The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

Maya sat patiently outside Dr. Claudia Thompson’s office for her weekly appointment. She had been out of the inpatient program for nearly six months now, but she still felt like she was constantly dangling from the edge of a cliff.

“Ms. Reynolds?” the receptionist called. Maya looked up from her reverie. “Dr. Thompson is ready for you.”

Maya got up unsteadily. She hadn’t eaten anything today, and it was definitely affecting her balance. She was simultaneously ashamed and proud of that fact as she walked down the hallway in a slight daze toward her therapist’s office.

She knocked carefully on the door. Promptly, Dr. Thompson opened the door with a warm smile. “Maya,” she said. “Come in, come in. How are you doing?”

“Um, okay,” Maya responded, setting down her bag and curling up with her feet under her as she sat on Dr. Thompson’s couch. She grabbed one of the throw pillows and hugged it to herself. She didn’t like to have too much of her body exposed, and holding onto a blanket or a pillow always made her feel a little bit more safe.

“Just okay?” Claudia asked with concern, taking a seat in her chair across from Maya.

“Yeah,” Maya replied, not able to give up much information. She knew she should be using this time, but everything just felt so hopeless.

Claudia took a different approach. “How have you been doing with your meal plan?” she asked.

Maya sunk a little further into the couch, feeling the shame creep up around her ears. “Umm, not great,” she admitted.

Dr. Thompson nodded in understanding, beginning to jot down a few notes on her pad. “What has been getting in the way?” she asked.

“I just, I know I need to eat. I know how dangerous it is. I want to get better, I really do. But,” she trailed off. “I just can’t stand how I look in the mirror. All I see is this giant inhuman monster of a body. I’m so disgusted by it. I can’t believe I’ve let myself get as big as I have. And the thought of doing anything that might make me even bigger is just too much,” her voice cracked. “I can’t do it.“

Claudia continued writing on her notepad and looked up at Maya. “Maya, you do know that this perception you have of how you look, it’s not real,” she said. “And even if it were, being alive and healthy is so much more important than how you look.”

Maya clutched the pillow closer to herself and muttered quietly, “Yeah, I know.”

“I just—” she started again. “I miss it,” she finally said.

“I miss being skinny. I miss being able to grab onto my own hip bone. I miss people telling me how great I look, how “healthy” I must be for losing so much weight. I miss noticing that my bra was gapping where my tits used to be. Every day, everything I noticed was a sign I was doing something well. Every time that number went down again, it was like a drug,” she continued, her feelings bubbling to the surface.

“I even sometimes miss that empty feeling inside. Everything just fades away to nothingness. I don’t have to worry about anything, not work, not relationships, only this one thing. Everything is simple. Be smaller. That’s all I need to do to be... right.”

Dr. Thompson tilted her head in neutral curiosity. “Why do you think you feel like you need to be smaller to be right? Does everyone else need to be smaller too?”

Maya smiled wistfully, knowing where this was going. “No,” she replied. “Just me. I’m the only one who needs to be smaller. You know, I even like bigger girls! I’ve found women significantly bigger than me perfectly beautiful! Jenna was always bigger than me, and she was so sexy. She owned it, you know?” her voice got softer as she thought about her ex-girlfriend. But then, her self-hatred took hold again, “But not me. I’m disgusting,” she said with a sneer, pinching a small amount of fat folded over at her midsection.

Claudia’s face softened as she asked, “Why do you deserve such cruelty? Why don’t you deserve love and kindness like others do? Why does your body alone deserve ridicule and loathing?“

Overwhelmed, Maya put her face in her hands as her fingers clawed at the edges of her face and tugged at her hair. Choking back tears, she finally replied “I don’t know.”

“You don’t deserve to die, Maya,” Dr. Thompson said gently. “And your body cannot take another relapse. Your heart can’t take it. The weight you’ve gained is good. It means that you’re alive. And you deserve to stay that way.“

Maya started shaking as the words resonated inside her. She wanted so desperately to be free of this... obsession. She wanted to be able to see herself as beautiful. But every time she even entertained the possibility that she could be, the obsessive thoughts started up again. All she could see were the flaws, the imperfections. She wasn’t good enough. Wasn’t thin enough. She towered over everyone around her, thundered as she walked down the street. Even if they didn’t realize it. Even if they thought she looked normal. They didn’t really see her. They couldn’t see the monstrosity, the giant blob that she was underneath it all. It didn’t make sense. But it didn’t have to. All she knew is that it felt true.

“I wish I could get past this,” Maya said. “But no matter how much I try to reason with the negative voices in my head, what I say always feels like a lie. I just wish I could make myself believe it.”

