A Court of Therapy and Healing
In my recent therapy session, my therapist and I discussed having read Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series and how rough a read it was for trauma therapists (and counseling grad students) because it’s difficult to turn off therapy brain and not just focus on all the trauma the characters are suffering. This conversation gave me the creative spark to return to my fiction writing roots after so much academic writing and write my first fan fiction in which Feyre, Rhys, Tamlin, and the rest of the crew attend therapy.
One of the classes I’m currently in in my counseling program is professional ethics, so I took a little extra creative liberty and had some fun imagining a group practice struggling to build best practices and guidelines for mental health care for magical beings who have super-powered hearing, can read minds, and see the future.
Story 1 - A Court of Therapy and Healing
The waiting room of Dr. Luna Moonweaver's practice was surprisingly mundane for a Fae healing center. Feyre shifted uncomfortably in her ergonomic chair, eyeing the selection of well-worn magazines with titles like "Modern Immortal" and "High Fae Living." A pamphlet titled "So You've Been Through Multiple Near-Death Experiences: A Guide to Processing Immortality" sat untouched on the coffee table, alongside others addressing specific needs: "Wings and Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Aerial Trauma" and "Breaking the Curse Cycle: Recovery for Magical Transformation Survivors."
The receptionist, a mild-mannered sprite, hadn't even blinked when Feyre listed "High Lady of the Night Court" under occupation. She'd simply handed over a stack of paperwork that included a surprisingly comprehensive section for "Magical Trauma and Associated Power Manifestations" and "Interspecies Transition Support Needs."
"Previous therapeutic interventions?" Feyre muttered, scanning the form. "Does breaking a centuries-old curse through interpretive dance count?" She checked 'Other' and moved on to "Current Coping Mechanisms," hesitating over checkboxes for "Recreational winnowing," "Stress painting," and "Excessive shopping with emotions-sensing friends."
The waiting room itself seemed designed to accommodate the diverse needs of its magical clientele. The chairs adjusted automatically to support wings, tails, or other appendages. A small fountain in the corner played a melody that somehow managed to be soothing in all known and unknown languages simultaneously. A sign on the wall read "This is a safe space for all courts. Please check your seasonal magic at the door."
The door opened, revealing a silver-haired Fae woman with kind eyes and practical robes. "Lady Archeron? I'm Dr. Moonweaver. Please come in."
The office was a calming space with windows overlooking a perpetual twilight garden. No darkness to be winnowed from here, Feyre noted with relief. The walls shifted colors subtly, adapting to the emotional atmosphere of the room – currently a gentle blend of nervous lavender and cautiously optimistic blue.
"So," Dr. Moonweaver began, consulting her notes, "I see you've experienced quite a journey. Transformed from human to High Fae, underwent three trials of deadly challenges, died, were resurrected, experienced a traumatic romantic relationship, participated in a war, and developed multiple magical abilities. That's quite a lot to process."
Feyre picked at a loose thread on the couch. "I mean, when you list it all out like that..."
"Let's start with something simple. How do you feel about painting these days?"
Feyre stiffened. "I... haven't touched a brush since the whole 'painting prophecies about the doom of all Prythian' incident. The colors... they don't feel safe anymore."
Dr. Moonweaver nodded sagely. "A common response. Many of my clients find their relationships with previous hobbies complicated by trauma. Last week, I had a former Spring Court sentinel who can't look at flowers without having flashbacks to Amarantha's reign." She paused. "Have you considered art therapy? Perhaps starting with finger painting? Less prophecy potential there."
"Rhys suggested that," Feyre admitted. "But then he tried to be supportive by buying every art supply in Velaris. I now own three warehouses of paint. The merchants keep sending thank-you baskets."
"Ah yes, let's discuss your mate bond. It's wonderful to have such support, but it's also important to maintain healthy boundaries. For instance, just because you can communicate mentally doesn't mean you need to share every thought."
