As You Like It

You already did make yourself useful. I just re-read your post, and read up on on the empathic metamorph, who becomes whatever the other person wants or needs. That might have a shade of similarity to something I sometimes saw back when I had an active practice. But it wasn't the "empathic metamorph" who became my patient, rather their partner who was in shock and disbelief after their "perfect" lover or "soul mate" suddenly changed--I suspect due to finding someone new to idealize and merge with. Now, from what I briefly read about the Kriosian empathic metamorphs of Star Trek, there are more male empathic metamorphs, while the females are only born once every seven generations. I suspect it's more even or the opposite in real life. It's also fascinating how the females turn so many men on during their "training," apparently leaving a swath of broken hearts in their wake. (You know, when students would ask me what was the best way to prepare themselves for being a psychologist, I would always say to get a degree in literature rather than taking undergrad psychology courses. And I suspect that well-written sci-fi is far more psychological than the bodice-ripper genre. Probably more instructive about sex and relationships, as well. Sci-fi seems to deal more with the unconscious itself rather than just the effects of the unconscious).