“It just takes time, Maya,” Dr. Thompson replied. “You’re doing great work. You have made so much progress since you were first admitted—”

“It’s been six months!” Maya interjected. “It’s been six months since I was released from treatment. Released! Six months since I was supposedly healthy enough to go about my life again!” She found herself nearing a shout as she vented out all her frustrations to her therapist. “Damn it, Claudia. Do you see me going about my life? I can’t even put on a pair of jeans without crying.” Lowering her volume a bit as she tried to calm down, Maya continued, “Can’t you just... make me better?“

Claudia looked at Maya with genuine sympathy. “I’m sorry, Maya. There aren’t any shortcuts here. There’s no quick-fix. You just have to do the work. And you’re doing the work. It takes time.”

“Yeah, you said that,” Maya responded, not feeling any better. “I don’t really see the point of any of this,” she said quietly. “I’m just going to slowly kill myself. Maybe a little more slowly with you here, but still, in the end it’s the same. This isn’t even living. What’s the point.”

Dr. Thompson could hear the notes of true despair behind Maya’s words and was growing concerned for her safety. “Maya, I need to ask you something,” she started to say.

“No,” Maya replied before Claudia had a chance to ask her question, knowing it was coming. “I’m not going to hurt myself. Not in any immediate sense, anyway. No plan, don’t worry, you’ve done your due diligence. I just feel like I’m going in circles here.”

Maya stood up and started gathering her things. “I don’t think this is working,” she said.

Claudia put her notebook down, a bit shocked at the sudden change in Maya’s demeanor. “Maya, don’t do anything rash, please. You’re at a crossroads. Don’t throw away your support system. You still need to be in therapy. You said it yourself, you’re not even following the meal plan, much less making strides toward full recovery.”

“I like you, Claudia,” Maya said in response. “You’re good at your job. You’re nice. You listen. But it’s just not doing anything. Not enough, anyway. I’m not getting any better. In fact, I think I’m getting worse.”

“That’s a normal part of recovery,” Dr. Thompson replied, trying to persuade Maya to stay. “When you start digging deep sometimes you unearth things that make you feel worse in the short term. But it gives us an opportunity to process them, to really, truly heal and grow. And in the long run, you’ll feel better for it.”

“I don’t see a long run anymore,” Maya said darkly.

“Please take some time and think about this,” Claudia said, genuinely concerned at Maya’s attitude.

“Claudia,” Maya began, “I’ve been in and out of treatment for the past three years. I’ve said the mantras. I’ve gotten in touch with my inner child. I’ve challenged my negative thinking. I’ve done all of this, and I still just cringe when I look down. I don’t know how I can possibly get better if all I ever see when I look at myself is a monster. There’s something broken inside me, and there’s nothing you can do to fix it. My brain is just wired wrong. And I’m just so tired. I’m so tired of hating myself. I’m so tired of finally, after hours of staring blankly at the refrigerator, having the courage to eat, and then immediately regretting it.”

Maya paused to take a breath before continuing. “Being in this quasi-recovery state is so much harder than just giving in to the eating disorder. It calls to me every single second. And if I could just... not hate myself so much, maybe I could resist the call. I know it takes time, and hard work, but if things don’t get better soon I’m literally going to die. It’s too much. Can’t I just be better? Can’t I just skip ahead?” Maya sighed in defeat, resigned to the fact that she was simply going to lose the battle with her disorder.

“I’m done,” Maya said. “I’m done trying to fight it. If you don’t have anything new to offer, I’m done.”

Dr. Thompson removed her glasses, letting them fall around her neck from their chain, and began rubbing her temples. “I can’t stop you from leaving, Maya,” Dr. Thompson said slowly. “And I strongly advise against it,” she paused, considering her next sentence carefully. “But there is one option we haven’t explored yet.”

Maya’s expression relaxed slightly as curiosity got the better of her. “What option?” she asked.

Claudia wiped her glasses and put them back on and looked up at Maya. “Therapeutic hypnosis,” she said.

Maya let out a quick laugh, smiling with her mouth but not her eyes. “Hypnosis,” she repeated dubiously. “You’re a hypnotist now?” she asked with amusement.

“Not me,” said Dr. Thompson. “I’m not a trained hypnotherapist. I’d need to refer you out.”

“The method is controversial,” she continued. “But there are some documented results for certain conditions, specifically chemical addiction. The use of hypnotherapy for eating disorder treatment is not very well-documented. And it’s not something I would ordinarily suggest,” she paused. “Eating disorders so often stem from deeply rooted psychological issues. Overcoming them is not as simple as resisting a chemical dependency. Even many drug addicts don’t respond well to hypnosis, because their addiction is a coping mechanism for something much deeper.”