Feyre slumped further into the couch. "Last week I had to explain to him that watching me sleep through the mating bond isn't romantic, it's creepy. Then Cassian overheard and now the whole Inner Circle has opinions about 'healthy mate dynamics.'"
"And how did that make you feel?"
"Like maybe being turned into a High Fae wasn't the most dramatic transformation in my life." Feyre smiled wryly. "Sometimes I miss just being hungry and angry in the woods. At least poverty and starvation didn't come with complicated magical trauma."
"That's very normal," Dr. Moonweaver assured her. "Many of my clients struggle with the transition from mortal trauma to immortal trauma. Have you tried mindfulness exercises? I find they help ground us in the present moment, regardless of which realm we're currently occupying."
She pulled out a crystal that hummed softly. "This is enchanted to guide you through breathing exercises without accidentally accessing any death magic. We've found it particularly helpful for clients with newly acquired powers."
As if on cue, a distant roar echoed from beyond the windows. Dr. Moonweaver sighed. "Please ignore that. The Illyrian Warriors Anonymous group meets next door on Wednesdays. They're working through their feelings about wing maintenance and toxic masculinity in warrior culture."
Feyre nodded sympathetically. "Cassian's been attending. He says it's helping with his competitive flying issues. Though last week's session on 'Siphons and Self-Worth' got a bit heated. Apparently, someone suggested that bigger wasn't always better."
"Now," Dr. Moonweaver continued, "I'd like to discuss your support system. Having a found family is wonderful, but it's important to maintain boundaries even with mind-reading, shape-shifting, shadow-singing loved ones. Perhaps we could work on some assertiveness exercises?"
"You mean like telling Mor she doesn't need to take me shopping every time I have a bad day? Or asking Amren to stop suggesting ancient blood rituals as solutions to minor inconveniences?"
"Exactly. Remember, retail therapy is not a substitute for actual therapy, and blood magic is rarely an appropriate coping mechanism." Dr. Moonweaver made a note. "For next week, I'd like you to practice setting one boundary per day. And maybe try that finger painting. Baby steps."
She handed Feyre a small box. "These paints are specially formulated to be prophecy-proof. We can start with simple exercises – perhaps painting your feelings about being the most powerful High Lady in history without accidentally predicting the end of the world."
Feyre left the session feeling oddly lighter, even as she dodged a group of Illyrians aggressively hugging it out in the hallway. In the waiting room, a nervous-looking Summer Court noble was filling out forms, the section "Water Magic Accidents and You" prominently displayed.
Maybe there was something to this therapy thing after all. Though she did wish Dr. Moonweaver hadn't assigned homework. But at least it wasn't another trial of deadly challenges. Progress was progress, even if it came with a side of magical mood-reading crystals and prophecy-proof paint.
As she left, she grabbed a pamphlet titled "So You've Merged With All Seven High Lords' Powers: A Guide to Magical Identity Integration." It couldn't hurt to be prepared for next week's session.
Story 2 - A Court of Professional Ethics
Dr. Luna Moonweaver's office was quiet in the early morning hours before her first session, the therapeutic wards humming softly as she reviewed her increasingly complex case files. The morning light filtered through windows enchanted to accommodate various species' light sensitivities, while her enchanted scheduling book attempted to resolve multiple ethical dilemmas simultaneously:
Current Ethical Considerations:
Multiple members of the Night Court's Inner Circle in treatment
Complex power dynamics between High Lords and their courts
Cross-court confidentiality concerns
Mate bond privacy complications
Prophetic ability interference with traditional therapeutic boundaries
Her professional ethics journal lay open, its pages filled with careful notes on maintaining therapeutic boundaries in a world where magic constantly challenged traditional frameworks:
Morning Schedule Review: 9:00 - High Lady of Night Court (Individual) 10:00 - High Lord of Night Court (Individual) 11:00 - Both for couples' session *Ethical Note: Maintaining individual confidentiality while supporting partnership *Power Management: Room wards adjusted for dual High Lord/Lady energy
Afternoon Complications: 2:00 - Spring Court rehabilitation program 3:00 - Night Court shadow-singer *Conflict: Both courts' members requiring strict confidentiality *Solution: Temporal displacement spells between sessions
Dr. Moonweaver sighed, adding another note to her ever-growing list of professional development needs:
Workshop: "Maintaining Therapeutic Boundaries When Clients Can Read Minds"
Seminar: "Ethics of Cross-Court Confidentiality"
Training: "Adapting Evidence-Based Practice for Immortal Beings"
Certification: "Trauma-Informed Care for Magical Transformations"
The intake bell chimed, indicating a potential new client. The enchanted intake forms began rearranging themselves, adding sections for:
Species-Specific Accommodations
Power Level Assessment
Court Affiliation Conflicts
Magical Ability Impact on Treatment
Her colleague, Dr. Thornheart, poked his head in. "Emergency consultation? The High Lord of Spring Court's therapy garden is refusing to grow until we address some transference issues."
