A beginning like any other...

I started studying Psychology in 1990 at Concordia University. I was an excellent student, I had straight A’s. I then had an on-the-job-training in 1997, which allowed me to learn the ropes. In the 2000s, a vacant position became available to be a psychologist in a clinic near my home. Indeed, my job was to help people with therapies, but I had not been warned that this work included overtime. My first sessions were rather simple: difficulties in a couple, troubled children, etc. Even after 25 years in the same company, I was on the drive of work and had never misconducted. I still wondered quietly when I was going to retire, because I had put aside a lot of money for it and I had finished paying the mortgage for my house with my husband.

Choice 1 : A morning like any other.

Choice 2 : A morning like no other.

A morning like no other.

It was an ordinary morning when I was going to work that something unusual happened. I was called urgently on a murder investigation. Indeed, a citizen had found a dead body in an alley. When I got to the crime scene, I saw rather a luxurious grave with a naked body inside. The victim's genitals were covered with pale pink paint, his lips were sewn together and his hands were placed on his lower abdomen with all of his fingers intertwined. I went to see the chief investigator of this case (Investigator Dan) to find out a little bit about why I had been brought here. I was then told that a series of murders had been committed using a similar method during the past week. In fact, the only differences between all the murders were the color of the paint used and of course, the victims of these. The first victim was Clara Cooper (painted pale blue). The second victim was Beatrice Decker (painted in pale purple). The third victim and the one who was a few meters from me, was Sarah Jones (painted in pale pink). Investigator Dan told me that he had trouble pinning the killer and that the help of a psychologist could help to create the profile of the killer.

Choice 1 : Investigation resolution

Choice 2 : Failure to resolve the investigation

A morning like any other.

It was a morning like any other, when I was going to work that I decided to have a coffee in one of my favorite cafes. I thought it was going to start my day well because I had a lot of paperwork to do and a few clients to receive. So, I walked to the cafe near my office because it was a sunny day. I had to queue for a while because it was a rush hour, and it is a very popular cafe. Once in my turn, I ordered a large caramel macchiato with half coconut milk and half soy milk. The cashier recognized me because I'm a fairly regular customer, and we talked for a while. After receiving my drink and finishing talking to the cashier, I went straight to my office and started to do my consultation reports that I hadn't had the courage to do the day before. Two hours later, I had finished my coffee, and I was to receive a client soon.

Choice 1 : An afternoon like any other

Investigation resolution.

So, I analyzed the clues and the investigation into the murders and it took me about a week before I could finally really help the investigators. First, I discovered that the killer had a remarkable obsession with details. The victims were all women who had previously worked in a clothing store. Following my analyzes transmitted to the investigators, they followed the trail of the clothing stores. They were then able to trace a credit card that had been used to buy clothes. At Clara Cooper's store he bought a blue T-shirt, at that of Beatrice Decker he bought a purple T-shirt and that of Sarah Jones, a pink T-shirt. This is how the police were able to corner the killer: Carl Johnson. I then went to visit Carl with a psychiatrist to assess his mental health to see if he should be institutionalized in an asylum or incarcerated in a prison. The psychiatrist and I used psychoanalysis to find out where Carl’s murderous ideas came from. We discovered that in fact, during his phallic phase, Carl couldn't really get close to his mother. In the phallic phase, it is the development of the superego that is affected, that is to say everything concerning the regulations, guilt and control of the drives. The phallic phase occurs from 3 to 6 years old and it is in this phase that Carl was supposed to develop his Oedipus complex, that is to say to have romantic feelings towards his mother. It is through this complex that we learn the first prohibition, that is to say, incest. Following the first ban, we learn all the others, in other words, we learn what is good and what is bad. Indeed, Carl's mother was often absent during this period because she prostituted herself to be able to support herself as well as possible. His mother often wore pale clothing and underwear, which is why he painted his victims in pale colors. Having never resolved his Oedipus complex, Carl never really learned to control his impulses and tell the difference between good and evil. In addition, his image of his mother was very negative, which is why the women they killed looked like his mother. That is how they chose his victims. After this psychoanalytic analysis, the psychiatrist concluded that he still had good mental health, even if he experienced several traumas when he was young.

Choice 1 : A long-awaited end

Failure to resolve the investigation.

So, I analyzed the clues and the investigation into the murders and it took me about a week before I could finally really help the investigators. First, I discovered that the killer had a remarkable obsession with details. However, even with my analysis, the investigators failed to make connections with a potential killer. After three months of research and a few other similar murders, we still have not been able to find the person responsible for these acts of violence. For my part, I was not a detective, so I could not do much to help the investigation. I was going to talk to Investigator Dan all the same, but nothing more… The knowledge that a killer of this type was on the loose made me crazy, but the fact that I was powerless in the face of it was even worse. Even with the greatest efforts and a lot of time devoted to the resolution of this investigation, the killer has still not been trapped ...

Choice 1 : An end not as we would have liked

A long-awaited end.

In short, this whole story is one of the most intense experiences I have had in my life. I find that by looking at people's past, certain actions can be explained well. It was after this last psychotherapy that I finally decided to retire because I thought I had accomplished what I had to accomplish as a psychologist. Since I am no longer a psychologist, I often volunteer for mental health organizations, but of course, without a wage.

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An end not as we would have liked.

In short, this whole story is one of the most intense experiences I have had in my life. I wish I could have ended my career in an extraordinary way by cornering the killer ... Alas, some things are always unanswered and the good guys do not win all the time.

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An afternoon like any other.

I read in the paper just before my client walked in that atrocious murders had happened in town. I am sure that the killer must be an impressive case to analyze, because his murders are bloody. When my client arrived, we did a session of one hour and thirty minutes. We talked about several things. My client's name is John. He came from Russia with a doctorate in Physiotherapy in his pocket. He hopes to find a job as a Physiotherapist in the city. He eventually got a job on a hockey team. He's getting married. John is satisfied, nothing more. He sends a lot of money to his parents in Russia. He is proud to help his family. When asked if he was happy, John often replies that he does not feel much happiness. So, I decided to diagnose her with dysthimia.

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