Maya was intrigued by the idea. “But it could help me stop seeing myself as a hideous monster,” she said.

“It might help,” Claudia agreed. “But I certainly can’t make any promises. And I’ll need to make some calls to find referrals, because none of my colleagues practice hypnotherapy either. I’d have to give you a blind referral.”

Maya suddenly felt a little guilty at the thought of leaving Claudia. She had been such a wonderful source of support throughout the entire process. She had helped her get over Jenna after the breakup. She had gently but firmly encouraged Maya to start treatment for the eating disorder after she had collapsed at the gym. Maya didn’t know what she would have done without Dr. Thompson. But she just felt so stuck, so utterly miserable, that she was ready to try something, anything, new.

“I want to try it,” Maya said decisively. “Can I still see you sometimes, though?” she added hopefully.

“Okay,” said Dr. Thompson. “I’ll get to work finding you some options. And yes, it would be best for continuity of care for you to continue seeing me, at least for a few more sessions. Once you find a trained hypnotherapist, we can all work together as a team to decide what we should do for your treatment moving forward.”

Maya was relieved that she would still be able to talk to Claudia. She had been at her wits end, but she still wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to such a consistent presence in her life.

“Thank you,” Maya said sincerely.

“You’re welcome, Maya,” responded Claudia, standing up to walk over to her desk. “I know you’re trying. You do deserve to live a happy life, you know. You’re not a hideous monster to anyone but you. I shouldn’t even comment on your looks, it’s not productive for your recovery to focus on that, but you are genuinely stunning, Maya. I hope someday you realize that.” She placed her notebook on the desk and turned back toward Maya.

Maya looked into Claudia’s eyes as the next round of tears welled up. It was always hard to hear a compliment from someone she trusted. It caused so much dissonance to try to reconcile her own perceptions with the notion that someone else could find her beautiful. It had been one of the things that ultimately drove Jenna away.

Maya impulsively rushed over to Claudia and embraced her in a big bear hug, causing Claudia to tense up a bit. “Thank you, Claudia,” she said, resting her head on Claudia’s chest.

Claudia relaxed, allowing her hand to rest on Maya’s head, gently stroking her dark curly hair. “You’re welcome, Maya,” she replied softly.

Maya lingered there briefly, comforted by the embrace in a way she hadn’t felt since Jenna left. She felt her body relax as all the tension and emotion she had been holding onto seemed to melt away, leaving her tingling with nerves and longing. Maya looked up at her therapist and recognized that what she was feeling was attraction. Their eyes met as both women realized that they had been holding the pose a bit longer than was professional.

Dr. Thompson firmly held Maya’s shoulders as she took a big step backwards, creating a much needed distance between them. Clearing her throat, Claudia quickly attempted to move past the inappropriate moment as she braced herself by leaning back on her desk. “Ahem, well, I will make some calls this afternoon to see if there are any practicing hypnotherapists in the area that I can refer you to.” She glanced up at the clock, thankful that it was nearing the 45 minute mark.

“Maya, it’s going to be okay. Even if this hypnosis idea isn’t the right path for you, you will find your way. I believe in you,” she said.

Feeling slightly rejected, but also extremely embarrassed that she had basically just come on to her therapist, Maya smiled wistfully. “Yeah,” she said. “Thanks for everything, Dr. Thompson.”

“You should get a secure message from me with the referral details later this afternoon,” Claudia said, pushing herself fully upright again and straightening her blouse. She was clearly flustered, but attempting to push through it. “But I’ll hold your regular appointment slot until we know how things are going. And please, Maya, go home and have something to eat. You look like you’re about to faint.”

“Thanks,” Maya said again. “I guess I’ll see you next week.” Dr. Thompson nodded, raising her right hand in a slightly awkward attempt at a wave as Maya opened the door. Shutting the door behind her, Maya slumped against the wall and sighed heavily in embarrassment.

“What the fuck is wrong with me,” she muttered. “Idiot,” she berated herself, knocking her head backwards into the wall behind her. “Fat, ugly, stupid idiot.” Finally able to curb her self-abuse, Maya made her way out of the therapy office to wait at home for her referral.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Maya finally got the notification email that she had a message waiting from Dr. Thompson’s office.

She didn’t have any classes today and had been in a battle with herself all morning about whether she was allowed to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. If she stayed in bed, she had reasoned, she didn’t have to eat breakfast. Breakfast is only required if you actually get up. If she got up and didn’t have breakfast, though, that would mean she wasn’t following her meal plan. Another failure to add to the count.

It was all very logical. She’d just never get out of bed, and then she’d never need to eat. Perfect. Except, she needed to pee.

