CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX – MENTAL GUIDES

Joan settled into her chair, her eyes focused on Emma as the young woman entered the office. It had been several weeks since their first session, and while progress had been slow, Joan could sense a shift in Emma's demeanor today. "Good morning, Emma," Joan said warmly. "How are you feeling today?" Emma managed a small smile as she sat down, a stark contrast to her usual withdrawn expression. "I'm... okay, I think. I actually slept for more than four hours last night." Joan nodded encouragingly. "That's wonderful, Emma. Sleep is crucial for our mental health. Can you tell me more about that? Did you do anything different last night?" Emma twisted her hands in her lap, a habit Joan had come to recognize as a sign of nervousness. "I... I tried that breathing exercise you taught me. The one where you count your breaths. It helped... a little." "I'm glad to hear that," Joan said. "Now, last time we talked about starting to address some of the memories that have been troubling you. Do