Weird Barbie goes to Therapy

Scene: Therapy Session with Riley and Weird Barbie

The therapy room is cozy, with soft lighting, plush furniture, and shelves filled with books and toys. Riley, the therapist, sits in an armchair, her posture calm and open. Inside her mind, Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger man the control panel, ready to react to the unfolding conversation. Across from her sits Weird Barbie—her hair chopped unevenly, face scribbled with marker, and wearing a wild mix of outfits. She fidgets slightly, her demeanor a mix of confusion, defiance, and vulnerability.


---

Riley: [smiling gently] So, Weird Barbie, thanks for coming today. I understand you’re feeling like you don’t really belong in Barbie Land?

Weird Barbie: [sitting cross-legged, tapping her foot nervously] Yeah… I mean, I’m not like the others, am I? They all have perfect hair and perfect lives. Meanwhile, I’m… [gestures to her disheveled appearance] this. They look at me like I’m broken, like I’m some freak.


---

Inside Riley’s head, Sadness steps up to the console, her shoulders slumped.

Sadness: "I know what it’s like to feel out of place. This is so sad…"

Joy quickly intervenes, gently pushing Sadness aside.

Joy: "Hold on! We can help her! Let’s try to focus on the positive. She’s unique! Let’s celebrate that."


---

Riley: [softly] It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. You’re different, but that doesn’t make you less than the others. In fact, it sounds like you’re needed in Barbie Land because you offer something no one else does. Have you ever thought about how your uniqueness helps others?

Weird Barbie: [frowning, confused] Helps? I mean… the only time anyone comes to see me is when they’ve messed up and want to hide it. I’m the ‘fix-it Barbie,’ or worse, the one they laugh at.


---

Inside Riley’s mind, Disgust rolls her eyes, adjusting a lever.

Disgust: "Ugh, why do people have to be so judgmental? I mean, Weird Barbie is way more interesting than those ‘perfect’ ones!"

Fear chimes in.

Fear: "But what if we say the wrong thing and she feels even more misunderstood?"

Joy steps forward again, determined.

Joy: "No, we’ve got this. Weird Barbie has her own strengths, and we need to help her see them!"


---

Riley: [nodding thoughtfully] That must be really tough. You’re always there when people need help, but it feels like they don’t see you for who you really are. But I wonder… have you thought about how, because you’re different, you know things they don’t? You have a kind of wisdom they can’t get from anyone else. I think that’s why they come to you.

Weird Barbie: [raises an eyebrow skeptically] Wisdom? From me? I mean, sure, I’ve been around, and I’ve seen some stuff. But that just makes me… weird, doesn’t it?


---

Sadness sighs in Riley’s mind, but Joy stays persistent.

Joy: "Wisdom isn’t always pretty or perfect. Sometimes it’s messy, but that’s what makes it real."

Anger, however, seems less patient.

Anger: "Ugh! Why do people have to call her ‘Weird Barbie’? It's so unfair! I hate that!"


---

Riley: [leans forward slightly] You’re not weird