The email notification on her phone was enough to cause Maya to finally break the cycle and get up to pee. Tossing on an oversized shirt, she carried her phone with her to the bathroom and sat on the toilet while scrolling to find the new secure message.

Dear Ms. Maya Reynolds,

Below you will find referral details for the following ONE available counselors with specialization in HYPNOTHERAPY:

—(1) John Michael Trevor, Practitioner of the Healing Arts [Link to Contact Information] [website: https://trevorhypnotics.org]

Sincerely,

The Office of Dr. Claudia Thompson, PhD, Licensed Psychotherapist, ABPP

Maya was disappointed to see only one name on the list. She had expected to at least have a couple of options to choose from. But it did seem like hypnotherapy was a pretty niche specialization for therapists, so she supposed it was lucky that Dr. Thompson had been able to even find one. Still, it made her a little nervous that the therapist was a man. She’d only ever had female therapists, and wasn’t sure how comfortable she would feel with a man poking around her subconscious. She’d need to think about it.

Finishing up in the bathroom, Maya made her way over to her kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Time for her daily “staring at the fridge for an hour” ritual. Ugh, disgusting pig, she thought to herself as she contemplated her breakfast options. After about ten minutes of trying to decide between a granola bar and a glass of milk, she gave up and poured herself a big mug of black coffee. I’ll just wake up a little bit and then decide what to eat, Maya thought to herself, knowing full well that she was simply indulging in the disorder by delaying her food intake.

Wrapped up in her comfortable blanket of denial, Maya walked over to her breakfast nook to catch up on a bit of her schoolwork while she drank her coffee.

Unable to concentrate, Maya finally gave in to the pangs of hunger she had been trying so hard to ignore. She got up from her seat, unsteady, and quickly unwrapped the granola bar, scarfing it down before she had a chance to change her mind.

Gross, she thought. You’re so gross. You’re like some gremlin stuffing yourself full of sweets. Look at yourself. Look at that huge stomach and giant tits. You basically look pregnant, except pregnant women are usually like, glowing and beautiful and shit. But you’re fucking ugly. An ugly pregnant goblin.

Maya paused for a moment, catching herself spiraling. She tried her usual centering techniques, focusing on her breathing. Sifting through her go-to cognitive behavioral therapy strategies, she settled on trying to distract herself by naming random objects in the room.

Refrigerator. Sink. Coffee pot. Broom. Disgusting heaps of food lying in wait to poison you and make you even fatter than you already are. Shit, this wasn’t working.

Throwing her head back in frustration, she grabbed her phone and decided she needed to call this hypnotherapy guy right away. Clicking the link to his website, she quickly found the phone number for his office. Not allowing herself time to talk herself out of it, she dialed.

“Trevor Hypnotics,” said a cheerful lilting voice on the other end of the line.

“Um, hi,” said Maya. “My name is Maya Reynolds and I was given a referral for Dr. Trevor?” she said with uncertainty.

“A referral?” said the woman. “A referral for the Professor?”

“Ummm...” continued Maya. “I think so. Is that Professor John Michael Trevor?”

“Yes indeed!” said the cheerful woman. “Professor John Michael Trevor of Trevor Hypnotics!”

“So, Professor Trevor is a hypnotherapist, right?” asked Maya. “A licensed hypnotherapist?” she clarified.

“Oh yes,” the woman replied. “He specializes in the healing art of hypnosis.”

“Okay,” Maya said nervously. “Do you know if he has any appointments available in the near future?”

“Let’s see, let’s see,” said the woman. “He has a 4 o’clock available.”

Maya was surprised not to hear a date in front of the time. “Um, 4 o’clock for what day?” she asked.

“4 o’clock this afternoon, Ms. Reynolds. Should I pencil you in?”

“Oh, um, yes. Yes, please,” Maya replied.

“Wonderful. Do you know where to find us?” the woman asked.

“Yeah, I have the address from the website,” said Maya.

“Lovely. We ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes early for a first appointment. Also, we ask that you wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing, no jewelry, and make sure your hair is down. The hypnosis process can cause some unexpected physical responses, and we want to minimize any risk to yourself and our staff.”

“Okay, thank you,” said Maya.

“Have a lovely afternoon and thank you for your patronage,” the voice said with a click.

Maya was left holding her phone as the call abruptly ended. Shit. She was going to a hypnotist today. Yikes.

Maya spent the next few hours worrying about what it would be like to talk to a new therapist, especially one that was going to attempt to hypnotize her. She paced, watched some TV, tried to do some reading, ate a snack, yelled at herself for eating, paced some more, until it was finally time to leave for her appointment.

