Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Quentin “Q” Dawson (Chief Weapons Officer) in Lt. Dawson Therapy Session [Tag Lt. Kastarak]
Dawson headed out of the turbo lift and made his way to Kastarak’s office. He hadn’t been there since his arrival on the Chernov for his psych eval. He was glad that his relationship with Kastarak had grown since then, as he hadn’t really started on the right foot with the Vulcan. But since then, they’d sparred, had meals and been on away teams together. He had started to open up to him and was getting Kas to open back up in return.

When he reached the door to the counselor’s office, he paused a moment noticing the fingers on his right hand were jittering. Q swallowed, thinking better get that under control before taking a deep breath and forcing his fingers to remain still. He knew that it was alright to be nervous. Expected even, given the captain’s news about Clarissa. And yet, he still couldn’t fight his upbringing, the strict control he was expected to have over his emotions. They called it control, but it was really suppression. He knew it was unhealthy and that he shouldn’t fight it, but he couldn’t always stop himself.

His fingers still, his body back under control, he rang the door chime. The mind commands the body and it obeys. The mind orders itself and meets resistance. Dawson knew all too well how true that was.

Lt. Q Dawson

Kastarak had just finished a difficult session over distance – it was a crewman on the Chernov who had relationship problems back home, and the three of them met over a type of video call. It was clear the parties suffered from the separation from one another, but, at the same time, they both appeared unwilling to actually try see matters from the point of view of the other.

After finishing up his notes, Kastarak indicated in the schedule that he was now available for drop-in sessions. Moments later, the door chimed, and there was Mr Dawson.

“Hello, Mr Dawson,” Kastarak said, “please, come in.”

He was not sure why Dawson had come – perhaps Dawson wished to small-talk, or perhaps he wished something else. In any case, Kastarak did not wish to presume anything, but invited the guest in.

Kastarak sought to remember the psych eval with Dawson, and what had transpired there. Dawson’s sister had died, and her death had been a defining event for Dawson, and it affected his relationship with his parents. Dawson had been in therapy for over a decade due to this trauma and how it had nested itself into the many parts of his life and functioning. When Dawson came to the ship, he was at more peace than before, but he still had “his days” (as it were), and a sensitivity to emotion, beyond that of the average human. So what did bring Dawson in here today?

Kastarak gestured to the armchairs by the windows, inviting Dawson to sit there.

– Lt jg Kastarak (counsellor / physician)