Posted by Daisym on February 29, 2008, at 23:14:36
In reply to Re: attacked (verbally) in group » sunnydays, posted by Kath on February 29, 2008, at 22:08:07
Group dynamics are very hard. Sometimes the group needs to talk about the process of group and not "stuff" - if you know what I mean. When I was in group, usually I was the one who would bring it up, but lots of other people where thinking about it. You might want to start the next group by bringing up your desire to talk about group itself during your check in. (I assume you all check in?) I think Kath is right, use lots of "I" statements if you can. And I have called our group therapist and talk privately to her about what I was feeling and ways to bring it up.
But it seems really important to also look at what you can learn from this and if it is a pattern for you too - not just the other person who is attacking. Are you often the target of meanness (I'm NOT saying this is OK) - and/or do you "help" a group focus on a joint task by becoming that task? For a long time, I tried to "help" the group leaders without realizing I was doing it. I'd take on a lot of the group difficulties, including being the one expressing emotion. Luckily we had a very experienced group therapist who called me on it - often!
Group therapy was a hard experience but a really good one for me. I miss it.
poster:Daisym
thread:815401
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080226/msgs/815501.html