Group Therapy

I had the privilege of attending a group therapy workshop today and thought I'll jot down some points which I hope to remember.

1. It's not easy being a facilitator in the forming stage of group work. Neither is it easy on the participant. I think the personality of the participant plays a big part in how the group starts off. If they know each other very well and if they're the loud, boisterous kind, then you're in for a good time. But it is more likely that you'll get a mixture of loud and quiet ppl; and even the loud ones can be quiet until they feel comfortable being themselves. How can members be made to feel comfortable?

2. Creating a safe environment helps. Expectations are rapidly being formed by members once the group process begins. The facilitator can help build the group's culture by setting norms, rules & standards. Once the members knows that it's safe to share and that it's natural to contribute, the group process should be smoother.

3. The most effective way to convince/teach a member about something, is if another group members does the convincing. This is one of the most important factors of group work - the power that arises within the group and the power that only a fellow member can give; members are unlikely to be as convinced if told so by the facilitator.

4. Essential therapeutic factors:
- Insight (interpersonal and genetic)
- LIA (Learning through Interpersonal Action)
- Acceptance & Cohesiveness
- Self disclosure

I managed to participate in a role play exercise whereby we were given traits that were written on cards and placed on our foreheads (like Indian Poker). We couldn't see what was written on our cards but had to relate to each other using the 'labels' that we could see on each other's foreheads.

It was pretty interesting for me. Cos before I realised what my trait was, I brought my own personality in my interaction in that group; but when I realised that everyone was looking at me, showing their concern. I felt uneasy and all of the sudden, I didn't wanna talk and just wanted to shift the attention away to another group member. They kept asking me, "Do you need help?" In a sense, I couldn't guess what my trait was but I ended up claming up somewhat. The same happened to some of the others in the groups, in particular, the ones who got "Insignificant. Ignore me" and "Stupid. Give me a sneer". After awhile, they just gave up trying to give their opinions.

I think it's a very powerful exercise because it made me realise certain things -

sometimes when we have preconceived notions of certain members, you tend to act in a certain way to them which kinda makes them act in that way; thus, it's important for us to be open and not judge or label our clients. In fact, I was toying with the idea of how we can give positive labels to a member, in the hope that s/he will take up that trait. Sounds good eh? But applying it in practice is not easy. In fact, all that I mentioned might expose a big gap between theory and application. Well, I'm gonna try anyway and I hope to be able to explore some of these when I start to co-facilitate groups :)

How did what happened today, happen?

That's my hw qn...I'm still thinking about it...

1st week of work

In case someone didn't notice, I've changed my layout, name, etc. It's part of my greater plan to become anonymous to those who may stumble upon my blog. But darn, I have pics and stuff. I guess I have to censor what I say, somewhat.

Anyway, I had a good 1st week of work. Don't think the 1st week will be an accurate reflection but it's a good start nonetheless. I feel exciting to start work but the orientation program's pretty long, which in a sense is good cos I won't be thrown into the deep end to sink or swim.

My immediate boss is on maternity leave but my team leader and other colleagues are very nice. There's so much to learn from them too! Getting used to the routine though I still have some problem sleeping early. Quite tiring though am not doing much real work myself. Going on course this coming Mon-Wed: Group Psychotherapy. Shd be interesting.

Hmmm, the mood to write has passed. Well, it's come again, soon. I hope.

Herald of a new journey!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new journey and the end of my 14 days of unemployment. A tinge of excitement imbues me...

I guess in a sense the past few weeks have been a blur. I've done a lot, met up with people and also slacked when needed.

Now a different calling beckons.

I wonder how it will be like. I wonder how I will fare.

Haha.

Updates soon, I guess.

2006

I've been wanting to reflect and blog about the past year but either laziness or a bad memory has inhibited progress. Here it is anyway...in bits and chunks...