"Add it to the ethics committee agenda," Dr. Moonweaver replied, consulting her professional boundaries crystal. "Right after we discuss the appropriate response to receiving prophetic warnings about clients' future challenges."
The crystal pulsed uncertainly. Even magical objects struggled with supernatural healthcare ethics.
A note materialized on her desk: "Urgent: Night Court shadows reporting therapeutic insights to spymaster. Request immediate protocol review."
"Perhaps we need to expand our confidentiality wards," Dr. Thornheart suggested. "Though the last time we tried, we accidentally created a temporal pocket where all emotions were expressed simultaneously."
"That's nothing," Dr. Moonweaver said, pulling out the week's incident reports. "Yesterday, the mate bond support group accidentally synchronized all their bonds. We had emotional feedback loops across three courts."
The ethics committee's enchanted suggestion box was overflowing with increasingly complex scenarios:
"How to maintain session privacy when clients can winnow through walls?"
"Appropriate boundaries for therapists with prophetic abilities?"
"Managing transference with immortal clients who remember your past lives?"
"Cultural competency requirements for cross-species counseling?"
Dr. Moonweaver's scheduling book suddenly began rearranging itself, attempting to prevent temporal paradoxes created by clients processing trauma across multiple centuries simultaneously.
"We need to update our informed consent forms again," she noted, watching as the current version tried to account for:
Accidental power activation during emotional processing
Mate bond privacy in group settings
Prophetic disclosure guidelines
Shadow-singing confidentiality breaches
Time-displacement therapy side effects
A therapy crystal shattered in the next room, overwhelmed by attempting to contain too many conflicting emotional energies. The maintenance request form filled itself out, adding "Ethics-compliant crystal reinforcement needed" to the growing list of facility adaptations.
"The High Lords' Council is requesting our treatment outcomes data," Dr. Thornheart mentioned, holding up a scroll that sparkled with official seals.
"Remind them about client confidentiality," Dr. Moonweaver replied. "And maybe mention how their last 'request' caused all our progress notes to temporarily achieve sentience."
The ethics board meeting minutes from the previous week materialized, highlighting ongoing debates:
"Standard of care for clients who can alter reality"
"Professional boundaries with clients who share prophetic visions"
"Documentation requirements for treatment across multiple timelines"
"Appropriate use of magical interventions in evidence-based practice"
A support group facilitator appeared in the doorway, looking frazzled. "The Illyrian Warriors Anonymous group is asking if wing-to-wing contact violates our touch protocol."
"Consult the updated guidelines," Dr. Moonweaver suggested. "Under 'Species-Specific Expressions of Support.' Right after the section on 'Appropriate Use of Shadow-Singing in Group Process.'"
