Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]

Posted by Lieutenant Todd Nyman (Chief Counselor) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]

Posted by Ensign Saoir (Transporter/Security) in Saoir’s Counseling Session [Tag Nyman]
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[snip]
Saoir, feeling somewhat flustered, paused to gather his thoughts before speaking. “Yes, Lieutenant, there are other feelings, and they’re rather perplexing to me. You see, I’ve never found myself attracted to humans, particularly human females....uh…females of any species. I did experience a brief distraction when Lieutenant Osedi arrived on the ship. Probably because he was nice to me and seemed to respect my job and all I do on the ship, but my thoughts inevitably returned to Captain Henao. It’s not just admiration; it feels like… well, I’m not entirely sure, but I have to admit it’s more than just a professional respect.”

He began to fidget with his uniform excessively, his normally blue skin showing a faint tinge of green. “I’ve attempted to understand these emotions, to push them out of my mind, but it’s proven to be quite a challenge. I take great pride in performing my duties meticulously and maintaining a constant focus on professional thoughts, but this situation has truly confounded me. It’s as if my mind has malfunctioned. I’m hoping you can assist me in resolving it,” he admitted, his gaze fixed on Nyman. “I must request utmost confidentiality in this matter. Nobody can know this.”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

Nyman’s head tilted slightly. When he had first taken Theo’s form, creating the empathetic bond, it was before he was married. Afterwards, the counselor just never got around to learning about romantic attraction, outside of academics. Even though he didn’t understand Saoir’s attraction, however, the need for confidentiality was more than relatable. With a warm smile he reassured him,

“Of course, there is no reason anything you have told me should leave this office.”

He contemplated, as a passing thought: All it would take was one light tap on the shoulder. He could understand exactly what Saoir meant. The Ensign wouldn’t even have to know.

Glancing down, he noticed one of his hands resting on the table between them. He pulled it back, bringing both centered in his lap.

“It seems that it’s been difficult to keep these personal emotions and professional thoughts separate. This conflict is effecting you.”

{bump}

Saoir sighed in relief, grateful for Nyman’s understanding and discretion. He nodded, his eyes still fixed on the counselor, as if searching for answers in his empathetic gaze.

“It’s more than just a conflict, Lieutenant. It’s a constant distraction. I find myself overthinking every interaction with Captain Henao, trying to maintain my professionalism while these feelings linger in the background. I fear it might compromise my performance on the ship,” Saoir admitted, his voice tinged with worry. “I’m not sure how to proceed or how to manage these emotions. Have you encountered similar situations in your work, Lieutenant? How do you advise I handle this?”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

“I understand your concern,” Nyman responded, voice soft and calm with empathy,

“This kind of distraction can be very difficult to deal with. In my experience, however, I’ve learned there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.”

Nyman paused a bit before continuing. He wasn’t going to pretend he had all the answers. Firstly, he didn’t. More importantly, the goal was still to help his clients come to conclusions for themselves. He just had to figure out a way to give a nudge in the right direction.

“You brought up feeling something similar when you first met Lieutenant Osedi. What comes to mind when you look back at that situation now?”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

~bump

Saoir recalled his initial attraction to Lieutenant Osedi. It had been a different situation. “When I first met Lieutenant Osedi, I was taken aback by his respect for me and my role on the ship. He also exuded a great deal of competence and confidence, something I have not been able to do myself. I admired him greatly. At the time, I managed to refocus by reminding myself of my duty and the importance of the mission. But now, with Captain Henao, it’s different. She’s not just a superior officer; she’s the captain of the ship. It’s hard to maintain that same perspective. I worry that if I address this issue, it could affect her view of me as a reliable officer.”
Saoir hesitated, his brow furrowing with concern. He didn’t want to jeopardize his career, but these feelings were becoming increasingly challenging to suppress.

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

Nyman continued to hear the Ensign out. He recognized, generally, what Saoir was doing. Avoidance strategies are often used by ‘perfectionists’, or people who in general are afraid of failure. And focusing on work to avoid confronting your feelings is very common, but not all that helpful when the confrontation happens while at work.

“It seems to me that the main reason you are suppressing these feelings, is because of your concerns about how they will affect your performance as an officer,” he stated.

“In the first situation, it was easy to refocus on your work responsibilities. You work in different departments, for one thing. But because interacting with Captain Henao is part of your duties, the same strategy isn’t working as effectively.”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

~bump

He nodded in agreement and admitted, “You’re absolutely right, Lieutenant Nyman. It’s become more challenging to maintain that professional distance with Captain Henao because our roles require more interaction. It’s not just about admiration; it’s about the complexity of my feelings and how they might affect my performance.”

As he spoke, Saoir found himself reflecting on the situation further. “I don’t want to let my emotions interfere with my duty or my career, but I’m not sure how to strike that balance. Do you have any suggestions on how to manage these feelings in a way that doesn’t jeopardize my professionalism? Can you give me hyposhot or something else that can surpress these emotions all together?”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security

Nyman would laugh at the idea, if he didn’t take his job more seriously.

“A hypospray solution is a possibility, Ensign.” he said, “It is difficult to deal with, to confront, these complex emotions. However, medications like that would also have other effects on your professional performance. I wouldn’t describe it as a balanced solution, but it is still a possibility.”

The counselor leaned back in his chair, hands intertwined. Though Saoir was still insisting on being told a solution, at least now he was coming up with ideas, no matter how ill-advised they may be.

“Have you considered any other solutions that might appeal to you?”

~~~ Lieutenant Nyman, Counselor

~bump

Saoir fidgeted with his fingers as he thought through what the counselor said. “I suppose the hypospray is a quick fix, but you’re right; it might bring more complications. I need a solution that doesn’t compromise my overall well-being.” Saoir continued, “I’ve been thinking of finding a healthy outlet, something that allows me to channel these emotions without letting them interfere with my duties. Maybe taking up a new hobby or dedicating more time to my existing ones could help. I’ve always enjoyed holodeck simulations, particularly historical adventures. Maybe I could immerse myself in those more often. And there’s this intergallatic dating hub I heard about, specifically for individuals…like myself. It might be a way to meet someone outside of the professional environment. What do you think about that, Lieutenant Nyman?”

Saoir, Transporter Op/Security