(no subject)

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance 8/30 near Viea Village

Hi everyone. I know I've introduced myself on here before, but for those of you who don't know me, my name is Fai Lachance. I'm a social worker here in Recolle, and after I finish my masters program I'll be a licensed mental health professional. Which brings me to my point. It's been a bad month, if not for all of us then certainly most of us. I want to again extend an offer to anyone who thinks they might want or benefit from counseling services. While again I should stress I am not yet licensed, I have practice with support groups and group therapy but I would be willing to try one-on-one counseling sessions if you would prefer to do this by yourself. I have the next couple of weeks off of work, so I'm available most of the time if anyone would like to... make an appointment?? (Ha, I feel weird saying that!) And if anyone is interested in another support group session please let me know, we might be able to set something up. Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions, and regardless of what anyone decides, good luck and have a great day ♥ ((ooc: Psst, for any characters that are gossip hounds but may have missed it, this happened last month :3 ))

Comments

[redarm]

youre a social worker?

[Ah fuck. I should not have given you my backstory.]

[flowrite]

For the last few years, yes (◠‿◠✿)

Mostly I work with the foster system and assisting with adoptions, but like I said I'm finishing school to be able to do mental health work too!

[thesettingsun]

I think one-on-one therapy might be a good idea for me.

[flowrite]

We can certainly give it a shot! Hold on--

[private;]

Is there anything in particular you're concerned about, or just the whole... monsters and mayhem thing in general? We don't have to go into any detail now, but so I have an idea of what we'll be working on?

[rygdea]

I suspect many of us will really be needing your services now.

Not sure if that's a "good" or "bad" thing but I'm leaning on good.

[flowrite]

The problem, as usual, is whether people are willing to talk to someone even if they know they might need help. Or whether they'd be willing to talk to me. I suspect my friends might find it a little weird to treat me like a therapist!

private;

[doitrockapella]

Where exactly do you conduct your one-on-one meetings?

private;

[flowrite]

Honestly I was kind of thinking of just inviting people over to my own apartment? I'm still a little banged up from fighting monsters the last few weeks so it would be easier for me, but if people aren't comfortable with that I'd be open to suggestions!

[prometheanflame]

Mohammed Hefaz This couldn't be a more perfect time. I'm sure all of us are really thankful for your offer.

[Mohammed himself, but he's fine. He'll be fine. The most recent vision-memory did not portray Alternate Mohammed in a good light, but that doesn't reflect on himself. As he told others, he and the man in his visions are not the same person.]

Mohammed Hefaz I could come to one of the group sessions.
Mohammed Hefaz The past month has stressed out all of us, and cutting off social contact won't do any good.

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance I think you're definitely right, the fact that so many of us are facing the same problems should be a source of strength for us. It's easier to cope with things when you know you're not alone.
Fiacre Lachance If we get enough interest I'd be happy to host a group session! I'll mark you down as interested :)

[belligerentwarrior]

Olive Freya Yun giving one on one a shot can't hurt
Olive Freya Yun it's freya, not olive. ignore retrospec

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance Noted! And I'm Fai, because 'Fiacre' is way too French for most people (◠‿◠✿)
Fiacre Lachance We can definitely set something up! Any preference for time or place? I'm a little banged up still from the monsters so my apartment would be convenient for me, but I understand if you wouldn't be comfortable visiting a stranger's home!

[vitis]

oh woah, didn't realize you were a social worker.
that's really neat!

[flowrite]

Ha, I guess it just never came up!

[...while Fai was hanging all over you and trying to take you home /COUGH]

Thanks! It's a lot of work but it's really worth it when you know you helped someone (◠‿◠✿)

lol I was actually going to do something a lot like this.

[totallynotanoni]

[Social workers by default have never really scored high with her, a result of one too many bad experiences with the system and a whole lot of red tape bullshit. But she knows she can't be biased; not all social workers are like the ones she dealt with growing up, though there's always that distrust in the back of her head. Besides, he's approaching this from a psychologist's standpoint, not a social workers: this is her area of expertise.]

This is probably a service many users need at the moment
[Her included, but she's definitely not going to admit that.]
I was actually thinking about offering a similar opportunity to any of the RU students caught up in all of this.

great minds think alike! :)

[flowrite]

Ah, you should do it! There are so many Retrospec users that I'm certain the more of us that can help, the better!

I think the main problem is that most people don't want to admit that they might need help, or don't want to talk about this kind of stuff with anyone. I tried a support group session a while back and we didn't get many takers, unfortunately.

private

[livingdeadgirl]

Ami Aihara how do you know if you need counseling?

[it is possible she has only been exposed to the system through whatever mandatory counseling her sister may have been to. it is also possible she has not been exposed to the system at all. in other words, i am still holding out hope that someone will someday app her sister.]

private henceforth;

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance Ah, that's kind of a tricky question!
Fiacre Lachance Sometimes the people who might benefit from it the most don't think they need it at all.
Fiacre Lachance The first questions you might want to ask yourself are if you feel comfortable with what's going on in your life right now, and if you'd like to talk to someone just in general. Do you feel like it would be nice to have someone listen for a while?

[standalonehuman]

Hitori Togusa Hello again. Ah, Officer Togusa. I remember I saw your last post but never followed up on it.
Hitori Togusa I'd been meaning to ask a mental health professional of some kind a question, so I'd love any advice.
Hitori Togusa What do you recommend somebody do, when somebody else is having a panic attack or flashback? If, say, one of us is there when somebody else is having a memory flash, like what Retrospec is giving us? What can we really do to help?

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance Ah, Koutarou's friend, hi!
Fiacre Lachance That's a really good question! The best thing you can do is to stay with them and keep talking to them, and reassure them that they're ok. Stay calm and let them know that they're safe. Repeat their name. Let them know that it will be over soon. Ask if it's ok to touch them, don't try to touch them without asking first. If they're comfortable with it, and especially if you're a close friend, a firm hug can help calm the nervous system (it's been studied! and not just because hugs are nice ♥) Ask if they know where they are, if they want to go somewhere else, if you can drive them home, etc. Ask if you can get them a drink of water, that can also help ground them.

[anguinous]

Lauren Duvere And tell me, once everyone has come to you with their troubles will you be speaking to someone yourself? Will someone counsel the counsellor?

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance You know, you're not the first person to ask that!
Fiacre Lachance But I'll be fine, no need to worry ♥ I'll be talking to lots of people, that should help me out too!

private;

[reticence]

Faolan O'Neill You said that you would be willing to make private appointments, then? Would you also be willing to consult privately on a matter for a friend who might not volunteer for such things themselves?

private henceforth;

[flowrite]

Fiacre Lachance Yep, private appointments are fine!
Fiacre Lachance That... is a tricky situation, but we can at least talk about it? I know there are people who don't want or feel like they need help, but at the same time I don't want to do anything for someone who isn't going to consent to it...

[wordcarvings]

Maybe I'll take you up at some point. But you know you can talk to me at any time in turn.

[flowrite]

Just let me know, you're always welcome over here ♥ Or I can make a house call and see how your cute little cactus is doing in your atelier (◠‿◠✿)

I know. And thank you ♥

[nooooot likely, he's already cried on your shoulder too many times lately!!]