The professional development calendar on her wall kept updating itself, adding new workshops:
"Power Dynamics in Cross-Court Care"
"Maintaining Boundaries When Clients Can See the Future"
"Ethics of Time-Displaced Trauma Processing"
"Cultural Competency: Beyond the High Fae Perspective"
Her own session notes struggled to capture the complexity of supernatural therapeutic care: Clinical Considerations:
Client expresses trauma through uncontrolled weather manipulation
Mate bond activating during individual sessions
Prophetic abilities revealing treatment outcomes prematurely
Shadow-singing interfering with emotional processing
Multiple timelines of trauma emerging simultaneously
The ethics hotline crystal pulsed again: "Urgent consultation needed: Client's emotional breakthrough causing spontaneous reality alterations. Please advise."
Dr. Moonweaver reached for her copy of "Professional Ethics in Supernatural Healthcare: A Living Guide" (quite literally living - it updated itself based on emerging ethical dilemmas). The book flipped open to a new chapter forming: "Maintaining Professional Boundaries When Reality Is Negotiable."
A memo from the supernatural healthcare licensing board appeared: "Reminder: Annual ethics training must now include modules on:
Cross-species cultural competency
Power-informed practice
Temporal displacement protocols
Reality alteration documentation
Prophetic ability integration"
The therapy room wards hummed louder, adjusting to contain the day's upcoming ethical challenges. Dr. Moonweaver made a final note in her professional journal: "Perhaps it's time to consider expanding our ethics committee to include experts in magical theory, temporal mechanics, and interspecies communication. Also, need more ethics-compliant therapy crystals. The current ones keep achieving consciousness during particularly complex sessions."
The morning sun shifted, indicating it was almost time for her first client. Dr. Moonweaver straightened her professional boundaries shield and reviewed her ethical decision-making framework one last time. Another day of navigating supernatural healthcare ethics was about to begin.
Just another day in magical mental healthcare, where the only constant was change - often literally, thanks to clients with reality-altering abilities.
The sign on her door updated itself: "Dr. Luna Moonweaver, Licensed Supernatural Healthcare Provider. Ethics and Boundaries Maintained Across All Known and Unknown Dimensions."
Story 3 - A Court of Family Systems Therapy
Dr. Moonweaver's largest therapy room had been specially prepared for today's session, its design thoughtfully crafted through extensive consultation with diverse beings across Prythian's courts. The circular arrangement of chairs represented more than mere furniture – it embodied a deep understanding of how physical space influences emotional safety and familial healing.
The room featured adaptive elements that responded intuitively to each individual's needs: seating that adjusted not just for wings and various forms, but for different emotional states and power manifestations. Lighting systems that could shift between the star-filled darkness of the Night Court and the gentle illumination preferred by those with prophetic sensitivities. Even the air itself seemed to understand its role, maintaining a delicate balance between the various magics and powers present.
One corner featured ancient containment wards suitable for beings of primordial power, carefully designed to support rather than suppress, while another offered shadow-friendly spaces that acknowledged the need for both connection and retreat. The therapy garden occupied a thoughtfully curated section, its plants chosen specifically for their ability to maintain professional boundaries while offering emotional support.
A sign on the door read: "Group Session in Progress - Magical Outbursts Will Be Processed with Compassion (Including Primordial Energy, Death Magic, and Prophetic Revelations)."
The intake process had required careful consideration of multiple dimensions of experience:
Relationship Mapping:
"Please indicate all relevant bonds: Blood ☑ Chosen Family ☑ Mate ☑ Warrior ☑ Centuries of Unresolved Tension ☑ Primordial Entity ☑ Cross-Court Connections ☑"
"Known triggers to avoid: Discussion of paternal figures ☑ The Spring Court ☑ Mortality ☑ The human lands ☑ Book-burning ☑ Origins of existence ☑ War trauma ☑"
"Preferred methods of emotional expression: Magic ☑ Combat ☑ Shopping ☑ Gardening ☑ Brooding ☑ Death magic ☑ Ancient power surges ☑ Shadow-singing ☑"
Accessibility Considerations:
Physical needs: Wing support, power containment, sensory adaptation
Emotional needs: Trauma-informed space, boundary respect, cultural sensitivity
Communication needs: Verbal, nonverbal, magical, prophetic, shadow-based
Power management: Individual and collective safety measures
Temporal considerations: Processing across multiple timelines and existences
Dr. Moonweaver surveyed the group before her, noting how they had instinctively arranged themselves in a pattern that spoke volumes about their family dynamics. Feyre and Rhysand occupied a loveseat designed to support both their physical forms and the invisible but palpable presence of their mate bond. The furniture beneath them subtly adjusted to accommodate the weight of not just their bodies, but the multiple powers Feyre carried and the ancient darkness Rhysand commanded.
