[Miss Laura]

Hi,

I go to Drama-Therapy once a week. This week was the strangest session I have ever been in. I'm in group there are 10 of us and a Drama Therapist and a Support Worker. However we came back after our Sumner break and for the past 5 weeks there has been no SW. This week the DT told us we have a new SW who is starting next week. A new guy in the group challenged the DT re the new SW ie her name, qualifications etc. We don't get this info and it doesn't bother me if I'm honest as I think that's a personal thing, I would never ask a teacher about their qualifications.

Anyways this guy got really confrontational and in the end said he was taking himself off to the quiet zone as he was feeling drained (as he stated at start of session). We decided to just play games that session and as we started.... The guy in the quiet zone started crying. He was really howling. It felt so awkward. Then the DT went to chat to him but he got more upset. Then another member started to cry this surprised me. I was sitting thinking WTF I really wanted to leave as I can't cope with emotion like that. But I couldn't. DT put music on and said we could do what we like ie draw, chat etc while she spoke to both the guy and girl.

Near the end of the session we all came together and we had to say how we were feeling but the guy couldn't. Another guy started to cry (he has autism) and then out of nowhere another guy started crying.

I felt MASSIVELY uncomfortable and was wishing the time was over. Afterwards I was speaking to another guy in the group and he was like WTF was that.... out of a group of 7, 3 were proper crying and 1 guy was a little teary.

How does this happen over a situation re new SW? Has this kind of thing ever happen to any of you guys?

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[Chummy]

Did they all cry because of a new SW? Maybe they have trouble with new people. Or they can't handle change that well. Or it reminds them at something that happened in the past.

I've been in groupt therapy in the past. Also a group of 10. The group was circulating. Member would leave because they were done and then new people would come in the group. The group (not every group member) was usually a bit sad when someone would leave and weren't looking forward to a new group member. It would take a while before the new one was really accepted.
Also with new T's. Though we didn't got many new one's during the time I was there. Most people would take a while before they got near a new one.

But crying like you disscribed it, no.

[Miss Laura]

Hey there,

I don't know if it was all to do with the new SW as to the reason behind their tears. I really just couldn't fathom why they were all crying. We have had a new DT and several SW's I'm the past and we are all bar 3 people old members. I have only been there for 3 years. I think the guy who has autism was maybe overwhelmed? Unsure about the other guy and girl and I'm guessing the original guy was angry re going around in circles re the new SW?

I guess I'm just flabbergasted as to the situation lol!

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[Miss Laura]

It all came to a head today. This guy is unreal!

Since my first post every week we end up doing no work cause this guy breaks down in tears. We have to change our attitudes and be respectful to and of him. I get it we are all vulnerable but it's got out of hand. The guy last week broke down again and snapped at the DT which annoyed me. She has to be concerned re all of us but he ruined the session. I can't cope with this and I wanted to just leave but DT asked me to stay. So I popped to the toilet for a time out.

By the time I came back he had joined the group and there was a little bit of confrontation with him and 2 group members. Afterwards 2 group members who have only been in that day didn't know this guys history of crying etc so I filled them in.

THIS WEEK!

Today I have to admit I had relief in me as this guy wasn't in. But then he turned up late. We didn't do work again this week as DT wants to get to the bottom of the atmosphere in the room. We all had to say 2-3 words on how we were feeling, write on post it notes re last week and this week and finally we all had to speak and give our thoughts.

This ended with one group member crying and unfortunately we all turned on the original guy just cause he is making us all feel like poo. I said to him it's hard when your upset but won't let anyone help then you kinda depress us all yet by this point your happy as Larry.

The guy had been called by the DT on Tuesday and he was leaving us today. Things were said between him and 2 other members and it looked like it was going to get physical. DT had already said if it got too physical or psychological she would end the session. We were in the session less than an hour.

TODAY I FELT UNEASY, CONFUSED, UNHAPPY RE THE GROUP..... What does next week hold- DT said she would call us all eeeeeekkkkksssss!

What do people make of this?

Is this normal in group therapy?

Experiences etc welcomed

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