Clinical

Hello, this is Dr. Jane Mathis.

I am calling in a prescription for Nora Green.

Yes, no "E."

DOB 2/2/1998.

Mm-hmm.

Yes, calling in for Risperdal, 125 milligrams.

Sig one tablet PO BIO.

Distribute 60-plus. One refill.

My phone number's 610-555-7682.

DEA B4758491.

NPI 13663.

Great, thank you so much. Bye-bye.

Hello, it's Dr. Mathis

and I was just calling to see how you're doing on the new medicine.

If you're sleeping okay.

If you still have anxiety.

Yes, but I need you to try harder.

You can't cancel within a 24-hour window.

Mm-hmm.

Hi, Greg.

Does 2:00 p.m. on Friday work for you?

Great. Thank you so much. Bye-bye.

Terry?

Terry?

Dr. Mathis?

Nora.

I did what you told me to do.

Nora...

Nora.

You need to listen to me.

Give me the glass.

Nora, it's okay.

I'm going to call the ambulance, and you're going to give me that glass.

Nora, look at me. Look at me.

You were wrong.

Give me the glass.

You were so wrong.

Let me help you.

Aah!

No.

No, no, no!

Remember when you were a kid and a year felt like a really long time?

Perils of age. Last week I was 20.

So, it's the anniversary.

Two years.

I feel like I have to move on now.

I need to be helping people.

I can't... I've been avoiding this for too long.

What would you like to talk about today?

Well...

feeling slightly disconnected,

insecure,

some mild form of general anxiety,

obsessive-compulsive thoughts...

Jane, you drive 90 minutes every week to see me.

Let's make it worth the trip.

You are the patient now.

I'm sorry, I... I just... I think it's time to move on.

Last time you talked about going to see her.

I'm not ready.

Fine.

Uh...

the painters left yesterday.

Finally.

Now it's kind of back to how my dad had it.

He was always working, but he...

he wasn't at work when I was a kid, you know?

Could always go and visit him.

I am seeing this guy.

Oh!

He's a cop.

- I know what you're thinking. - What am I thinking?

You're thinking I...

You're thinking I'm dating Miles because I have a...

I didn't know he was a cop when I met him, okay?

I just want you to find someone you care about.

He's a really good person.

And, um, it's been a while.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but...

I like him.

Well, that's good!

You see that, right?

You're confronting the trauma, and now you're getting on with it.

You just take care of yourself.

I'm taking it slow.

- Good. - Yes.

That's what all great psychiatrists say.

Finally, you know, I just got up,

I walked into her office,

and I told her... you know, I told her that she was wrong.

You know? It... it offended me as a person.

Feel good?

Actually, yes!

It's like this giant weight's been lifted off my shoulders.

Good. That's the hour.

Mm.

Greg?

Um... you think there's anything you might be able to give me?

You know, I'm still having a lot of anxiety.

Let's try a few more sessions working through it first.

All right?

Dr. Mathis.

Hello?

Hi.

Can I help you?

I...

I thought...

I don't...

I-I don't know how to start this.

Are you looking for a psychiatrist?

Ah, um... I was in a bad accident...

severely injured, and they tell me that you're the best at this kind of thing.

Well, I should tell you, Mr...

Alex.

Alex, I don't do post-trauma anymore.

I haven't for quite some time.

But I can recommend some very qualified...

Please, I don't... I don't know if...

I need to start over fresh.

I need to put this behind me, and if you're the best,

then I... I... I need you.

Ebenezer Scrooge.

Oh, no! What do you want of me?

Much.

You don't believe in me.

Oh.

Hello.

You must be Alex.

Come in.

Sit anywhere you'd like.

Most people choose the couch.

Cliché, I know.

What can I say? I like to give people options.

Uh, it is Alex, right? Unless you prefer...?

Um, yeah, that's fine.

Can you... pull the curtains?

Oh, sure.

Better?

I like your lack of Christmas spirit.

Well, holidays are stressful.

I like to make this place a safe zone

for those who are about to drown their relatives in eggnog.

So... what's the first step?

You tell me.

Why are we sitting here?

Besides the obvious?

Do you want to talk about that?

See, this is why I never do this.

What do you mean?

It annoys me that you people never guide the sessions,

sort of leave us here, like struggling fish in a boat.

Also, my... my last therapist couldn't stop staring.

Well, Alex, that's what therapy is.

We listen...

and then we analyze and treat.

I want someone to tell me how to live with this.

Well, I'm not a life coach.

You open up,

and we talk.

Therapy's a give and take.

You get out of it what you put in.

But shouldn't you ask more questions?

Family history?

Why I dream of being buried alive by my grandfather?

Does that happen?

It was a joke.

Well, we can start off by talking about your childhood.

No.

I want to talk about this.

I don't see myself.

Disassociation.

That's... that's common with people

who've undergone such a extreme procedure.

Women, and...

well, people who've even had a simple nose job

are bothered by their own reflection.

This isn't some housewife desperately trying to hold on to her youth.

I need medication.

I want to take something

so that I can forget about this transplant.

It's been my experience...

that drugs usually make things worse.

I'm not like other psychiatrists.

I won't put you on something I don't think is necessary.

I care about the patient first.

And the other shrinks don't?

- Don't? - You said you're not like the others,

that you care about the patients first.

And the other doctors, what do they care about?

Well, everyone has their own approach.

But I believe that talking and exposing what's bothering you

is the healthiest, and coupled with things like meditation,

leading a balanced life, and...

if I find that there's no other option,

medication.

No drug company kickbacks?

Look, I'm sorry.

I get defensive when I have to talk about me.

It's just so...

- Weird? - Yeah.