The address that her phone had taken her to was an old strip mall with a pizza restaurant and a nail salon on one end, and what looked like a combination karate studio and laundromat at the other. Maya walked up and down the sidewalk looking for the entrance to Professor Trevor’s office, but wasn’t having much luck. Finally, she took a closer look at the words printed on the entrance on the far right side of the building, and found in small text the words “Trevor Hypnotics: Therapeutic Healing”. Maya opened the door and walked inside, following the signs for the hypnotherapy office until she found herself in an interior office.

It seemed like a fairly normal low-end budget clinic. Nothing as nice as Dr. Thompson’s soothing therapy practice, and the carpet was a fairly hideous shade of dark orange that looked like it had been chosen in the 1970s, but it was overall fairly clean and professional-looking.

She approached the front desk, where a mid-thirties blonde woman was sitting. “Welcome to Trevor Hypnotics. What can I do for you?” the woman asked cheerfully. Maya recognized her voice as the woman she had talked to on the phone earlier this morning.

“Hi,” Maya said. “I have an appointment with Dr. Trevor—I mean, with Professor Trevor, this afternoon. At 4 o’clock.”

“Ah, yes. Miss Reynolds! Welcome! Here,” she said, holding a clipboard with some official-looking papers on it. “Please fill out these intake forms. Just some basic demographic information, medical history, and liability waivers.”

Maya nodded and took the clipboard to fill out the paperwork in one of the waiting room chairs. It was the usual questions, for the most part. Reason for visit, existing conditions, even a family history section. She sat there filling out the paperwork, and eventually returned it to the receptionist. She sat back down in her chair and tried not to let her mind wander too much, but ended up focusing on how terrible her thighs looked in the long maxi dress she had chosen to wear as part of the “loose-fitting clothing” requirement for the appointment.

“The Professor will see you now,” the cheerful receptionist’s voice interrupted Maya’s drifting thoughts. That was faster than expected. Most medical appointments had a wait time of at least half an hour, but this seemed like it had been less than five minutes.

The receptionist led Maya back to another office, opening the door for her as Maya peeked inside, where she saw a man with salt and pepper hair shuffling papers behind a desk. He was wearing a loose linen shirt and sandals, not a typical outfit for a professional therapist.

“Hello Miss Reynolds,” Professor Trevor said, walking over to shake Maya’s hand. He had an easy smile and an incredibly charming demeanor.

“How are you doing today?” he asked as he turned back around to have a seat in a big armchair facing her.

“I’m okay,” Maya said quietly, still uncomfortable at the idea of sharing her private thoughts with a new therapist.

“What brings you to my office?” he prodded, gesturing at her to sit down on the sofa across from his chair.

“Um, I had a referral from Dr. Thompson,” Maya said carefully, walking toward the sofa. “I have, um, well she’s treating me for, um, an eating disorder. Atypical anorexia,” Maya continued with the usual shame that came with announcing her condition. She sat down on the couch, grasping the armrest tightly with one hand and wishing for a blanket or a pillow to cover herself with. “But recovery has kind of, stalled, I guess?” she added.

“Stalled in what way?” asked Professor Trevor mildly, observing Maya’s uncomfortable body language.

“Well I just can’t stop thinking about my body,” replied Maya vaguely.

“What about your body?” asked the Professor, tilting his head in curiosity.

Maya was starting to tear up again. This was too much. Even saying the words out loud was going to make them too real. “Just,” she started, “how ugly it is,” she finished. “And fat, obviously,” she added, looking down at herself in disgust.

“Ah, body dysmorphia,” Professor Trevor said, nodding. “Distorted perception of the self. Excellent candidate.”

“Candidate?” Maya asked with a bit of trepidation.

“For hypnosis,” he responded. “Nothing to be ashamed of, but those with a warped sense of reality tend to be more affected by the process.”

Maya felt a little indignant at that characterization of herself. “I don’t think I have a warped sense of reality—” she started to protest.

“Beautiful girl comes in talking about how ugly she is? Looks pretty warped from where I’m sitting,” Trevor retorted with amusement.

Maya sat back in her chair, her lips pursed tightly together. This guy clearly didn’t get it. As charming as he was, he was certainly no Claudia. But the ease with which he labeled her beautiful was so enticing. What would it be like to be able to say something like that about herself? Or anything nice at all?

“What are you looking for here,” Professor Trevor asked.

Maya paused for a moment, unsure of how much information to give. She wasn’t in the mood to say much, but her frustration level was so high that she found herself speaking. “I just want to be able to live again. To not be so focused on how much I hate myself. I want to be able to see myself as a person, just like I see everyone else, instead of this hideous monstrosity,” she trailed off as her voice started to catch, unhappy with how much emotion she had let out for this virtual stranger.

