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

Chapter 79 [Systematic Desensitization Therapy]

This answer was completely unexpected by Nan Zhuren.

It turns out that Xia Tian accompanied Chen Ting to the consultation. What's going on here?
It seems that a lot has indeed happened since that day.

"Hmm... I'm glad to hear that. Classmates and friends are an important social support system in your school life, which will play a significant role in helping you when you leave counseling."

Nan Zhuren gave a fair assessment of his professionalism.

Chen Ting also smiled, indicating that "life is starting to get better."

Without delving deeper into this topic, Nan Zhuren ended the initial pleasantries of the consultation and guided the conversation towards the main subject.

"Today's consultation mainly involves a systematic desensitization therapy."

Nan Zhuren explained.

Systematic desensitization therapy is a treatment technique belonging to the behaviorist school of thought. It is mainly used to help clients combat anxiety or phobia that exceeds normal limits in a specific situation.

"We need to divide this process into four steps."

Nan Zhuren explained, handing Chen Ting a piece of paper: "First, let's take the first step—I need you to write down the events that make you feel anxious and terrified on this paper."

Writing down the chaotic thoughts in one's mind is itself a way of organizing the visitor's thoughts.

This step serves two purposes:

First, the act of "recalling" itself is a kind of scene reenactment. When visitors are able to clearly sort out these terrifying scenes, it shows that they have already developed a certain level of courage.

Secondly, writing down these horrific events on paper and confronting them directly is also a form of confrontation, which has a significant effect on mental resilience.

……

Chen Ting has already defeated Wang An head-on, so she naturally has the ability to write these words.

However, Nan Zhuren still observed that Chen Ting's face scrunched up when she started writing.

She straightened her body, leaning back as far as she could, as if trying to get away from the paper in front of her.

Even if these events only appear in written form, Chen Ting wants to stay as far away from them as possible.

this is normal.

Psychological problems are, after all, dual issues affecting both the body and the mind; they are not like weeds in a field that can be pulled out and gone.

Sometimes they are more like cancer that follows you like a shadow. Even if the tumor is removed today, there will always be something left in the body and mind, lurking there.

Psychologically, you may have let go and overcome it today, but who knows if the same fear will resurface when your life takes a turn for the worse or when you encounter a similar situation in the future.
Physically, long-established physiological responses are even more difficult to overcome, and those conditioned reflexes hidden in the physiology are sometimes beyond the control of thought.

Therefore, even though Wang An's problem has been resolved, Nan Zhuren still needs to continue consulting and intervening with Chen Ting.

He wanted to psychologically mold Chen Ting into someone stronger and less vulnerable; at the same time, he wanted to give her mental weapons so that she could eliminate them on her own even if she encountered similar situations again.

As for the physiological response, today's "systematic desensitization therapy" is used to remove the residual fear memories in the muscles using behaviorist techniques and cover them with new conditioned reflexes.

……

"Teacher Nan, I've finished writing."

A moment later, Chen Ting let out a long sigh and handed over the paper covered with dense writing. Nan Zhuren took it and looked at it; it contained roughly seven points.

Most of them are related to Wang An alone, while a few are scenes of family members talking about Wang An.

Nan Zhuren nodded inwardly. The ideal number of terrifying scenarios that the client needs to confront throughout the 【systematic desensitization therapy】 is six to ten. Nan Zhuren did not set this limit for Chen Ting in advance because he hoped that Chen Ting could let go of the constraints and make free associations, and at the same time, he was also assessing Chen Ting's current psychological state.

She has indeed grown considerably.

“Okay, now we need to assign a rating to these terrorist incidents,” Nan Zhuren continued to guide them.

"Grading?"

“Yes.” Nan Zhuren nodded. “You wrote down a total of seven terrorist incidents. You think the most terrifying one is ‘Level 7’ and the least terrifying one is ‘Level 1’. And so on, you ranked these terrorist incidents by level.”

The "systematic" aspect of "systematic desensitization" refers to a gradual, step-by-step approach, similar to leveling up in a game. After overcoming their weakest fear, the client gains experience, gradually becoming stronger until they can cope with all fears.

Chen Ting continued to frown, deeply contemplating and immersing herself in all the terrifying events, dividing them into seven layers.

Then it was handed back to Nan Zhuren.

Nan Zhuren browsed through it again.

As he looked at the document, he mentally simulated the events and scenes recorded on it, and then obtained relevant details from Chen Ting to make his imagination more complete.

After a long pause, he nodded.

After completing the preparations, he began to formally introduce the following procedures.

"Okay, our [systematic desensitization] today consists of four steps. We are now completing the first step - the preparation step, which is called [establishing a terror level hierarchy]."

"Next, we will begin the desensitization part, which includes the remaining three steps: relaxation, imagery desensitization, and stopping imagery."

Chen Ting nodded seriously, her face tense.

Nan Zhuren smiled, holding a pen and drawing a circle in the air above Chen Ting's body: "First, we'll do some 'relaxation,' which means getting you out of your current state."

Chen Ting smiled, but her expression was somewhat stiff.

Today, Nan Zhuren chose a consultation room with a sofa equipped with headphones and a computer, intended for use in conjunction with music therapy. However, it was mostly used to provide counselors with ample opportunities for lunch breaks.

Nan Zhuren guided Chen Ting to the sofa and instructed her to lie down on her back, choosing the most comfortable position.

"Okay, now you can adjust your hands, feet, and torso to get your muscles in the most relaxed position."

As Nan Zhuren spoke, he dimmed the lights in the room.

The room was well soundproofed, and Nan Zhuren had specifically chosen a time when there were no other visitors to schedule the consultation today, minimizing the possibility of noise.

At this moment, the consultation room was completely unaffected by the outside world; only Nan Zhuren's voice echoed inside.

Nan Zhuren lowered his voice, and his amplified, soothing tone seemed to have a magical power that seeped into Chen Ting's mind.

"Now, I want you to follow my rhythm and start taking deep breaths."

　The first case is about to end.

　　What do you guys think the protagonist's new psychological cheat code should be like?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)