[Justin lays back in the chair of his dentist who suggests a way to help him stop his thumb sucking condition]
Dr. Perry Lyman:
It's time we were honest with each other.
Justin Cobb:
Yeah?
Dr. Perry Lyman:
I don't wanna fix your teeth all over again. It's time to confront the underlying issue.
Justin Cobb:
What do you mean?
Dr. Perry Lyman:
I know what your problem is. It's an understandable habit. In fact, what's strange is that people ever quit. It's nature's substitute for your mother's breast. How were you fed as a baby? From a bottle?
Justin Cobb:
I can't remember.
Dr. Perry Lyman:
Any tension at home? Anxiety? Any bad memories?
[Justin has a flashback of playing little league and missing the catch of a high fly ball]
Justin Cobb:
No conscious ones.
Dr. Perry Lyman:
We never remember the big ones anyways. Some dumb babysitter holds your mouth shut so she can watch soap operas in peace. At 40 you wonder why you can't stay married. There's only so much I can do with traditional orthodontics. Justin. Justin. Are you ready to let go of your thumb?
Justin Cobb:
Why are you talking like that?
Dr. Perry Lyman:
Answer my question.
Justin Cobb:
What are you gonna do?
Dr. Perry Lyman:
I wanna try hypnosis.
Justin Cobb:
[Justin smiles wanting to laugh]
No way.
Dr. Perry Lyman:
Yeah. Really, I've seen it do wonders. Just try and relax. The more relaxed you are, the deeper we can go. Focus on the moon in the painting.
[Dr. Perry points to the painting behind him on the wall of his office]
Dr. Perry Lyman:
[Dr. Perry turns out his office lights and lights a candle]
Sense of peace... like a white light... fills your body. Imagine the white light... filling your feet... and your legs. Then your torso. Then your head. Imagine you're on a path. You're deep in the forest. A shaft of light illuminates a wild animal.
[Justin see's the image of a male deer with antlers]
Dr. Perry Lyman:
This is your power animal. See it. Study it. When you feel like sucking your thumb, I want you to call on your power animal. Call it now.
Justin Cobb:
[Justin whimpers out loud]
Come here.
Dr. Perry Lyman:
Do it in your mind. Whenever you feel afraid, alone, call on your power animal. You're not alone. You're not afraid. You don't need your thumb. And your thumb doesn't need you.
[Justin wakes up]
Dr. Perry Lyman:
Justin, from now on, your thumb will taste like Echinacea.
Justin Cobb:
[Justin asks before leaving Mr. Perry's office]
What's your power animal?
Dr. Perry Lyman:
That's personal.
