Guts: A Graphic Novel

The next panel shows Raina and her mother walking down the street to a two-story building. They enter an office and sit down. Out of an inside door comes a young woman who introduces herself as Lauren and announces she is going to be Raina’s therapist. Lauren explains that her office is a safe place to discuss anything she wants. Periodically, Lauren will meet with Raina’s parents to describe how things are progressing. She excuses Raina’s mother, leaving Raina sitting on the sofa by herself.

Chewing her fingernails, Raina is quite anxious. When Lauren asks her questions about herself, Raina discovers she has no idea what to say, but “one word Lauren said helped a lot: ‘Try’” (77). They talk about her family. Several cartoon panels show Raina’s anxiety rising, though she cannot describe her feelings. Lauren asks about her brother. This encourages Raina to start talking.

Her mother sits outside in the waiting room, reading until Raina emerges. Lauren says she will see Raina next week. As they walk down to the street, her mother asks how things went. Raina says they mostly talked about her sister and brother. She asks why she must go to therapy.