Multiple Personalities

"An online friend?" Shen Jingqi caught that keyword sharply. "Do you know this friend's ID or any contact information?"

Xu An shook his head. "No, Cong Nanxue never mentioned it. Besides, I had warned her that the online world is complex and changeable, and that one should be cautious with online relationships. Yet she seemed to trust this friend very much."

Shen Jingqi silently noted this clue and decided to conduct an in-depth investigation into Cong Nanxue's online activities afterward. He continued to ask, "Teacher Xu, how long did Cong Nanxue seek counseling with you? Did her condition change in any way?"

"About three to four months, once a week. Initially, she was somewhat guarded, but as the consultation progressed, she gradually opened up. However, just after I brought up those inconsistencies, her condition suddenly worsened, becoming very closed off and resistant," Xu An recalled.

Shen Jingqi frowned. "Three to four months? When was this?"

"It was about two years ago, around the time of the pandemic when all our consultations were conducted online," Xu An added.

Shen Jingqi nodded, getting a clearer understanding of the timeline.

"By the way, Teacher Xu, you mentioned earlier that during the consultation you discovered some inconsistencies and subtle contradictions. What were these contradictions?"

Xu An's gaze became deep, as if lost in memory. "For example, when she talked about a family conflict, she was very emotional, but when we delved into the specifics of the conflict, her emotional reaction seemed somewhat flat. Even at some critical points, there were chronological inconsistencies in her description."

Shen Jingqi frowned. "Chronological inconsistencies? What do you mean by that?"

Xu An explained, "For instance, she would state that something happened at a specific time, but when we tried to construct the timeline based on her description, we found conflicts with other parts of her narrative. It seemed she was intentionally or unintentionally blurring certain time points, making me doubt the truthfulness of what she was saying."

Shen Jingqi fell into deep thought, understanding that such subtle contradictions in psychological counseling often indicate that the client might be hiding or distorting some facts. He looked up at Xu An. "So how did you handle this situation at that time?"

Xu An sighed. "I tried to guide her to clarify these contradictions through open-ended questions, but her responses surprised me. Whenever I touched on key issues, she'd either change the topic or use vague language to gloss over the matter, seemingly unwilling to delve into these questions."

Shen Jingqi frowned. "Did she ever explain why these contradictions existed?"

Xu An shook his head. "No, she never directly explained. Moreover, over time, I noticed changes in her attitude toward the counseling. She became somewhat resistant and no longer willing to share her feelings and experiences as she initially did. I could even feel that she was deliberately catering to my questions at times, rather than sincerely expressing herself."

Shen Jingqi nodded, understanding that such changes often indicate the activation of some sort of defense mechanism deep within the client's mind. He looked at Xu An. "Why do you think she wants to hide or distort these facts?"

After a moment of silence, Xu An slowly spoke. "It's hard to say. Everyone has parts of their past they are unwilling to face or mention. Perhaps the facts she hides are very important to her, possibly involving her self-esteem, sense of security, or some deep-seated fear."

Shen Jingqi nodded, understanding Xu An's point. In psychological counseling, clients often hide or distort facts for a variety of complex reasons. He looked at Xu An. "Do you think the facts she's hiding are related to her counseling goals and troubles?"

Xu An's expression became serious. "Teacher Shen, I can't be sure. But I'm certain that she has some important secrets hidden deep within, which may be linked to her behavior patterns, emotional reactions, and even interpersonal relationships."

Shen Jingqi looked at Xu An. "What do you suggest we do now?"

After some thought, Xu An slowly spoke. "I think we need to understand Cong Nanxue more deeply, including her upbringing, family background, and interpersonal relationships. Only with a comprehensive understanding of her can we uncover her hidden secrets."

Shen Jingqi nodded, knowing Xu An's suggestion was right. But he also knew this process could be very difficult and lengthy. He looked at Xu An. "Do you think Cong Nanxue will continue to cooperate with our psychological counseling?"

Xu An shook his head. "It's hard to say. She might already be on guard against our investigation. If we push her too hard, she might close herself off even more, or even choose to avoid or resist."

Shen Jingqi frowned. "So what should we do? We can't just give up, can we?"

Xu An sighed. "Of course, we can't give up, but we need to change tactics. We need to approach her with a more gentle and inclusive attitude, letting her feel our understanding and support. Only then might she be willing to let down her guard and open up to the counselor."

Shen Jingqi nodded, understanding Xu An's point. Building a trusted relationship is very important in psychological counseling. Only when a client trusts the counselor will they express themselves honestly, leading to self-growth and change. He looked at Xu An. "So how do you think we should change our approach?"

After some thought, Xu An slowly spoke. "I think we can start with her hobbies and interests, finding some common topics to establish a relaxed and pleasant conversational atmosphere. Then, as we gradually delve deeper, we can raise some related questions at appropriate times, but we must pay attention to our tone and method to avoid putting too much pressure on her."

Shen Jingqi stood up, expressing gratitude to Xu An. "Thank you for the information. It really helped me. If I need anything else later, I might come by again."

Xu An nodded with a smile. "No problem, Teacher Shen. If you have any questions or need my help, please feel free to contact me. We're always willing to help Cong Nanxue."

Shen Jingqi walked out of Xu An's room.

Perhaps overly cautious, Shen Jingqi suddenly heard a sigh coming from the crack above the door.

Shen Jingqi looked up but saw nothing there, not a trace.