I think the most significant milestone last year would be that of graduating. I mean, after 4 bloody years of slogging my balls off work, it finally paid dividends. Well, I got what I worked so hard for and in terms of academia, I couldn't have asked for more:

Bachelor of Social Sciences, 1st Class Honours (Social Work)
Singapore Association of Social Worker's Gold Medal
SINDA Academic Excellence Award

Having mentioned this, 2006 marked the end of studying life, and the start of working life. And I've learnt that your paper qualifications count for nothing when you start work. You start from scratch; the degree just gets you the job.

And so I start work from July - December 2006. In a sense, there wasn't a need to adapt to a change in environment or colleagues, but rather a shift, or rather a loss in freedom and also, learning the proper etiquette in the working world. I rem the words of a "mini-stir" whom I met this year and what he said rings loud and clear in my head - you have to start at the bottom of the food chain.

This year, a new challenge awaits and I'm sure there'll be lots to share...though maybe not here.


The other remarkable thing about 2006 has to be the traveling! The last time prior to 2006 that I sat a plane was more than a decade ago - 1996! So to travel thrice to three different countries is definitely memorable! First up was Bangkok. My first trip there and with great company, cheap & good food, I couldn't ask for more. Egypt has got to be the experience of a lifetime. I rem reading back one of my entries and recounting that this has got to be the bunch of ppl to do this trip with; and I wasn't wrong. There were bits that were less than desirable - freezing in the desert, irritating touts, extreme heat - but there were so many other moments during the trip made it all worthwhile - playing cricket in the desert, snorkeling in the red sea, cheonging at MOS, taking in all the wonderful sunsets (hmmm, I think we never saw the sun rise!), being in great company of hilarious people who looked out for each other, and having a room-mate who liked to parade around the room almost naked and who made promises to wait for me to bath finish but always ended up falling asleep before I was done (and mind you, I don't take very long to bath!) Egypt, you have got to be THE memory of 2006! Last, there was Perth - my virgin trip to the land down under. It was all the more memorable cos it was with my mum & sis, and I planned everything from scratch! I hope my mum & sis will rem it for years to come; afterall, it was for them! :)

I guess since the stage has been set, what's left is the people! I guess it would be apt to say that it was the people around me who made everything so good.

Social work honours classmates: I mean what would my honours year be without them man? Esp CY & Ahbao. Will treasure the memories man, like our prep for Crisis presentation, hahaha, and getting everyone to kneel down on the floor, including our lecturer. heh.

CSS peeps: I was so glad that they were still around and made life so much better. To all the ppl who turned up in my office - Jon, Lex, MarkG, Chark, Carol, Ryan, Kayne. And all those I could still see so regularly cos of the proximity. My juniors - Moses, Mark, Ade & Steph and other CG members like Brian who's only as far as an sms away. Really glad to have known you guys better. Hope that we'll keep up the suppers and meeting up. Love you all to bits; you guys are truely the Christ in this NUS community and the Love I feel in my heart.

Colleague: Couldn't ask for a better office mate who's not only a great listener, but also an excellent hot choc/teh/choc-eating buddy! Will miss ya zhu!

Church peeps: Alan, Chris & Ed - thanks for the wonderful suppers, sharings, support and fellowship man. This yr's gonna be tough, but we will make it work. Not on our strength alone, but His as well!

Social work students: I guess thanks to all the student RAs we hired and my presense in the department, I managed to (finally) increase my social circle rather extensively! I mean after a few yrs in NUS, you end up hanging around with the same bunch of ppl , not tt it's a bad thing la. But through the research projects and stuff, I got to know some wonderful people and I hope that our friendship will remain this year.

Perennial favs: haha, such-named cos I still meet up with them super often! wayne, draggie, markC, dan, glo, and most recently, the house reps!

Thank you for the memories .


Met up with addie recently and I received my 1st official wedding invitation! Indeed, Alan's words are starting to ring true - one gets the most wedding invitations when one is 26! Or at least, that's why it starts to hot up. We'll see. So to addie, congrats and all the best with wedding prep. Cya on the 1st of Dec!

Happy 2007 everyone!