text; t.maruki

[snaccs]

Hi there.
I'm Dr. Takuto Maruki, and for those of you I haven't met, I'm a licenced counsellor in my home world. That means I help people with their mental burdens and prior trauma by offering advice and a confidential space where they can speak about whatever is bothering them.

I recently registered myself as a counsellor here in Avalon, so if any of you have any problems — whether that's with ongoing events here, your arrival, or even problems from your home world — you can drop by and chat to me. I'll do my best to help, or at least provide a space for you to vent.

I'm located on the outskirts of town and my office will be open every day. You can come as often or as rarely as you need! It's all up to you.

Well. Thank you for reading, and I hope this can be helpful to you all.

( ooc; the linked post can also be used if you want to thread out any sessions with him. feel free to just drop in there, or his IC inbox, if your character doesn't want to approach him on the network. note that any therapy threads may be replied to slowly, simply because they're quite mentally demanding, so if you want to handwave or work things out in advance, PM me or send me a message at exits#8071 at Discord. )

Comments

text; un: stargazer

[leicesters]

A little tip to everyone: make sure you have deep pockets, so you can filch all of his free snacks while his back's turned.

[snaccs]

Oh! I totally forgot to mention the snacks.
What do you think I should stock, Claude?

text | un: Rocketman

[vrepit_no]

Really! Have you decided on rates? How long is a session, usually?

yes i literally googled all of this sob

[snaccs]

Sessions are typically an hour, and I'll be charging 8000G per session.

( sounds pretty pricey, but he's done the maths. )

Text, un: fashiondiva

[corpsewarblade]

[Guess who thought over this text for a good few hours before sending it.]

You're a counsellor? I...didn't think there were people who did that sort of thing here.

Um- You said it's confidential right? How do sessions normally work?

[snaccs]

It seems like this place brings in all sorts of people. Including me.

( he's trying to lighten the mood here... )

Well, you would drop by, speak about whatever's on your mind. I offer advice and suggestions which you can put into practice outside of our sessions. Sessions are tailored to the patient's needs and preferences, so it's difficult to give an exact process.

If you're interested, I'm happy to offer a free taster session so you can have an idea of what to expect.

Text; un: crimsonflame

[crimsongirl]

How well prepared are you for this? Some people tend to have more problems revolving around fighting and killing.

[snaccs]

I'll admit, I have more experience with mundane problems, but the theory behind therapy and treatment is widely applicable.

I may just need a primer to fully understand any problems from your home world.

text; un: kingjj

[kingfuckboy]

wow this is pretty cool of u
especially for ppl who are new here

we definitely could have used u where i was before here
it wasnt home btw

things can get pretty crazy!!!

so im going to ask you whats the weirdest thing thats happened to u here yet?

[snaccs]

Well, it seems like a good use of my time.

And, huh, me? ... I guess the vernal soul pools were rather strange. They allowed us to become part of other people's memories. So, for example, several people here became students at the high school where I worked and saw the things I did in my time there.

Text; un: Shoto

[itsmypower]

[He'll have to think it over, first. For a while.]

You're offering this for nothing?

[snaccs]

Well, it would cost some money so I can afford rent and snacks, but I'm always happy to work out lower rates for people who are having financial problems. You can also drop in for a free taster session to see how things work.

Text; un: Koromaru

[whatsamada]

[Hmm...]

Are you sure this is a good idea?

[snaccs]

If I have the skills to help people, I'd like to do that. This place can be very stressful, after all.

text; un: birdofprey

[notquitetamed]

What's the point? Not like talking about shit makes it go away.

[Not like he'd want to do anything like talk about his "feelings" Been there and done that and he learned real fast the majority are out of their league in trying to deal with him because he was a screwed up kid who turned into a more screwed up adult and then a seriously screwed up non-human.]

[snaccs]

That's true, but it can help you feel better. Also, I can provide another point of view and coping strategies which may help to ease whatever burden you might have.

text; un: beaumains

[beaumains]

Considering all that's happened lately, services like yours would be very valuable, sir.

[ god did she need them. the problem, of course, is whether or not she was in a place to admit that. ]

[snaccs]

So I see. I hope this helps the people here. Nobody should have to deal with pain.

text - un:IZZYGRRRL83 CW: Non-PC dismissal of mental health.

[notwearingthekeds]

Isn't therapy just for crazy people?

[snaccs]

( not even close to the first time he's heard that particular sentiment, sigh. )

Not at all. It's for anyone who has problems or burdens they want to deal with. That can be as simple as dealing with a crush or as complicated as legal matters. Counselling is a tool for anyone. Think of it as having your own personal advice columnist.

text; un: ensignledo

[ferrytale]

How are you able to do this on your own? How do you know that what you tell people is correct and also not carrying some sort of bias without proper oversight?

[ because all the human counsellors in the galactic alliance ultimately receive their guidance from the artificial intelligence that makes decisions about everything else. so naturally he has questions about a human out here acting in that role all by his lonesome and stuff... ]

[snaccs]

( oh. dang. coming right at him with the hard questions. well, there's not much point lying about it; )

That's true. It can be difficult to fully separate our own opinions at all times. That's part of what our education in psychology trains us to do. We learn the science behind how the mind works in order to help guide others to their best choices.

text | un: Helios

[fruitknife]

Shit, an actual therapist and not just 'the most well-adjusted person around talking through everyone else's shit when she has time.' [Granted, Claudia never seemed to mind talking through Liminal Space's bullshit, but still.]

What makes you think it's worth your price?

[snaccs]

( that... would explain a lot about the people here, really. )

Well, my prices are based on what I need for rent and other costs. If you'd like to judge the quality of my work for yourself, I'm offering free taster sessions for new patients.

text, un: filament

[omnicrafter]

Oh, I tried one of those before! In the last world I was in. It didn't amount to much, unfortunately.

I have a friend I'd love to send, but... how can I be sure it's worth it? Though, thinking about it, he'll probably try to send me, too...

[snaccs]

I'm sorry to hear that. It can be tough when a relationship with a counsellor doesn't work out. If you ever wish to try again, my office is always open.

The best way to find out if it's worth it would be to come and try out a session. I'm happy to offer one for free if that would help you make a decision.

text; un: boomerang-guy

[bendless]

You know what, some counselling might be what I need. How... are you with losing loved ones? By that I mean someone I really loved left this place and I'm struggling a bit to handle it.

[snaccs]

I have my fair share of experience with the loss of loved ones. It's a relatively common topic among people.

Text | un: scientistatwork

[doctorintern]

Suppose you know someone who could benefit from counseling, but they might be a bit apprehensive to reach out for help? What would be the best way to help them?

[ Asking for a friend. ]

[snaccs]

Well, it can be difficult to help someone who isn't ready.

( pot, kettle, Maruki. )

In a situation like that, I would advise supporting them. You could mention the option of counselling but I wouldn't be insistent. People who turn up to sessions because they feel pressured aren't always open to doing the work needed to change.

Text UN: SpaceHobo

[tookashirototheknee]

Yeah, I could probably use some therapy.

[Matt has typed and erased about seventeen versions of this one statement. He's never been any good at asking for help.]

[snaccs]

No problem. What time would work for you?