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Ms. Raven:
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D...Dr. Balis?
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Dr. Balis:
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Eliza...oh!
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Ms. Raven:
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Oh, it's so horrible!
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Dr. Balis:
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Eliza, please...oh...please sit in your chair. We can't have a session with you sitting on my lap the entire time.
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Ms. Raven:
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It's awful!
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Dr. Balis:
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Please try to stop crying, and tell me what it is. Oh, dear...
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Ms. Raven:
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Oh, I'm sorry. I hate when that happens. I guess it's bad if other patients see you with blood all over your clothes. Do you have another shirt?
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Dr. Balis:
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It's okay, here's a tissue. I've got a stain stick.
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Ms. Raven:
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It's not fair!
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Dr. Balis:
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Why don't you try to tell me what's wrong.
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Ms. Raven:
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I'm sorry, Dr. Balis. I've just had this need lately...
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Dr. Balis:
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That's okay, Eliza. Tell me what's going on.
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Ms. Raven:
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It's so horrible.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. Here's some Kleenex. We'll start when you catch your breath.
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Ms. Raven:
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I told Luke about my experience. You know, the one I told you about?
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Dr. Balis:
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The astral plane experience?
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Ms. Raven:
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The same.
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Dr. Balis:
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I gather he didn't take it well?
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Ms. Raven:
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He got so mad. He accused me of cheating, packed up my things, and kicked me out.
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Dr. Balis:
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He kicked you out? Where are you staying?
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Ms. Raven:
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I couldn't stay at Dad's, so I went to Mom's place.
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Dr. Balis:
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So why did you decide to tell Luke about that experience?
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Ms. Raven:
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Well, Thursday night we went out for dinner. He started researching the astral plane and was really making an effort to understand my beliefs. So we were talking about it, and it was really great. And he asked me about some of my experiences. So I told him a few. And then--I couldn't help it, that time was just so amazing for me--it slipped out.
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Dr. Balis:
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And what happened?
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Ms. Raven:
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Nothing really. He was very calm about it. I thought it had been a good thing to tell him, you know? We were getting really close. We went to a movie afterwards. But when we got home, he asked me more probing questions about that time on the astral plane. Questions like: "Do you want to see him again?" and "Do you find him attractive?" Somehow he read into my answers an admission of guilt of sleeping with someone on the astral plane! He said he read about people who have done that before. And he said that that's probably why I have a higher sex drive than him. I'm a nympho. And when I couldn't get what I needed from him, I went and fucked on the astral plane!
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Raven:
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I told him that was absolutely absurd! Then he said that if I thought that I needed to defend myself, then I was guilty. So he packed most of my things up for me and placed them by the door. He said he might call me, but not to count on it. It's not fair!
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry, Eliza.
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Ms. Raven:
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Me too.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why couldn't you stay at your father's?
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Ms. Raven:
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That's all screwed up too. After our session last week, I rushed home, determined to talk to him. I barged right in during the middle of an argument between him and Calypso. He was breaking off their engagement right then and there. He said that we're all crowding him and he needed space, and why can't we all just leave him alone! So Calypso left in tears. And Isaac followed. So now Isaac is staying at Calypso's. They all kind of made up. And Dad is going to go to a therapist to resolve some issues.
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Dr. Balis:
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What kind of issues?
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Ms. Raven:
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His unresolved feelings of unrequited love for my mother.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Raven:
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Yeah, my family knows how to put the "fun" in "dysfunctional."
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm. So, how is staying at your mother's working out?
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Ms. Raven:
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Good, actually. She's given me a lot of time to cry and has called in sick for me at work--I just don't feel ready to go in yet. Anyhow, she and Ben--her husband--have been very kind. I always just thought that Ben was just a conservative Republican type, but he actually has a sense of humor and is very nice. He also makes great Belgian waffles and a mean ice cream sundae.
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Dr. Balis:
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It sounds like you think he's a nice guy.
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Ms. Raven:
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He is. I just can't believe that Luke and I are through.
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Dr. Balis:
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It's normal to be sad at the end of a relationship.
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Ms. Raven:
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I know. But the truth is I don't know if it's over. He said he might call.
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Dr. Balis:
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But he might not.
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Ms. Raven:
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I hope he does. I miss him so entirely. I even miss the pimples on his back.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry, Eliza.
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Ms. Raven:
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I just don't know what to do! I want him back. Should I call him? Should I wait for him to call me? Should I parade past his office with a new guy on my arm every hour? Should I crawl to his front door and scratch at it pathetically, whining? And when he answers it, should I throw my arms around his ankles and hold on for dear life like a Chihuahua?
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Dr. Balis:
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What do you want to do?
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Ms. Raven:
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I want to cry and mope!
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Dr. Balis:
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Expressing your emotions is healthy, but ultimately crying and moping is not a solution.
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Ms. Raven:
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I know. I just...I just want him back so badly.
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Dr. Balis:
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Then you're going to have to do something about it. It probably won't be today or tomorrow. But somewhere down the road, you're going to have to figure out what you need to do to get Luke back--if that's truly what you want. I'd really like to start working on that.
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Ms. Raven:
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Okay. Dr. Balis, I'm really feeling weak and very vulnerable. I wish I knew what's going to happen.
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Dr. Balis:
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It's okay, Eliza. You're allowed to feel that way. And you're probably going to feel that way for a while. I know that you can make it through this. You just need to be strong. But know that it's okay to feel whatever you are going to feel.
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Ms. Raven:
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Can we cut the session here, please? I feel like I need to go home and rest a little, please?
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Dr. Balis:
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Sure. We're almost out of time, anyway. Can I get you in here next week?
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Ms. Raven:
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Oh, yes. I know things are far from resolved.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, how does April the 22nd at noon sound?
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Ms. Raven:
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That's good. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Balis. I really needed you.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm surprised that you didn't call.
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Ms. Raven:
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I didn't want to bother you. And I spent most of the past few days just sobbing. I needed to be held, but Dad was busy being alone. And Luke...well, you know all about that.
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Dr. Balis:
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I hope you feel better, at least a little.
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Ms. Raven:
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Oh, I hope so too. I'll be seeing you.
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Dr. Balis:
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Okay, Eliza. Don't forget, call me if you need me. Anytime.
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Ms. Raven:
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Okay. Fare thee well.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye, Eliza.
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Ms. Raven:
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Oh, Doctor Balis?
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes, Eliza?
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Ms. Raven:
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I almost forgot. There's one small piece of sunshine in my life. My band, The Dozin' Pozers, is playing a gig on the 25th. I got you a ticket and a backstage pass, if you'd like to go.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'll have to see. But I'd like to see you perform.
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Ms. Raven:
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Well, here you go. Call me if you need more tickets.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'll do that.
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Ms. Raven:
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Bye now.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Eliza Raven's Communications
