Chapter 1054 - 799: First Consultation Ends
Time is running out, at most we can delve into one direction more deeply, and then touch on another direction superficially.
The visitor has entered a state of "having too many things to say" but "not knowing where to start," resulting in "having nothing to say."
As a consultant, you need to help the visitor sort out their thoughts.
Nan Zhubin pondered for a moment and asked Jie Nianzhou, "Is this mentor of yours one of those ’authority figures’ that trigger your thoughts and behaviors?"
Jie Nianzhou replied quickly, "Yes. Whenever I receive a message from her, I read it over several times before replying. After replying, I look back at the chat record and go over it repeatedly."
Nan Zhubin further confirmed, "What are you checking for when you review it repeatedly?"
"Making sure I haven’t offended her, haven’t said anything wrong, haven’t left a bad impression on her..." Jie Nianzhou paused, "and then whether the tasks she’s assigned me have risks, whether they’ll cause incidents like those with my previous mentor."
Nan Zhubin nodded, indicating understanding.
Jie Nianzhou added a note: "I know this is a bit exaggerated, the things I’m worried about are almost impossible to happen... but I just can’t control it."
"You think it’s exaggerated?" Nan Zhubin raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, rationally I know this situation is a low probability, even almost impossible, but I can’t control it. So I feel I’m being overly dramatic."
Nan Zhubin nodded again.
"You talked about ’can’t control,’" Nan Zhubin said, "Have you tried any methods to ’control’ it?"
Jie Nianzhou smiled bitterly, "Ignore it. Or fight against it. Just tell yourself ’don’t think about it,’ and then do something else."
"Does it work?" Nan Zhubin asked.
Jie Nianzhou shook his head with a bitter smile.
Indeed, if it worked, Jie Nianzhou wouldn’t be sitting here as a visitor, facing Nan Zhubin as a consultant.
But this seemingly redundant question still needs to be asked.
This direction has been explored enough for now. Nan Zhubin thought for a moment and chose a direction.
"Regarding your current troubles, these things that bother you, have you communicated with your family about them?"
This is exploring the visitor’s family background.
This time, Jie Nianzhou also answered quickly, "No."
"Why not?"
"I... don’t want to tell them, saying it won’t help."
After saying this, the visitor fell silent.
It sounds like another direction that needs more exploration, but today there’s not enough time.
Nan Zhubin looked at the wall clock, it’s almost been forty minutes.
Actually, Jingwei’s consultation sessions are supposed to last thirty minutes, not the conventional psychological consultation duration of forty minutes.
This was set considering cost and patient flow.
However, today Nan Zhubin doesn’t have any visitor appointments afterward, and Nan himself prefers to make each consultation as complete as possible, so he extended the consultation duration appropriately.
...
The information collection is concluded here.
The closing next is aimed at making the visitor benefit from this consultation as much as possible.
Nan Zhubin focused his gaze on Jie Nianzhou’s face.
"Alright," Nan Zhubin said, "Having listened to your situation briefly, I’d like to make a simple summary with you, is that okay?"
Jie Nianzhou nodded.
Nan Zhubin leaned forward slightly, crossing his hands on his knee.
"You’ve told me a lot today. From your thoughts when climbing the mountain, to recording and reviewing to protect others, then to the incidents between you and your previous mentor—"
He paused, looking directly into Jie Nianzhou’s eyes.
"Each one signifies one thing."
"You are not a cold-hearted person. On the contrary, you are doing everything you can to ensure the people around you aren’t hurt."
[Positive Attention], selectively focusing on the visitor’s positive qualities, helping them recognize their resources and strengths.
Jie Nianzhou’s lips moved slightly, but he didn’t speak.
Nan Zhubin continued:
"I know you may have heard this many times— ’You think too much,’ ’You’re too sensitive,’ ’Stop overthinking.’
"But what I want to tell you is, behind these behaviors, there is a very clear logic: you care deeply about others’ safety. You care enough to sacrifice your own time, energy, sleep, to ensure an unlikely possibility doesn’t occur."
Nan Zhubin tried to lower his voice, making each word seem weighty.
"It’s a part of you, a sign of your sense of responsibility."
"It just has exceeded normal limits and is starting to harm you—your sleep, your studies, your daily life, are all being eroded by it. That’s why you’re seeking assistance."
[Reconstruction], using a new, more positive framework to interpret the same behavior.
This aims to make the visitor realize the problem isn’t that their motivation is bad, but their behavior is exceeding normal limits. This technique can loosen cognitive constraints to build a foundation for further intervention.
"Of course, I also understand that as a doctoral student in psychology, sitting here discussing your issues face to face with me as a consultant is more challenging."
"Facing your psychological issues, hence generating a sense of helplessness, even needing help from others, you might feel more frustrated than other visitors."
Nan Zhubin recalls Jie Nianzhou’s posture when entering the consulting room.