Reading: "Sybil of Doom" from RITUALS OF THE ANTITHETICAL (A.Glass 2023)
“I see…” Elkman
replies, contemplating on
the transcript of Essy Zabel and the court appointed psychologist.
“...and you didn’t feel Schizotypal could be an element here?”
He asks.
“I did, but she showed no
hallmarks of paranoia or erratic speech pattern. Rather she was
precise, methodical and balanced in her responses. And while she did
not subscribe to any fixed religious or spiritual template…”
Looking briefly around Elkman’s office at some of the Hindu and
Buddhist ornaments. “...She, with what was disclosed in our
appointments and the transcript I just read, had created or at least
fused Eastern esoteric beliefs, such as magic more specifically a
type of Black
Magic
practice.
“You see Amelia the
objects in this room, I know you are aware. I have traveled to India
and Tibet several times, including China and Japan, but, I would
never see a client in here. For the reasons and depending on that
person’s particular mental syndrome, it would most certainly have
an affect
on the therapy as you would be aware. I had a client several years
ago, female, late thirties, never married, single. Worked in the
finance industry, began to develop a depression with psychosis, she
was bipolar. The Schizotypal developed after she came back from a
trip to India, it further developed, in an unhealthy way, with the
psychosis. She was a drug user, cocaine and amphetamines. The issue
was and remains as a danger to herself, she was suicidal despite the
claim she had magical powers. Was there at any point your client
could have incorporated those obscure spiritual beliefs with the
sessions you had with her? And did you check if drug use could have
impacted her state of mind?”
“My office is very formal
as for the psychologist, I wouldn’t know as I never personally met
her, only as the referral. Our dialogue was over the phone and with
emails. But, I feel that her beliefs were not just conjured up or
influenced through the therapy. Yes, she was a user of alcohol and
psychedelic mushrooms. Both, according to the client were taken only
in a ritualized manner, not together and not regularly. Personally,
I do not feel that drug use has created any psychosis here. I know
what you are implying is that some clients, particularly manipulative
ones can create a role. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes, it is entirely
possible for someone who is feigning elements of delusive
psychological issues, for whatever reasons, more so in a therapy
session as a way of controlling it. And this can occur over a Six
month period, I say this, as you did assess your client with an
Antisocial
Personality
Disorder.
Saunder smiles. “And
that is why I am here speaking to you. I needed to clear up some of
the dilemmas I had with this file. However, I do feel that
spiritual elements were sincere, I mean there are…” She looks
down at the file resting on her knees. “...pages of dialogue, she
seemed very knowledgeable, particularly on why she has these rituals
with alcohol and even sex, which was also brought up. But, yes you
raised a very interesting point, we detected, as I mentioned,
manipulation. I have to read you this, an email that I received
from the psychologist after their last session. It was also their
final brief.
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