Barclay’s Hollow Gratitude: The Collapse of a Counseling Session
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Troi attempts to guide Barclay through a relaxation exercise, dimming the lights and instructing him to close his eyes and focus on her voice; Barclay initially complies but shows signs of heightened anxiety.
Barclay abruptly ends the session, claiming it was extremely helpful, and rushes out of Troi's office, leaving Troi puzzled by his behavior and obvious discomfort.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A maelstrom of panic and shame—his exterior performs gratitude while his interior screams for escape. The session forces him to confront the gap between his fantasized confidence and his real helplessness.
Barclay perches on the couch’s edge, his body language screaming discomfort—clenched fists, rapid breathing, and a voice trembling with forced politeness. Troi’s relaxation prompts trigger a physical unraveling: his eyes snap shut too tightly, his feet lift mechanically, and his breathwork becomes a hollow mimicry of calm. His abrupt exit, laced with performative gratitude ('extremely helpful'), reveals his flight from vulnerability, leaving Troi and the audience to grasp the depth of his self-sabotage.
- • To endure the session without revealing his true state (failing spectacularly)
- • To maintain the illusion of competence, even as his body betrays him
- • That his holodeck fantasies are the *only* safe space for connection
- • That real interactions (like this counseling session) will inevitably expose his inadequacy
Professionally composed but inwardly puzzled—her therapeutic instincts clash with Barclay’s inability to engage, leaving her questioning how to reach him.
Troi initiates a therapeutic relaxation exercise, dimming the lights and guiding Barclay with measured, empathetic prompts. Her calm demeanor masks growing concern as Barclay’s anxiety escalates, culminating in his abrupt departure. She remains seated, her puzzled reaction lingering as the door closes behind him, signaling her realization that his issues run deeper than she initially perceived.
- • To help Barclay relax and open up about his anxieties
- • To establish trust and a foundation for future counseling
- • That structured relaxation techniques can bridge his discomfort
- • That his resistance is temporary and rooted in general anxiety, not specific to her
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The couch serves as a physical and psychological battleground. Barclay’s rigid posture and clenched fists compress its cushions, mirroring his internal tension. The low-backed design offers no refuge—its openness forces him to confront Troi’s gaze, amplifying his discomfort. His abrupt stand and exit leave the couch’s surface slightly indented, a silent testament to his fleeting, failed attempt at engagement.
The light panel becomes a catalyst for Barclay’s panic. Troi’s adjustment to dim the room—intended to create a calming atmosphere—instead strips Barclay of visual control, triggering his spiral. The panel’s seamless integration into the office walls underscores the *illusion* of safety: what Troi perceives as a therapeutic tool, Barclay experiences as an environmental trap, heightening his sense of vulnerability.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Troi’s office, designed for intimacy and confidentiality, becomes a pressure cooker for Barclay’s anxiety. The enclosed space—meant to foster trust—instead traps him, with no escape from Troi’s empathetic gaze or the weight of her therapeutic expectations. The dimmed lights and couch’s open layout amplify his exposure, while the office’s institutional neutrality (Starfleet-issue decor, muted colors) clashes with the raw emotion unfolding. Barclay’s flight through the door frames the room as a failed sanctuary, its purpose subverted by his inability to engage.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Troi attempts to counsel Barclay, and due to both his fear and her methods, Barclay abruptly ends the session, claiming it was extremely helpful, and rushes out of Troi's office, leaving Troi puzzled by his behavior and obvious discomfort."
"Geordi gives Barclay the task of finding why the glass changed, just as Troi is counseling Barclay. Both are trying to help Barclay to improve."
"Troi attempts to counsel Barclay, and due to both his fear and her methods, Barclay abruptly ends the session, claiming it was extremely helpful, and rushes out of Troi's office, leaving Troi puzzled by his behavior and obvious discomfort."
"Troi is concerned enough about Barclay's visit to tell Geordi on the bridge."
"Troi is concerned enough about Barclay's visit to tell Geordi on the bridge."
"Troi is concerned enough about Barclay's visit to tell Geordi on the bridge."
Key Dialogue
"TROI: *I can tell this is difficult for you.* BARCLAY: ((quick)) *No!*"
"TROI: *Close your eyes... Lean back.* BARCLAY: *Why?* TROI: *I just want to help you relax.* BARCLAY: *You do?* ((reacts))"
"BARCLAY: *Well, thank-you for your time... This has been *extremely* helpful... in through the nose, out through the mouth... I'll practice and let you know...* ((backing out))"