HWA Message Board: Therapy

Dr Samuel Bryce, MS, PhD, LPC
Sierra Health + Wellness: Monterey - Addiction Treatment Center
Rosemead, CA

Patient: Parker, Sean
Age: 28
Patient ID: SDP-970604
Date of Session: 11 July 2025

Patience Session #2

[Transcribed from audio]

SB: Morning, Sean. How are you doing today?

[34 seconds of elapsed time]

SB: Sean, I’d like to talk about what happened at the Fatality pay-per-view.

SP: Why?

SB: Well, it’s important we get to the root cause of your trauma, everything you’re feeling, acknowledging what happened and where you are now.

SP: I… I can’t go through it again.

SB: I understand your hesitation but it’s important you acknowledge the pain you’re going through, both physical and mental.

SP: My shoulder hurts like hell still…. but it’s almost like… whenever I think of….her… the pain increases.

SB: This isn’t uncommon, Sean. You said in our first session that you were attacked by a former lover, is that right? She’s the one that stabbed you?

SP: I wouldn’t say lover.

SB: How would you describe the dynamic then?

SP: I don’t know… we were involved…. That’s the only way I can describe it.

SB: So, what really happened, Sean?

SP: Why does it even matter?

font color=red>SB: Sean, you were very vague in our first session. It’s important to understand what happened to begin with during your time in Japan to lead to what happened to you. If you want to heal, we have to go back to the beginning.

SP: I don’t want to.

SB: I know. But that place inside you, the one that flinches every time her name comes up, it’s trying to protect you. It’s holding onto your pain like a tourniquet wrapped too tight and we need to ease the pressure.

SP: Its not that simple.

SB: No, it’s not. But you’ve been carrying this since the incident, Sean. And I can see the weight of it. In your posture, in the way you speak, the way you avoid using her name.

[8 seconds of elapsed time]

SB: Is your shoulder hurting? … for the purposes of the tape, Sean is nodding his head. It’s because you’ve brought her into the room again. The brain doesn’t separate memory from the present. It’s called somatic recall. Trauma has a body. Where do you feel the pain? Just your shoulder?

SP: It… burns…. Where she used Masamune… then it spreads like it’s wrapping around my chest… like it’s crushing me. Michelle… I need Michelle…

SB: Sean, you’re okay, I’m here with you. You’re in a safe space. Michelle is right outside. Tell me… Is this something new? The feeling of needing your fiancé? Does being near her ease your anxiety? Again, Sean is nodding. Like I said, Sean, you’re okay. Let’s just stay in this moment; I’m right here with you, remember? Just take a breath.

[Sounds of slow, steady breathing]

SB: Good! Good, Sean. One step at a time…. Now, I’m going to ask you something…. Do you remember when you last saw her? As she was before, I mean.

[13 seconds of elapsed time]

SP: I… I can’t…

SB: Well then, don’t talk about her, talk around her. Where were you? Who were you then?

SP: I-I…I was 18, it was in Okinawa, Sensei Kiriyama’s estate.

SB: And this was after your accident, correct? Where you broke your back?

SP: Yes.

SB: And Azami was part of that? Part of this soul-searching journey?

SP: We already had…a-a…connection, from our childhood.

SB: So, it didn’t take long for that old spark to reignite?

SP: You could say that.

SB: So things got more serious for her than they did for you?

[1 minute and 45 seconds of elapsed time]

SB: Sean? It’s ok, take your time. This is a process; a marathon, not a sprint.

SP: I can’t… I can’t think. I just hate being in my own skin. I just want to scream. I want to punch my way out of this nightmare but I can’t. I see her all the time, whenever I close my eyes….. Azami standing over me, Masamune in her hand. And she stabs me.

SB: That sounds awful, Sean. But did you notice something? You said her name.

SP: I did?

SB: You did and it’s a great start. Be proud of yourself, Sean. For now though, let’s pull back a little. You did something hard today, and I want to respect that. So, can I ask how you’re feeling now? Not about Azami, but about you, your life outside the ring. You’re getting married soon, right?

SP: We haven’t set a date yet… but I’m worried I’m holding her back. She wants to retire, and I think I do too.

SB: Because of what happened?

SP: Yes.

SB: And you want to retire because of what happened? Do you think that will help heal the pain?

SP: I-I don’t know. But… I do know that I can’t keep going like this. Neither of us can. Michelle didn’t sign up for what she’s had to go through.

SB: And your aunt and uncle? Do they support you?

[22 seconds of elapsed time]

[Sound: Light sniffling]

SB: Sean, there’s no shame in crying. Remember, this is a trauma you’ve been through, and it’s ok to let this out; don’t bottle it up. Do your aunt and uncle support you?

SP: They think they do. But every time they try, it’s like they don’t know what to say.

SB: Some people don’t know how to deal with the trauma of others, Sean, especially when it’s their own family. What would you do, for argument’s sake, if you did retire?

SP: I don’t know…I just-just…Michelle? Please, I need Michelle.

SB: Sean, it’s fine, I told you before, Michelle is just outside. It’s ok not to know what you want to do.

[1 minute and 52 seconds of elapsed time]

SB: Sean, therapy is only helpful if one is willing to participate. I can’t help you if you won’t let me.

[1 minute and 26 seconds of elapsed time]

SB: Sean?

SP: We’re done.

SB: Sean, I-

SP: I said we’re done.

[Sound: Door slam]

End of session. 23 minutes, 17 seconds.

[Sound: subtle tape click; slight shuffling of paper]

SB: Post-Session Assessment. Patient name, Parker, Sean. Patient ID, Sierra Delta Papa Niner-Seven Zero-Six Zero-Four.

Patient continues to exhibit signs of acute trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. Somatic recall remains strong and is particularly triggered by discussion of the perpetrator, referred to as “Azami.” Patient demonstrates guarded affect and notable physical discomfort, specifically left shoulder pain when emotionally triggered. Symptoms are consistent with complex PTSD, including disrupted sleep, hyper-vigilance, intrusive memory response, and emotional suppression as well as heavy spousal dependency.

Today’s session yielded partial breakthroughs. Patient verbally identified the perpetrator by name for the first time. He was able to recall formative experiences leading up to the traumatic event, though with visible psychological resistance. Notable progress was made in gently shifting the patient’s focus toward present-day support structures, including his engagement and recovery efforts outside the professional wrestling context.

Patient displays a high level of internalized guilt and unresolved emotional conflict regarding the prior relationship and its dissolution. He appears to be carrying a belief that he “deserves” pain, which may be a barrier to full emotional recovery. Despite this, patient remains motivated to participate in therapy and is responsive to relational attunement and gentle cognitive reframing.

Plan going forward: Continue weekly trauma-focused therapy. Introduce grounding techniques next session. Assess patient’s readiness for EMDR or other somatic-based trauma processing methods. Patient is not yet ready for direct exposure work but is beginning to show openness toward narrative reconstruction.
Recommend ongoing monitoring of physical symptoms in tandem with psychological treatment.

Patient remains a high-potential responder with proper therapeutic pacing.

[End dictation.]

[Sound: soft click of recorder being turned off.]