Author Miss Kittys Ball O Yarn
Disclaimer Joss Owns everything. I own nothing... enough said?
Rating Rated R for now, could change.
Notes Everything up until the episode Willow the episode Where willow finds the students killed in the teachers lounge in season one. From that point on Its completely AU.
Summary Tara is a psychologist brought in on a case involving a young woman lost in a near catatonic silence.
Feedback Would be muchly appreciated.
*********************
"Elective Mutism?" I asked, as Dr Marlow handed the file to me. "Thats my specialty you know, It's what I did my dissertation on."
I admired Dr Marlow, she and I had known each other for quite a long time. Fresh out of the University of Sunnydale she was my first mentor, I worked under her for a number of years before moving to find my passion working with children at The Center.
" I know, that's why we called you, Tara."
"Willow Rosenberg." I read the name on the file. It was written in black pen.
"She was brought here ten years ago, at age fifteen."
"Trauma?" I asked.
"Don't know..."
"Has she spoken at all?"
"Not to the staff, no."
"Visitors?"
"Family? No."
"Friends?"
"Two regulars, a Buffy Summers and Alexander Harris."
I wrote the names down on the front of the folder in my hand. It was always useful to speak to the people closest to the patient in cases like this. "Are you sure this doesn't stem from something organic?" I asked. More often then not, cases like this turned out to be more physiological than psychological. If it was physiological there was very little I would be able to do.
"I assume not. We can't find anything to lead us to that conclusion. Blood-work, x-rays, CAT scans...all came out normal, and it is virtually impossible to determine anything through standardized tests, since she wont answer questions or acknowledge our existence at all.
"What do her parents say?"
"From what we can gather, she was a normal teenager one day...and the next..." Dr Marlow's voice trailed off."Do you want to meet her?"
That was a loaded question and Dr Marlow knew it. I was very interest in this case, but I also liked to get my facts together before meeting patients. Also, I hadn't exactly said that I would take the case yet. Dr Marlow was all to aware of my inability to say no, once personally involved. She was smiling knowingly at me as she waited for me to respond. But I wasn't about to get trapped into this without getting all the information first.
"Not just yet. I'd like to talk to Buffy Summers and Alexander Harris first."
"Suit yourself" Dr. Marlow was smiling.
I wasn't used to working with adults exhibiting signs of elective mutism. Most of my work had involved children with the disorder, so I anticipated this would be much different then what I had done in the past. Still, I was up to the task and had the mentality that If i could get children to speak, then I could get Willow to speak. The techniques would be the same.
Both the good Dr. and myself knew I was going to take the case; after all, my mother had always said that I was a born nurturer with a natural ability to get to the core of people. It was in my blood to try and help where ever I thought I could....and my intuition told me I could be of help. My hesitation was a mere formality. I shook the Dr.'s hand and let myself out.
Getting into my worn, white jeep, I already knew where I was going. First stop: Alexander Harris.
TBC
xoxo
Emms
Disclaimer Joss Owns everything. I own nothing... enough said?
Rating Rated R for now, could change.
Notes Everything up until the episode Willow the episode Where willow finds the students killed in the teachers lounge in season one. From that point on Its completely AU.
Summary Tara is a psychologist brought in on a case involving a young woman lost in a near catatonic silence.
Feedback Would be muchly appreciated.
*********************
"Elective Mutism?" I asked, as Dr Marlow handed the file to me. "Thats my specialty you know, It's what I did my dissertation on."
I admired Dr Marlow, she and I had known each other for quite a long time. Fresh out of the University of Sunnydale she was my first mentor, I worked under her for a number of years before moving to find my passion working with children at The Center.
" I know, that's why we called you, Tara."
"Willow Rosenberg." I read the name on the file. It was written in black pen.
"She was brought here ten years ago, at age fifteen."
"Trauma?" I asked.
"Don't know..."
"Has she spoken at all?"
"Not to the staff, no."
"Visitors?"
"Family? No."
"Friends?"
"Two regulars, a Buffy Summers and Alexander Harris."
I wrote the names down on the front of the folder in my hand. It was always useful to speak to the people closest to the patient in cases like this. "Are you sure this doesn't stem from something organic?" I asked. More often then not, cases like this turned out to be more physiological than psychological. If it was physiological there was very little I would be able to do.
"I assume not. We can't find anything to lead us to that conclusion. Blood-work, x-rays, CAT scans...all came out normal, and it is virtually impossible to determine anything through standardized tests, since she wont answer questions or acknowledge our existence at all.
"What do her parents say?"
"From what we can gather, she was a normal teenager one day...and the next..." Dr Marlow's voice trailed off."Do you want to meet her?"
That was a loaded question and Dr Marlow knew it. I was very interest in this case, but I also liked to get my facts together before meeting patients. Also, I hadn't exactly said that I would take the case yet. Dr Marlow was all to aware of my inability to say no, once personally involved. She was smiling knowingly at me as she waited for me to respond. But I wasn't about to get trapped into this without getting all the information first.
"Not just yet. I'd like to talk to Buffy Summers and Alexander Harris first."
"Suit yourself" Dr. Marlow was smiling.
I wasn't used to working with adults exhibiting signs of elective mutism. Most of my work had involved children with the disorder, so I anticipated this would be much different then what I had done in the past. Still, I was up to the task and had the mentality that If i could get children to speak, then I could get Willow to speak. The techniques would be the same.
Both the good Dr. and myself knew I was going to take the case; after all, my mother had always said that I was a born nurturer with a natural ability to get to the core of people. It was in my blood to try and help where ever I thought I could....and my intuition told me I could be of help. My hesitation was a mere formality. I shook the Dr.'s hand and let myself out.
Getting into my worn, white jeep, I already knew where I was going. First stop: Alexander Harris.
TBC
xoxo
Emms
-Cameron
must give me an invite to walk around. 
more. Update soon.
too much tonight and my wee little fingers hurt. I will, however get replies out tomorrow. I love you all and thank you for reading. Without further ado, here's chapter 2
), this is a great start, please continue.
