Session notes
Jett Appointment Two
Client Name: Jett Ryker
Therapist: Rhys Hartwell, LMFT
Session Type: Individual, In-office (Court-Mandated)
Setting: Individual, In-office
Presenting Issue:
Client continues to struggle with emotional regulation, specifically around provocation and perceived disrespect.
Strong aversion to vulnerability and authority figures remains consistent.
Possible protective instinct at play, especially in reference to unnamed female subject.
Client requested to discuss a recent altercation involving a former associate and an unidentified woman.
Session Summary:
Client arrived on time, appeared calm but guarded.
Reported a conflict at the gym involving “Chad,” a known irritant, and a female associate who intervened physically.
Client did not engage in physical violence and expressed this as personal growth, albeit in irreverent terms. Client was vague on details regarding the woman’s identity, but expressed both admiration and concern for her behavior, suggesting a deeper emotional attachment.
When prompted about journaling and other self-regulation strategies, client dismissed prior recommendations (e.g.
, conflict mediation) but acknowledged progress in restraint during stressful interactions.
Denied overt aggression despite multiple provocations over the past week.
Humor used frequently to deflect. Continues to present as emotionally controlled but hyper-aware of internal pressure.
Client made veiled references to an intense interpersonal connection, possibly romantic or sexual in nature, though remained deliberately nonspecific.
Multiple suggestive asides hint at conflicted emotions and possible possessiveness.
Subtext suggests entanglement that may be emotionally destabilizing.
Intervention:
Validated client’s restraint and re-framed it as evidence of developing emotional control.
Introduced idea of channeling aggression into structured, meditative creative activities (e.g.
, figure drawing). Client responded with sarcasm but showed interest. Normalized ambivalence toward self-expression and discussed benefits of stillness and presence in processing anger.
Minimal redirection needed to maintain focus.
Clinical Impressions:
Client continues to present with hallmark features of unresolved trauma, possibly rooted in abandonment or betrayal.
Defensive posturing and performative masculinity likely protective mechanisms. Despite overt cynicism, client demonstrates increasing insight into behavioral patterns.
Emerging vulnerability when discussing unnamed woman suggests emotional risk he is not yet prepared to acknowledge.
Protective instincts toward said woman could become a motivator for change or a destabilizing influence depending on the nature of the relationship.
Denial of her identity paired with physical descriptions and emotional tone implies romantic entanglement, likely recent, likely significant. Client’s refusal to offer specific identifiers may be rooted in shame, protectiveness, or fear of judgment.
No current indicators of harm to self or others. Client remains capable of self-monitoring and demonstrates insight, albeit laced with denial and sarcasm.
Next Steps:
Encourage continued journaling or alternative self-expression (e.g., sketching, nonverbal outlets).
Explore relationship dynamics in more detail as trust permits.
Revisit boundary-setting strategies, particularly regarding women who evoke strong reactions.
Monitor for signs of emotional dysregulation tied to interpersonal intimacy.
Assess readiness for deeper work on identity and vulnerability.
Clinical Shitshow
Private Notes – Session 2: Jett Ryker
Location: My office
Duration: 60 minutes
Mood: Feral Chivalry.
Entered on edge. Guard up. Still refuses the couch. Possibly associates reclining with vulnerability or power imbalance. Hypervigilance remains baseline.
Avoidant but performative. Comes in with the same swagger as last time, but it’s deliberate. He wants me to see him that way, sharp, irritable, unimpressed. It’s armor, but also a challenge.
Body language changes when he talks about “the woman.” Loose. Almost smug. There’s a softness around the edges that doesn’t show up anywhere else. Even the sarcasm bends sweeter. He tries to hide it, but the shift is stark.
“Walking felony in heels.” Christ. He’s infatuated. Dangerous kind. Protective and possessive all at once. No name, but the way he describes her, vivid, amused, almost reverent, it’s not casual. He’s fighting the urge to worship. Or maybe he already is.
Refuses to name her. Doesn’t want to “get her in trouble.” Red flag. That’s not detachment. That’s active shielding. I think he’d rather take the consequences himself than let her face any.
Won’t admit to sex directly, but it’s in the margins. Motorcycle. Mouth. Fingers. Taste. The pacing shifts when he talks about her. He’s not just interested, he’s rattled.
He watches me when he mentions her. Looking for a crack. To see if I already know.
“Didn’t hit him. Didn’t even threaten him.” That’s progress. So is the “journal,” however thinly veiled it is behind innuendo. This isn’t a man completely resisting therapy. He’s trying. He just won’t let me see how hard yet.
Would never admit it aloud, but I think he wants help. Wants to believe someone can hold the leash on what’s inside him without neutering it.
Suggested figure drawing. He mocked it but didn’t shut down. I’ll bring it up again. He responds well to challenges if they’re framed as discipline or edge-testing. If I offer it as a mirror instead of a muzzle, he might actually try.
He was calm when he left. Still tense, but not buzzing. Regulated. Something, or someone, is grounding him.