Group Therapy

By Karlynn Holbrook

Rachels career comes to a blinding halt when she has what her co-workers describe as a mental breakdown at work and verbally lashes out at her senior leadership. She doesnt remember anything. Rachel is quickly forced to choose between getting fired and getting help. She consciously buried her past hurts, and opening old wounds is the last thing she wants to do, except her career is everything to her. Will Rachel go to counseling and get the help she needs or continue to allow her past disappointments ruin her future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512725360

Karlynn Holbrook

Karlynn Holbrook is a communications professional with a passion for developing people into strong servant leaders. She was inspired to coach future leaders through her time at Biola University, where she earned a master of arts in organizational leadership. It was there she realized the critical connection of one’s past to one’s character to the impact it has on being an effective leader of others. Karlynn loves to travel, going to the theatre, and cherishes her family and friends. She lives in California with her husband, Todd, and beloved felines, Bugsy and Bonnie. Connect with the author by following her on Facebook or Twitter @Leadspirations

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© 2016 Karlynn Holbrook.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Author photo: © (ABC/Todd Wawrychuk)

WestBow Press

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2535-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2536-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015921212

Print information available on the last page.

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/14/2016

Contents

Chapter 1 Breaking Down

Chapter 2 The Morning After

Chapter 3 Two Words: Thera-py

Chapter 4 You Are Not Alone

Chapter 5 Annie Webber

Chapter 6 Vivir Una Vida Loca

Chapter 7 Luna Remnati

Chapter 8 Amy Wu

Chapter 9 Dim Sum Good Eats

Chapter 10 Third Time is Not Always a Charm

Chapter 11 A Gridlocked Life

Chapter 12 Nervous Nellie

Chapter 13 Going Down the Hole

Chapter 14 You Can’t Take It With You

Chapter 15 Rachel Eats Grass

Chapter 16 Finding Peace

Chapter 17 Facing the Music

Chapter 18 Life’s a Pitch

Chapter 19 Making Amends

Chapter 20 Free to Be Me

Dedicated to my husband, Todd.

Thank you for unconditional love and support.

Love you too much.

Chapter 1

Breaking Down

M y heart is racing. My breathing is shallow. The walls close in around me. My framed college diploma pulsates on the wall. A fifteenth-anniversary statue I received last year dances on the shelf. Dizziness overwhelms me. Sweat drips off my body. The glow from my laptop makes me feel nauseous. Why am I sweating so much? I really hope I don’t ruin my Chanel suit.

Rachel, open the door. You can’t stay in there forever. We need you to box up your things. Security is here to take you home.

Security? What’s Joe talking about? Like most ad sales executives, he’s incredibly arrogant. He has no life except for this place. Doesn’t he know how sick I feel? I don’t need security. I could be having a heart attack, and he wants to move my office now for the new carpets that are being put in next week? Oh, no, I think I have to puke. I need to get to the bathroom now.

That’s right, Rachel—just open the door and we’ll help you get home.

Oh … here it comes … can’t … stop …

Joe’s blocking the door. Get out of my—

What’s the matter with you? Hey, Merk, she just threw up all over me. Get her out of here. I don’t get paid enough for this.

Good riddance, Joe.

I can’t feel my legs, and it seems like I’m floating. Yes, I’m floating. There goes the row of cubicles in front of my office. Good-bye, Margie. I never liked her. Soooo fake. Oh, there’s the Keurig machine, my favorite thing about my job. Ha ha. That reminds me of The Sound of Music. These are a few of my favorite things. Hee hee. I think I just sang that out loud.

Wait, we’re in the elevator now. I’m going to push the button for the lobby. I could use some air.

"Oh, for crying out loud. Now we have