Nesta had chosen an armchair reinforced with death-magic-responsive materials, its structure able to contain and reflect her power without suppressing it. The chair seemed to understand its role in supporting rather than restraining, offering stability while honoring her need for autonomy.
Elain sat near the window, where the therapy garden recognized her prophetic abilities without enabling codependence. The plants maintained a professional distance while acknowledging her gift, their growth patterns suggesting support without overstepping therapeutic boundaries.
Cassian and Azriel had positioned themselves like the warriors they were, their wings telling stories their voices might not share. Their seating provided optimal sightlines to all exits while supporting proper wing alignment – a detail that acknowledged both their physical needs and their hypervigilance without pathologizing either.
Mor's chair sparkled faintly with truth-power-responsive enchantments, designed to help regulate rather than suppress her abilities. The space around her hummed with the potential for honesty while maintaining appropriate therapeutic containers.
Amren had selected a position slightly apart, her ancient power contained but honored by the room's specialized wards. Her seating incorporated elements that predated current understanding of furniture, adapting to support a being whose existence challenged conventional frameworks of reality.
"Welcome everyone," Dr. Moonweaver began, her voice carrying the weight of extensive training in supernatural family dynamics. The room's acoustics adjusted automatically, ensuring her words reached each being in the way they could best receive them. "I appreciate your willingness to engage in this collective healing space. Let's begin by establishing guidelines that honor everyone's needs and experiences."
"No winnowing out when conversations get difficult," Feyre suggested, giving Rhysand a pointed look. "Or using the mate bond to send distracting images of tropical locations."
"No reading minds without consent," Azriel added quietly, his shadows curling in acknowledgment of their own tendency to gather information unbidden.
"No transforming furniture into weapons," Cassian said, glancing at Nesta, whose death magic swirled in what might have been agreement or defiance.
"No truth-compelling," Mor contributed, her power dimming respectfully.
"No death threats," Elain said softly, as a nearby orchid nodded supportively.
"No accessing primordial power unless it's part of a regulated emotional expression exercise," Amren added, silver eyes reflecting millennia of observing various therapeutic approaches across existence.
"And no using shadows to avoid difficult emotions," Azriel murmured, though his shadows seemed to grumble at this restriction.
Dr. Moonweaver nodded, her enchanted quill capturing both spoken and unspoken dynamics. "Excellent. I'd also suggest: no emotional projection through mate bonds, no prophetic spoilers about therapeutic breakthroughs, and no accessing death magic unless explicitly part of our process."
She gestured to an elaborate crystal arrangement on a side table. "I've provided comfort stones attuned to each of your specific needs and abilities. They're designed to support regulation without suppressing authentic expression." Each stone had been carefully crafted to resonate with different forms of power – from Amren's primordial energy to Nesta's death magic, from Elain's prophetic abilities to Azriel's shadow-singing.
"Now, who would like to begin sharing what brought you here today?"
Eight voices spoke simultaneously, their various powers creating a momentary light show as the room's containment wards processed multiple magical expressions at once. The comfort stones glowed in alarm, the therapy garden reached out soothingly toward Elain, and Amren's primordial power briefly made time hiccup in the corner.
"One at a time," Dr. Moonweaver amended, her voice carrying centuries of experience with supernatural family dynamics. "Feyre, as the one who scheduled this session, perhaps you'd like to begin?"
"I just thought," Feyre said carefully, selecting a comfort stone that shimmered with all the colors of her borrowed powers, "that given everything we've been through together – the trauma, the transformations, the wars, the healing – we might benefit from professional support in processing our shared experiences and current family dynamics."