A knock sounded at the door to Professor Trevor’s office. “Come in,” he said, to Maya’s surprise. Was it normal for a counselor to let someone else in during a private session? This seemed like quite a breach of privacy.

The blonde receptionist opened the office door. “Professor, I thought you and your guest might enjoy some of our organic tea,” she said sweetly.

“Ah yes, of course,” Professor Trevor responded. “Please pour a cup for Miss Reynolds.”

Maya was again taken aback at this breach of protocol, and the fact that he had just volunteered her for some mystery tea. “What kind of tea is it?” she asked skeptically, not quite willing to admit that she was really asking to find out if it was likely to have any sugar in it.

“It will help you relax,” said Trevor. “Don’t worry, nothing illegal or anything. Completely natural.”

“Oh yes!” the receptionist added. “We grow all of our tea leaves ourselves, in the organic garden in our courtyard. It helps us all feel more like ourselves, to better serve our Profes—".

“Thank you, Penny,” Professor Trevor interjected. “The tea is medicinal,” he continued explaining. “It is part of the hypnotherapy regimen we practice here. It helps relax your mind a bit, to quiet those nagging thoughts that express doubt about the process. Hypnosis only works if you believe it, and if your brain is on overdrive, you’re bound to think yourself out of it. The tea helps keep you calm so that the hypnotherapy has a chance to work. It’s all in the documentation you signed when you arrived,” he said, very matter-of-fact. “And don’t worry, it doesn’t have any calories,” he added with a knowing glance.

“So, you want to see yourself like you see other people,” Professor Trevor continued, ignoring Penny as she poured a cup of tea for Maya. “So, I take it you don’t judge others for their appearance the way you judge yourself?” he asked.

Maya glanced over at Penny, still in shock that there was someone else in the room while she was supposedly in therapy. “No,” she answered, slightly distracted. “I think other women are beautiful no matter what size they are. I would never even think to judge someone else for the things I hate about myself,” Maya continued, still watching Penny as she brought the cup over to the coffee table. Maya could already smell the tea as the fumes wafted over toward her. It smelled like no tea she had ever experienced before. It smelled almost salty, but sweet at the same time. She couldn’t quite place it, but it seemed somehow familiar.

Maya leaned over to cradle her cup of tea as she settled back onto the couch and carefully took her first sip.

Looking back up from her sip, she heard Professor Trevor speaking. He was standing by the window. When had he stood up? Hadn’t he just been sitting in his chair?

“You’re likely starting to feel a bit out of sorts, Miss Reynolds,” Professor said as he glanced over toward Maya. “When you finish your tea, we can get started with the process.” Maya and tried to shake away the surreal grogginess she was experiencing. Colors swirled in her vision and she felt Penny’s hand on hers, tipping the cup toward her mouth. “Drink up, sweetie,” Penny’s voice rang out as if from everywhere at once.

“Close your eyes,” Professor Trevor said as he made his way back toward his armchair. “Imagine yourself on a beach,” his voice started to take on a melodic tone as he continued. “The sand, soft between your toes. You are light, like air. Your movements are easy. You float along the shoreline. You are free. Free of all worry. All pain. All fear. Your body no longer exists, it has no meaning. You are simply you. You have no form. Your mind is free.”

Maya followed the picture Professor Trevor was painting, desperate for the calm he spoke of. She could almost taste the salt in the air as she imagined herself at the shore of a deep ocean. She could feel tears forming from nowhere as she searched for something lost.

The Professor’s voice continued, deep and resonant. “You trust the ocean—the current, the waves. You feel comforted by the rhythmic crashing in the distance. You feel safe, and loved. Your mind is open. You are a vessel, a shell in the sand. Probing deep inside, all you can hear are the waves.”

Maya could feel her consciousness slipping away as she gave herself to the vision painted before her. She could feel her essence, at peace on the shore of some ephemeral beach, surrounded by nothing but the tides.

“You trust my voice. It washes over you in waves. Washing away your fears and doubts. Your mind is empty, ready to be filled.”

Professor Trevor’s voice intoned from everywhere and nowhere. The voice of truth.

“You love your body. The shell. You see its beauty, its frailty, its uniqueness. You find beauty in it. You deserve love. Your body deserves your appreciation, your respect. You can see through the fog. You see yourself for the beautiful woman that you are.”

As Professor Trevor spoke, Maya fell deeper and deeper into a trance state, surrounded by light, her body humming with a peaceful energy. She felt hands on her skin. Perhaps they were her own hands? She wanted to touch, to hear her body sing with pleasure.

“Imagine the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. See her, walking on the beach in front of you. Her body swaying with the waves, gossamer and light. All of your feelings toward her, for her beauty and grace, you realize you feel for yourself. You are exactly as beautiful as the woman you see.”

