Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Moving into a new office

Posted by Ensign Kastarak (Doctor / Counsellor) in Moving into a new office

Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Moving into a new office
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
OOC: This thread takes place after the T’Aria/Kastarak quarantine story has concluded but before the Chernov’s arrival to Risa

A few days ago, Kastarak received the necessary credentials. He was surprised, he did not expect them to have come so soon. He had received the credentials to perform psychotherapy, or counselling, as well as psychological assessment under supervision (from a remote supervisor at Star Fleet Medical Academy), and been allowed to continue his psychiatry residency that he had been forced to discontinue four years ago when joining Star Fleet Academy.

Back then when he joined Star Fleet Academy, he faced the speciecism from his human and other non-Vulcan leaders (it was mainly the humans…) when he told them he wanted to continue psychiatry residency as a medical doctor. After all, he had already studied it a few years on New Vulcan and had been assigned to a post-traumatic stress disorder unit at a hospital on New Vulcan where Vulcan refugees with severe emotional dysregulation due to PTSD were hospitalized and cared for. But the humans (and one Tellarite, and two Andorians, and one Caitian) stopped him from continuing with psychiatry.

“It’s not appropriate for non-Vulcans to see a Vulcan for their emotional needs. Really, you must understand that.”

“It’s bad enough enduring Vulcan bedside manner when dealing with orthopaedic issues, but when it’s matters of the heart and the soul, that’s just a no. We can’t condone that.”

The quotes went on and on. And while they did not officially ban Kastarak for pursing psychiatry, they made it absolutely clear that their recommendation was in a different direction, and Kastarak understood he had to abide by those recommendations.

Just a few months ago, just a few weeks after his work on the Tasmeen, Kastarak had been able to continue psychiatry – largely thanks to the support of his ER supervisor Dr Valkeapää who, while not understanding psychiatry very well saw Kastarak’s discrimination and pushed for his reinstatement. It worked, and Kastarak could begin some of the standard part-time courses. He passed the necessary exams to begin supervised practice on the Chernov.

Last night, the captain appointed him to the side role as ship counsellor, as the Chernov no longer had Ensign Dran on board. Her office had been totally cleared out – her many chairs were all gone (where, he wondered), and he found some help from Ensign Sutalo – his nurse colleague and somewhat friend – in arranging it.

A few hours of work, and the office was now Kastarak’s and in a different setting. It was much less busy, more minimalist, light and bright, but cozy at the same time, or so Sutalo would say.

“Are you ready to take on patients in this role now?” asked Sutalo, and Kastarak said “yes”.

Now he was ready to help mend not only bodies but minds.

– Ensign Kastarak (Medical officer/Counsellor/Psychiatrist under supervised practice)

Chris pushed to get Kastarak his certifications because the Chernov needed him and seeing that he was in his office he decided to greet him. Ringing the chime to enter Chris gathered himself.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

The door chimed already. It surprised Kastarak, though half a second later he had composed himself, purged the feeling. It was only logical that someone would come, now that he was allowed to do so.

“Enter!” he said, straightened out his uniform, and stood up in attention. Whoever his guest would be, it would be most honourable to show respect.

– Ensign Kastarak (dr/cns)

Chris came walking in with a fika tree. “Just wanted to give you a office warming present.” Sitting it down in the corner and turning back towards Kastarak. “You can move that to where you like. You know..” He shook shook his head. It was painfully obvious that there was something on his mind.

Captain Chris Taggart CO

“Thank you, captain,” said Kastarak. It was an appreciated gift – he was not used to getting gifts and thought he needed to treasure this one to show the captain he was appreciative of the gesture. Moreover, the tree would help the room feel more alive by releasing natural oxygen. Perhaps in time, there would be other plants to join this first one – the captain’s fika.

At the same time, Kastarak noticed that the captain seemed troubled. Kastarak did not want to overstep and say it out loud. He had heard rumours of a Romulan sect where “absolute candour” at every given time was their creed, but he was no such sectarian, though sometimes he wished he were. Sometimes – if not most of the time – absolute candour is the best way. It was a conundrum for Kastarak. Should he tell the captain what he’s noticing and offer time to talk? Or should he respect the dynamics of hierarchy and wait for the captain to initiate conversation?

But then, was not the captain’s body language and split sentences indicative of him already having initiated the topic?

“Would you like to sit down?” asked Kastarak, gesturing to the two armchairs facing each other by the windows. A small coffee table separated them, and there was a glass decanter of water and two empty glasses placed on the table. “I only have water to offer for now, but perhaps we could take a glass of water together.”

In the end, Kastarak felt like he had not fully confronted the captain with what he noticed – he had experienced an emotion of fear, a fear of misinterpreting, a fear of overstepping and a fear of embarrassing himself. Kastarak took note of these emotions of fear – they were important and would help him guide himself to be a better counsellor. Hopefully, he thought, the captain would take on his offer, and begin telling him what was on his mind. If not, Kastarak would have to be a bit more confrontative. He hoped he didnt have to go that far. Then he purged those emotions, returned to a state of full serenity, and awaited the captain’s reply to his offer.

– Ensign Kastarak (Doctor/Counsellor)