Tessa's Escape to Athena's Ground(14)

                “Okay, but I’m not completely clear about the field therapy part.”

                Carmen explained after their office sessions Tessa would be sent on a trip. To Tessa’s friends, family and co-workers, it would look exactly like a vacation at some fabulous resort, and in some ways, that is what it would be. However, during this ‘vacation’ Tessa would have sessions with several different field therapists. Those sessions would target specific sexual issues and, if successful, Tessa would leave with positive sexual experiences and, more important, more freedom from her painful past.

                Tessa thought it all still sounded scary, but the last part was the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If she could be free of her past trauma and hang-ups, she could be free to find love again, with someone who honored her in a way that even Mark had not. With David, perhaps, or if not him, someone else. And even if she never found love, she would at least be at peace.

                But Carmen brought up an interesting question.

                “You said therapists, plural. Why more than one?” Tessa asked.

                “At this stage clients are still discovering themselves, and therefore still quite vulnerable. We learned that it is too easy for a client to become emotionally attached to the field therapist, so we limit exposure to one set of sessions.”

                “Set of sessions?”

                Carmen smiled again. “Think of a set of sessions as a prolonged date. Maybe you meet for breakfast, then again for an afternoon at the beach, then again for a late evening dinner. Like that.”

                When put that way, it didn’t sound so intimidating. “If I choose to have sexual activity with field therapists, how can I be assured there is no danger of sexually transmitted disease?”

                “Immediately prior to your field therapy, all parties will be tested. This will include you. Although you didn’t mention it, we will also ensure you are protected against pregnancy. You signed a medical records release, but I won’t have them for a few days.”

                “I don’t currently take the pill,” Tessa offered. “It seems pointless.”

                Carmen nodded. “We’ll address a mode of birth control for you during our clinical sessions in the office. Additionally, our field therapists are prepared to use condoms unless exempted by you and by the field therapy plan.”

                The whole thing was cosmic stupidity. Possibly immoral. Legally tenuous.



                             “When do we start?” Tessa said. And her voice was clear and strong.





-7-





                SEPTEMBER





                Happy Labor Day, Tessa! I still can’t believe the summer is gone and we never got together. Can I say again how sorry I am I had to cancel hotdogs and Gatorade? May I repeat that it was my miserly boss who decided a trip wasn’t necessary? Arggg…who would have thought two such lowly foods (do either actually qualify as food?) could be so warmly anticipated.

                Speaking of the Miser, my boss has given me a new department to manage, hence the sudden cancellation of my NY trip. The bad news is the new department doesn’t have a major division in NY for me to check up on, so I won’t have as many opportunities to look you up. : - ( The good news is I’ll be doing more international travel. Just think; instead of hotdogs and Gatorade on the streets of New York, maybe we’ll meet over pizza and Chianti at Trevi Fountain. You bring the Chianti, I’ll get the pizza. (I can dream, can’t I?)

                I hope summer has been kind to you. Thanks for understanding about the cancellation and for even sending me a link to that baseball article. Still, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that it is football—not baseball, that really matters. Go SC! ; - )