"You mean the fact that none of us had functional families growing up and now we're trying to figure it out while also running a court and dealing with various magical trauma?" Nesta's voice could have frozen the sun. The death magic books in her bag rustled sympathetically.
"Some of us didn't have families at all," Amren observed, her ancient power rippling beneath the surface of her new form. "The primordial void isn't known for its nurturing environment, though it did teach excellent boundary-setting."
"Speaking of boundaries," Dr. Moonweaver interjected smoothly, "let's discuss how we can support each other's healing journeys while respecting individual needs and honoring different approaches to recovery."
"Like how Cassian needs to stop trying to train me in combat every time I show an emotion?" Nesta suggested, her death magic creating intricate patterns in the air.
"Hey, physical activity is a valid coping mechanism!" Cassian protested, wings flaring before the room's calming enchantments helped him regulate. "The Illyrian Warriors Anonymous group says it's healthy to acknowledge our warrior nature while developing additional emotional tools."
"So is therapy," Azriel murmured, shadows wrapping around him like a comfort blanket, "but you still threw a tantrum about coming today."
"I did not throw a tantrum! I expressed concerns about vulnerability in a group setting through legitimate warrior dialogue."
"You threatened to throw your siphons into the Sidra," Mor reminded him, truth-power making the statement ring with unintended resonance.
"After spending six hours doing aerial combat maneuvers," Amren added dryly, ancient power flickering with what might have been amusement. "Some of us were trying to read in peace. There are only so many times one can witness anxiety-driven flight patterns in a single afternoon."
Dr. Moonweaver cleared her throat, the sound carrying therapeutic intention. "Let's explore these dynamics. I'm hearing themes of different coping mechanisms, concerns about vulnerability, and varying approaches to emotional expression. Each of these responses makes sense given your individual histories and experiences."
"Some of us express emotions by shopping," Mor said brightly, her chair glittering in response.
"Some of us express emotions by reading prophecies to the flowers," Elain added, as a particularly empathetic daisy bloomed in support.
"And some of us express emotions by rewriting the laws of magic and death," Nesta said, her power humming with undertones of protective rage.
"While some prefer to brood in shadows," Feyre glanced at Azriel, whose shadows were attempting to spell out "processing" in protest.
"And some of us have been processing emotions since before time itself had proper form," Amren contributed, examining her perfectly manicured nails. "Though I must admit, having a physical form does make it more... complicated. Emotions are so much messier with a body attached."
The therapy room's various enchantments worked overtime to contain and support this complex web of responses, each ward and crystal adapting to honor individual expression while maintaining collective safety.
Dr. Moonweaver brought out a set of specially designed emotional processing tools: journals enchanted to handle various forms of magical expression, art supplies that could withstand supernatural creativity, and communication cards designed to facilitate authentic expression across different power modalities.
"Let's try an exercise," she suggested, distributing materials that adjusted to each recipient's needs. "I'd like each of you to share one thing you appreciate about this family unit you've created, and one thing you find challenging. Remember, all experiences are valid, whether they span centuries, millennia, or are still adjusting to immortality."
As the session progressed, the room's enchantments settled into a gentle hum of support, creating space for vulnerability even among beings of immense power. The comfort stones pulsed steadily, the therapy garden offered quiet encouragement, and even Amren's primordial power seemed to find a comfortable rhythm within the therapeutic container.
Dr. Moonweaver concluded with a thoughtful observation: "Family is what we make it, whether we're bound by blood, choice, magic, or existence predating time itself. The work is in learning to honor each other's journeys while supporting collective healing. Even the most powerful beings need safe spaces to process and grow."
The sign on the door shifted as they prepared to leave: "All Forms of Existence Welcome in This Healing Space - Progress Happens at All Timelines."
Progress, like family itself, was an intricate tapestry of different threads woven together. Even if some of those threads were older than time, sparked with primordial power, or occasionally needed professional support to find their place in the pattern.
