Micah is being asked in his psychotherapy sessions to discuss his early childhood experiences and dreams. micah's therapist has most likely been influenced by the ideas of:

The tradition of placing much significance on early childhood experiences and to the content of dreams began with Freud over 100 years ago but has a lineage that extends into the present. Micah's therapist has been influenced by some school of work in the Freudian tradition, anyone from the original Freudians to modern forms of psychodynamic therapy.

White dwarf is very hot, but also very small and that is why it may appear dim.