Maya’s thoughts spiraled into formless flashes. Fleeting images of Jenna, her smooth skin and the graceful way she moved. A deep ache formed in Maya’s core as memories of former lovers, momentary glances, blurred together. Claudia’s face bubbled to the surface, the smell of incense in her office as their bodies moved together in ways they never had. Penny’s heaving breasts, plump and luscious, filled Maya’s vision as she absorbed the professor’s hypnotic words.

“You are a woman just like any other, as beautiful and lovely as any woman you have known. You want to love yourself. You are worthy of love. Your body is beautiful, and deserves to be seen.”

The visions of former lovers, of almost kisses, of fantasies and dreams, began to morph into a faint specter deep in Maya’s consciousness. She saw curves of mocha skin, beautifully feminine. She felt her body vibrating as she watched the vision of beauty before her. She had never witnessed anyone so beautiful. The way the woman’s body moved, a tuft of black hair peeking from between her ample thighs. Her belly and hips full of supple curves, marked by scars that illuminated the branching paths of her life thus far. What Maya wouldn’t give to kiss along the curves of this goddess.

Maya felt a warmth inside her as she watched the movements of the beautiful creature before her. As she watched her, she noticed that the spectral woman’s movements matched her own. She started to recognize fragments of the body before her. A freckle on her thigh, matching the one on Maya’s. A scar where she had fallen as a child. Even the Ankh tattoo on her ankle, it was all there.

Something in the back of Maya’s still entranced mind clicked into place. The woman, the beautiful creature she wasn’t sure was there—that was her. It was Maya. But somehow, her body had been stripped of the baggage of self-hatred and disgust that usually accompanied the image. And she felt nothing but love and desire.

Professor Trevor’s voice had continued to intone during Maya’s revelation. She felt safe in his presence, the steady rhythm of the waves surrounding her mind, now bolstered and echoed by her inner goddess-self. She felt hands on her, delicate hands, hands of the goddess. They nestled under her clothing, removing the fabric from her body as Maya walked into the sea, naked and alive. She felt the current flowing on her skin, as the professor guided her through the water.

Another voice began to speak, somewhat dissonant with the professor’s dulcet tones. “Is she ready?” the female voice, Penny’s voice, cut through the hazy reverie. Maya’s eyes began to flutter open, no longer able to distinguish reality from the swirling visions.

“Patience,” the Professor’s voice answered sternly. “She will get what she came here for first. Only the whole are worthy to join with us.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” the voice answered, followed by the sound of Penny falling to her knees. At the interruption, Maya glanced at her surroundings, her eyes lingering on the silver platter on the table. She caught the eyes of the goddess. Her eyes. Staring back at her from the mirrored metal.

Maya’s mind seemed to play tricks on her, as she saw glimpses of Penny and Professor Trevor through her stupor. The professor continued to speak to her, keeping her deep in trance as she walked along the beach inside her mind. Waves, water, tides, the smell of salt overwhelming her, pulling her deeper. She saw flashes of flesh, bodies intertwined, in time with the cresting tides. All the while, the professor spoke to her, guiding her through oceans of beauty as her own eyes locked with the naked goddess in the mirror.

“You see yourself the way you see other women. You are just as beautiful, just as strong, just as deserving,” he continued to prod Maya’s unconscious mind, evoking images of all the women she had ever loved. Slowly, different messaging began to slip in. “Your natural arousal is heightening,” Professor Trevor intoned, punctuated with strange sounds.

“The images you see arouse you, make you wet with desire. Overwhelm you.”

Maya continued to watch the swirling mirage of flesh in her vision, Penny’s head rhythmically undulating at the edge of the coffee table and mixing with images from Maya’s mind’s eye. Jenna’s eyes looking up from between Maya’s legs. Claudia’s embrace. The goddess Maya, writhing on the tiny sofa reflected in the mirror, as beautiful and arousing as any woman she had ever known, her delicate hands caressing her body.

Her mind a cloudy haze, flashing in and out of consciousness, Maya watched with fascination as her mirror self began to touch. Her gentle hands knew exactly where to touch her, and Maya felt every sensation where the goddess lingered. They drifted over her breasts, Maya sighing with desperate pleasure as she watched the goddess’s hands glide across her body. The beautiful body, deep brown nipples aching, back arching. The goddess spread her legs, her thick and voluptuous thighs ringing out as she let her fingers dip into her sex.

Every ounce of Maya wanted to touch the goddess, to bury herself in her bosom. She heard the professor’s voice encouraging her, willing her arousal forward as she continued her act of worship.

