Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

Chapter 54 Chen Ting's Second Consultation
Lu Jia opened today's schedule to confirm the visitors.

As a receptionist, her job was arguably the most regular and easiest in the entire Yan Nuo Center.

Although she arrived earlier than everyone else, in reality, she was more likely to slack off during her working hours than the counselors.

At least the counselors still need these few hours of high-intensity mental work.

Of course, the salary for such a job is not high.

But Lu Jia didn't care. She was the kind of employee who didn't care about wages.

Her family is richer than the company's boss—Howard.

This is why Yan Nuo, a small to medium-sized studio, can hire a receptionist of Lu Jia's caliber—with such good looks and figure—at such a low salary.

If a person doesn't care about money, they will naturally care about something else.

Yan Nuo Psychological Counseling Center has things that Lu Jia cares about.

Working at the counseling center, on the one hand, satisfies one's voyeuristic desires:
Watching these vibrant, lively, and colorful people reveal their deepest and most intriguing sides, which they usually hide in their workplaces.

For Lu Jia, a girl who lacks social experience due to her privileged family background, this could excite her to the point of trembling.

On the other hand, the sense of accomplishment from psychological counseling is also surprisingly high.

Watching those people, whose faces were originally shrouded in shadow and whose bodies exuded a muddy black aura, step back into the sunlight after a period of purification, their eyes shining again.

For Lu Jia, a girl who lacks social experience due to her privileged family background, this sense of accomplishment is so exciting that she can't help but tremble.

Even if Lu Jia is just a receptionist, how can the receptionist not be an important and indispensable part of the entire consulting work?

In comparison, leisure activities such as buying bags, clothes, jewelry, cars, and ponies are all too low-class.

Of course, not every visitor who receives help can satisfy Lu Jia.

Lu Jia despises some visitors, such as those who have done bad things or wanted to do bad things but couldn't bring themselves to do so, and who come seeking psychological comfort.

Hopefully they won't renew their subscription; one visit is enough.

Lu Jia had no intention of giving them a second smile or pouring them a second cup of tea.

But today, we have a very important visitor.

"Let me see... Chen Ting, it's a consultation at nine in the morning."

She commented, "That's very early."

Once the time was set, Lu Jia solemnly wrote the name on her schedule in exceptionally beautiful handwriting.

Then she took out a small mirror from her bag and started touching up her makeup.

Every swipe of lip gloss applied seems to be imbued with a sense of mission.

Soon, visitors arrived at the counseling center. Lu Jia, whose net worth was far greater than Howard's, flashed an impeccable smile, even though they rarely responded with the same smile for various reasons.

Lu Jia guided the visitors to their seats, served tea, and ensured they could receive the consultation in the most comfortable state.

An hour later, she finally saw the figure she had been waiting for appear at the door.

"Hello."

Welcome to Yannuo Consulting Center!

……

Nan Zhuren observed Chen Ting today, silently comparing her to the one he had seen last time.

She became much "weak".

The last time I saw Chen Ting, she looked like a tiny pangolin that had finally found a way to grow its own protective scales, and she would curl up as soon as I saw her.

Although I was nervous, I had enough confidence to mask my nervousness.

Even though this layer of armor, while protecting her from harm, might also block others' care and help, it creates a safe world for Chen Ting, giving her room to breathe.

But today, Chen Ting felt only fear.

She became a flustered little beast, with only delicate, scaled skin on her body, so that even a gust of cool wind could make her shiver.

Last time, in order to help Chen Ting, Nan Zhuren needed to use appropriate force to penetrate Chen Ting's armor to a certain extent.

This time, however, it wouldn't work. Nan Zhuren was cautious inside, but her words and actions were poised and graceful, as if nothing had changed from before.

Instead of choosing a long sofa, I opted for a single sofa that completely covers my back and sides.

[The moment he sat down, he crossed his legs and hugged himself.]

[Their defensive stance is very strong.]

Nan Zhuren thought for a moment and realized that he needed to give Chen Ting the necessary support and attention first.

"I heard the commotion outside just now. Did you come here by yourself today?"

"Correct."

"I think your mother brought you here last time."

"Correct."

"When you did counseling sessions before, was it always your mother who brought you?"

"……Um."

"Regardless of anything else, the fact that you came for a private consultation today is a very good breakthrough."

Chen Ting was wearing dark brown corduroy trousers and a black down jacket, with the zipper pulled all the way up and the buttons at the end neatly fastened.

She shrugged, a movement that caused her collar to cover her mouth, leaving only most of her nose and eyes exposed.

Her voice became muffled as a result.

“You messaged me yesterday, I saw it, and came over. Mom doesn’t know yet.”

"Do you think it's better if she doesn't know?"

"……Um."

Have you ever done anything like this before that you needed to keep from your mother?

"...Never before."

Chen Ting clutched her down jacket, seemingly a little uneasy.

Nan Zhuren began to steer the conversation: "It's been a long time since our last consultation. Do you remember my final assessment of you?"

"remember."

Chen Ting paused, then recalled in a very calm tone, "You said I experienced a traumatic event, which caused some... impact."

"If we continue to provide consultations afterward, then..."

She was silent for a moment.

Nan Zhuren waited a couple of seconds before continuing, "We need to try to explore traumatic events, and eliminate their impact on us by facing and deconstructing them."

Chen Ting didn't say anything, but tightened her grip on her arms.

This is the beginning of silence.

Moreover, it is "avoidant silence," which is a manifestation of the client's resistance to the content of the consultation.

This also shows that the counselor's topic touched on the key aspects of the counseling process.

If one can effectively manage silence during consultations, breakthroughs can be achieved.

However, if it cannot be done, it will have the opposite effect.

Nan Zhuren was confident.

He pointed to the equipment beside him; he had specially chosen a special consultation room today.

“It’s okay, we can stop talking about this topic for now.”

"Today we're trying a new type of consultation content."

Nan Zhuren smiled and said, "Have you ever heard of 'Sandbox Garden Games'?"

(End of this chapter)