The Paranormal Psychiatrist

I arrived at my office at 7.30 just as I had every morning for the last twelve months. The rest of my routine had been set in stone since my college days and developed right through my university years. I would wake at five every morning, workout, shower and head out I’m not much of a morning eater instead I preferred to substitute breakfast for a nice hot Costa, my morning rocket fuel.

The office had Southern facing windows providing me with plenty of natural light during the day, even at this early hour the sun burst forth into the room on opening the blinds giving my modest office a warm welcoming feeling. I headed over to my desk unloaded my laptop and several files before turning on the big fan in the corner, today threatened to be a hot one already.

I finally settled myself down at my desk, briefly taking in the little empire I had built. In the centre of the room I had two very comfy armchairs, one for me the other for the clients and both facing towards the windows a small table separated both chairs with a small potted plant decorating it.

I powered up my laptop and glanced over the days itinerary it read.

09.00-11.00 Mary haunted pool area.

11.30-13.30 Ian and the haunted box

13.30-14.30 Lunch

14.30-16.30 Abbey and Kieth’s attic

As I’m sure that you might by now have figured out, I am not your usual Psychologist. I am fully qualified and licensed by the state however a short while after opening my practise I became frustrated with listening to people’s mundane problems. I had husbands who had cheated on their wives I had one elderly woman who couldn’t stop cleaning such was the calibre of my clients.

Now I don’t mean to sound nasty but very quickly I became frustrated and work began to feel like a chore. When I was doing my undergraduate degree at University, I was lucky enough to study a bit of parapsychology; the study of the paranormal. And so, it came to be that after a glass or several of wine one night I made the drastic decision to turn my practise into one that helps individuals deal with the experiences that they have lived through.

Now, to be clear I don’t claim to be a ghostbuster, nor do I claim to be able to help these individuals rid themselves of any infestation in their homes. No, I simply provide them an outlet, with an opportunity to discuss their situation without fear of ridicule whilst helping them to move past the trauma providing, they are not still living within the haunting.

My interest in all thing’s supernatural began when I was very young, I always loved horror books I practically grew up on the Goosebumps books eventually graduating to more adult authors over time. Horror films were also a big part of my childhood ever since I had convinced my parents to allow me to watch Halloween. Watching Michael Myers rampage through the small town of Haddonfield was all it took to turn me into a fully-fledged member of the horror community, even if they were preceded by many a sleepless night or nightmare infused scares created by my fertile mind.

I was hooked, even those shows that told peoples individual stories kept me enthralled. As you can imagine Halloween was for me, bigger than Christmas I loved the whole thing the dressing up the blood the gore I would plan my whole night weeks in advance and after trick or treating I would gorge on my haul whilst watching yes, you guessed it horror movies.

Now it is important to note that not everyone that I see has been the recipient of a genuine paranormal experience some of the people I have come into my office are well, let’s say caught up in their own reality. For example, I have one chap who is convinced that Count Dracula visits him every night and is grooming him to join his legion of the undead. The irony is that he’s a genuinely nice guy just a little bit detached from reality and that is where I come in, we actually do have great sessions.

Business was a bit slow at first but once word spread, I eventually gained a rather large client list, and I love spending everyday listening to the individual stories even the disturbing ones that spark a nightmare or two. Although if I am honest, I wasn’t looking forward to my 11.30 with Ian, he came into possession of a box that has turned his life literally upside down and after doing a little research on the subject I must admit I have become more than just a little bit concerned by this particular client.

Apparently, the box is either haunted, cursed or both and after a series of incidents both at home and his place of work he started to be visited by some kind of entity that attacks him in his sleep, he even wakes up covered in scratches and bruises. Honestly the whole thing makes me feel very uneasy he offered to bring the box in with him, but I declined... just to be safe.

I pushed myself back in my chair and stretched, I tried to do the same with Ian and his haunted box and push it to the back of my mind. Instead, I focused on Mary and her haunted pool, retrieving her file I re-acquainted myself with the particulars of her case it really promised to be an interesting morning I thought to myself as I sipped on my still hot Americano.

A little before nine there was a gentle tapping on my office door. Rising from my seat and straightening myself out I headed for the door; I always liked to meet the clients direct rather than summoning them into the room, I believe that the personal touches go a long way to building a trusting relationship.

Pulling the door open gently ‘Mary I presume’ I enquired smiling as I did. The middle-aged lady before me simply nodded returning a very apprehensive looking smile in my direction. Something that always surprises me, and I honestly have no idea why, is how regular my clients look. I don’t know how it is I expect them to look; as if having a supernatural experience somehow makes you stand out from everyone else somehow.

I waved her into the office, closing the door behind her. Mary stood before me a woman of about 5. 6" with short light brown hair and blue eyes that looked like they held the weight of the world upon them. She wore a long flowery skirt and a white blouse wrapped up in a flowery cardigan. As I said ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences.

‘Please come in, take a seat. Can I get you anything tea, coffee, cold drink sorry we don’t have nothing stronger’ I joked pulling the faintest of smiles from Marys tightly held lips. ‘No... no thank you I’d just as sooner get started if that’s all the same’ nodding my approval I fired another smile Marys way before motioning towards the comfy armchairs.

Once we were settled, I took out my Dictaphone and glanced over at my first client of the day ‘try and relax Mary in this room there will be no judgement nor any form of ridicule, just a sympathetic and understanding ear’ I told her smiling again as I did. Mary returned my smile with a little more conviction this time. It is a lot to ask someone you just met to trust you implicitly but in time I hoped that Mary would come to see my office is a safe place.

‘So, Mary tell me about your haunted swimming area’...