“Yes, Maya,” his voice rang through, twinged with a carnal need of his own. “Give into the pleasure you see, let your arousal crest with the waves around you. You want to serve.”

Maya’s eyes opened wide as she looked down at her own body, her breasts heaving as both hands worked between her legs. She saw the body of the goddess before her, her mind filling with devotion.

“Your arousal makes you want to serve your master,” Professor Trevor’s straining voice continued. “You want to please your master. You want to anticipate your master’s needs.”

“Oh, master, she’s so close,” Penny’s voice rang out again, punctuated with rhythmic thumping. “Do you see how close she is to being yours?” Professor Trevor made a hissing sound at that, followed by a deep guttural groan.

Maya felt her orgasm cresting as the goddess touched her, wanting desperately to please her, to serve her. She knew the goddess needed this, and she knew that the goddess wanted her to feel the same pleasure. Together, Maya rode her own fingers in ecstasy as she devoted herself to her master, the beauty in the mirror. She felt the rushing waves of pleasure course through her body, serving the needs of the goddess.

Finally spent, Maya collapsed back onto the pillows on the sofa. As her mind drifted away with the tide, Professor Trevor’s voice returned to its normal cadence and he resumed guiding her through her trance. “You are deserving of love,” he continued. “You feel safe here, and you want to return to the safety you feel. You want to keep healing. You have a desire to heal, and a desire to serve.”

He continued echoing the mantras as Maya slipped deeper and deeper, nearing sleep. “As I guide you out of the trance, you will sleep for five minutes and awaken feeling centered and content, with no memory of the journey you have taken. Counting down from 10, you will fall into a sleep and then awaken refreshed.

10, you are worthy of love.

9, you are as beautiful as any woman you have known.

8, you find safety at the sound of my voice.

7, you are falling deeper and deeper into sleep.

6, you want to keep your desire to serve.

5, your arousal fuels your desire to serve.

4, your body is worthy of love.

3, you want to anticipate your master’s needs.

2, you feel safe and relaxed and loved.

And 1. Sleep.

Maya fell into a deep slumber, not hearing Professor Trevor’s voice continue to speak. “Penny, please put her clothes back on before she wakes up. And bring us some water.”

“Yes, sir,” Penny replied as she carefully pulled Maya’s dress back over her head. “Do you think it worked? Will she join us?” she asked.

“It’ll take a bit of time to sink in, but soon enough she’s going to be aching to serve me,” he replied. “Just like you, dear,” he added.

“I’ve always wanted to serve you, Professor,” Penny replied. “You’d never need to go to all that trouble for me,” taking a sip of the tea she had become accustomed to.

“Of course not,” the professor said, “Now, go get that water for our guest.”

Maya woke up five minutes later to an empty office, a glass of water waiting for her on the coffee table. A bit confused as to how she had fallen asleep in a therapy session, she gathered up her things to leave, feeling oddly peaceful. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she felt like Professor Trevor must have really helped her. Though next time, she’d probably say no to that tea. She couldn’t quite place put her finger on it, but she was pretty sure she had been dreaming about some pretty intense things.

She walked up to the front desk where the blonde receptionist was working diligently, and pulled out her wallet. “What do I owe for the session?” Maya asked.

“Oh, we’ll put it on the bill for next time, don’t worry,” the receptionist replied. “You do want to make a follow-up appointment, right?”

Maya hadn’t really thought about it, but it seemed like a reasonable choice, considering how relaxed she felt right now. “Oh, yeah, I guess so,” she responded, causing the receptionist to smile. She made another appointment in two weeks, which should give her enough time to have another session with Claudia before she came back to deal with the eccentric professor.

Without giving much more thought to the professor or the session, Maya walked out of the office. As she turned a corner she immediately averted her eyes out of habit at the sight of a framed mirror on the wall. She had conditioned herself to never see her body if she could avoid it. She knew too well how even a tiny glimpse of her disgusting form would send her into a tailspin.

But something tickled the back of her brain and she couldn’t help but glance back up. She wasn’t sure why she was subjecting herself to the torture of seeing herself, but the pull was too strong to resist. Making eye contact with the form in the mirror, she almost didn’t recognize the face staring back at her. Holy shit, she thought, almost tearing up at the fact that she mere sight of her face didn’t make her want to vomit. I actually look good. She marveled at how her dark eyes sparkled and the way her black curls framed her face, almost mesmerized by the beauty she was witnessing.

Maya found it hard to look away, but as she finally did, she felt a flush of arousal creep across her neck and a familiar tension between her thighs. She was going to have to take some time this evening to... serve her own needs, she thought to herself. After all, she deserved to have her needs met. Awash with an odd sense of arousal, Maya took a step into the sunlight and made her way home.