My Support Forums - View Single Post

imapatient · May 14, 2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktgirl

It seems like everyone is being very defensive of how the group reacted, but Imapatient, I think I see things like you do.

May I ask, how long have you been part of the group?
I know when I have participated in group therapy, I have always tried to be very supportive and sympathetic. If someone has the courage to disclose something deeply personal and/or painful, I respect that and honor it by responding appropriately.

From what you describe, it sounds like the group handled it badly. And the T handled it badly as well - maybe people were uncomfortable responding, but the T should have facilitated the interaction better, so that you could get some useful or validating feedback.

I don't blame you for not wanting to go back. I don't see how it could be helpful for you to take risks like that and be 'hung out to dry' afterwards.
I'm sorry it happened this way, Imapatient.

Thanks KT. The point is this: Most of the time people are given feedback of some sort--almost always. So that's why it was so weird. I didn't get into the worst of it, the sexual abuse part.

What I expected minimally and maybe only at all since it's so involved and heavy, was for someone to say "that's a horrible way for a parent to treat their kind" or what is commonly said when not getting into specific details "I'm a parent and I would never treat my kid that way."

It doesn't take a lot of investment and experience in groups to say something as basic like that. It's done all the time for things less severe and more severe.

Part of why I mean the group is lame is in reference to the people currently in the program. They aren't very helpful--in general to each other. A friend in the group’s--an old-timer about to finish tomorrow--feedback (she wasn’t in the process group I was in that day) was that sometimes you just get that mix of people at a given time, as is presently the case. Beyond the lameness in my one situation, I'm wondering if I can get much out of the program with those sorts of people in it right now. Unfortunately they split us into 2 process groups everyday with varying members, so I’ll never have the exact same people in group again.