Free The People in the Mirror by Thea Thomas

mother?”
      Dr. Carcionne nodded. I could tell she was really listening.
      “I’d suggest to the daughter that she tell the mother in this same direct way what her observations are.”
      “What if the daughter has done that, and the mother gets all mad because the daughter is acting insubordinate. What if the mother really can’t look at her stuff, and, in fact, it gets worse when the daughter tries to say out loud what she feels she’s seeing.”
      “Then I’d say the daughter has been put in a untenable position... the daughter is in a double bind.”
      “Yeah. I don’t know what that is, but it sounds right to me.”
      “It’s when, no matter what you do, you can’t do the “right” thing because the other person has made all the choices be wrong – so one can’t move in any direction. My next suggestion is that perhaps regarding this one subject the daughter let her therapist address it with the mother, and see if some progress can be made. What do you think of that alternative?”
      “Well... if that can be done very carefully, in order not the cause the mother to make the daughter’s life a living hell, like what happened when the therapist told the mother that the daughter accused the mother of projecting.”
      “Ahh. In that case, I can’t blame you for being cautious with me. I wouldn’t want to talk with me anymore, either. I have an idea, let’s write out a plan and an agreement for what our focus will be for the next few sessions. I’ll give this issue surrounding the mother’s projection some thought, if you don’t mind just letting things settle for the moment.”
      “I don’t mind. As long as I feel someone finally understands my dilemma, I can be very patient about how to solve it.”

Chapter IX

      I couldn’t have been more surprised when I walked through the door at home after my appointment with Dr. Carcionne, to hear Mitch in the kitchen talking with Mom.
      “Who’s that?” Dad asked.
      “Mitch,” I answered.
      “Hi, guys,” Mom called. “Come and join us. Mitch helped me carry in the groceries, and I asked him to stay for dinner. Mitch, this is Nikki’s father, Dan.”
      The two of them shook hands and exchanged greetings. I was delighted to see Mitch, but I felt strangely shy and at a loss for words. I didn’t really know Mitch that well, and now here he was, with all of my parents. Like, what could a person say, anyway?
      “How was your session?” Mom asked.
      Well, that was absolutely not what I wanted to have brought up. “Fine Mom.”
      “Really?”
      “Actually, yeah, really. But, you know, I don’t want to talk about it now.”
      “That’s okay. I already told Mitch where you were when he said he hoped he’d see you after school, but it seemed you didn’t come home.”
      What was okay about telling a boy you liked that you were at a shrink session? I wondered, verging on furious. “First you tell him you think I’m talking to myself in the hall, then you tell him I’m in therapy. You’re going to have him scared to even tip-toe past the door for fear of the crazy girl.”
      Mom laughed. “Nonsense. You’re being too sensitive.”
      “Well,” Mitch finally jumped in, “I’m, not afraid of you, and I know you’re not crazy. I think the science of the mind is very important,” he continued. “And to understand one’s mind with the assistance of someone trained in the field is the better part of wisdom.”
      “See?” Mom said. “He’s almost got me convinced to make an appointment for myself. After all, you don’t have to be dysfunctional to go to therapy. You can want to go and work on gaining insight.”
      “That’s nice that I don’t have to be dysfunctional, Mom.”
      “Oh dear,” Mom said, actually sensitive enough to become a bit flustered. “That didn’t come out like I meant it. Get washed up for dinner, it’ll be ready soon. Mitch is so helpful. He set the table and