated a workout plan to get his heart rate up, blood pumping, and body moving so that I could get his stress down, the good neurotransmitters going, and get his vegetative signs more stable.”
“Vegetative signs more stable?” Andersen asked.
“Yes. In other words, his sleeping and eating patterns were way off, so we needed to get him on a regular eating and sleeping cycle again. This included a decrease in carbohydrates and a significant increase in proteins, fiber, antioxidants, and more ‘brain food’
David noticed that Burns became distracted as if something was just in reach of his memory but was fading fast.
“What are you thinking?” David asked.
It looked to David as if he was looking for the right words. David noticed Burns was lightly scratching his scar tissue on his scalp. Still, Burns seemed determine to answer David’s question.
“I have this strange feeling that I used to be a part of something important. I think I used to be a soldier. I think I used to help people or at least I protected people from the bad guys. It’s something important, Dr. Caulfield. I just can’t get it on my own.”
Dammit , David thought. His client was genuinely asking for help. Part of David was hoping that Burns would be resistant to treatment. If Burns was not open to treatment, David would be able to convince himself that he had tried and the patient was not interested in his help. But because Burns was open to help and had actually asked for assistance, David’s natural desire to help had been triggered. David knew that when he invested in a patient, he would take treatment as far as possible, no matter where it went. Maybe that’s why Samantha had him sent to me , he thought.
Andersen could plainly see Coleridge was still remembering that fateful day he took Burns on as a patient. Coleridge responded as if he was hearing a disembodied voice of a ghost. While Coleridge was blind, Andersen watched as his witness instinctively blinked and rubbed his eyes as if he was in a trance while he was trying to return to the present. Coleridge was physically trying to shake off his former self.
Recognition seemed evident on Coleridge’s face. His cheekbones and shoulders relaxed. Coleridge shifted his legs to cross the other direction; his hands returned to his lap. Yes, Andersen could see that Coleridge was back with him in the present being interviewed by an investigator at the North Reading Police Department.
“So how did it go?” Andersen repeated as a way of ensuring that Coleridge was firmly back in the present. Andersen knew that the ice pack was warm by now and Coleridge’s bump had to be throbbing less because his statement was moving at a pretty fast clip. Andersen was surprised that Coleridge had drunk the coffee. Most people had one or two sips and were done. Some criminals confessed to their crimes after they were only allowed warm water and cold coffee from the police station to drink just to end the pain. Andersen smiled for a moment. He had told Dempsey that theory in jest, but Dempsey told others as if it were an actual police tactic. Andersen’s train of thought returned as Coleridge started to talk again.
“Burns was quite the specimen, both physically and mentally. It took weeks of first preparing and then actual treatment.”
Coleridge slipped back into professional mode in explaining the treatment approach. Coleridge’s visage remained still and relaxed, but now he leaned forward and folded his hands on the desk.
“The approach for many of my trauma, anxious, and to some degree depressed clients is to use their own body to alter brain chemistry so as to decrease the barriers and unlock the guilt, secrets, and problems. In Burns’s case, he had the will and healthy physical baseline and time to accomplish this. I generated a workout plan to get his heart rate up, blood pumping, and body moving so that I could get his stress down, the good neurotransmitters going, and get his vegetative signs more stable.”
“Vegetative signs more stable?” Andersen asked.
“Yes. In other words, his sleeping and eating patterns were way off, so we needed to get him on a regular eating and sleeping cycle again. This included a decrease in carbohydrates and a significant increase in proteins, fiber, antioxidants, and more ‘brain food’
Similar Books
