Group work.
OBJECTIVES::
Developmental
Building Confidence
Encouraging self esteem
Christmas theme.
Context::
A late night gathering
of Hostel Residents
late teens/early 20's
separated from family
for various reasons
and feeling it ........
I started by giving each member of the group
a little Christmas tree the size if a 5 pence coin.
See above sprinkled on my desk today.
Then I asked what feelings they had -
seeing - feeling this.
As usual, many have difficulty to contact how they feel.
Out-slipped words like
'I hate Christmas',
'I don't like Christmas',
'I have no money to buy, not even, one present.'
I then moved to asking them
who the main human characters were
in the Christmas story.
The first word uttered was 'Santa'.
Soon after there was a list of eight mentioned -
come on - you can do this yourself now!
Their names/descriptions went into a hat,
Jesus too.
Each drew one and I went around the circle
asking how they thought that one character 'felt' -
feelings question.
Here are some stand out feelings;
Mary - stressed
Joseph - scared/worried
Innkeeper - guilty
King - good-to-give
Shepherd - in awe
Angel - 'yes'! - sorted!
Three noted as negative feelings and
they were the main focus of the whole affair
as responsible adults.
The rich - feeling good to give not receiving.
The tough rough/simple life style shepherd - awe - overwhelmed.
The last one was a dead pleased Angel
who really knew that this was pretty good news
........... "YESSSSSSS"
Why do this?
Why do I do this sort of group work?
• am on a journey to cultivate in myself,
and others, an increasing ability
to be able to get into contact my/their own feelings.
• Looking at others and empathising is a learning process into sensitivity.
• Articulating those feelings is a process of 'owning' such powerful things as feelings and becoming Emotionally Literate.
• A human identification with a powerful historical spiritual human story.
Reality at Christmas - to escape the tinsel
for some small moments ....
.... and it was stinking good .........
Why not try it on humans around you?
Adapt - of course.
You never know, they may be pleased to talk 'real'
midst the rest of the Christmas slippery slope.
I am 'being' with, during the past week,
humans who are;
Visibly self harming
Severe depressed
Lost and uncertain
Lonely and afraid
No place like home to go at Christmas
Refugee
No money for food.
Failing health - vulnerable.
Deep feelings and disturbed
(the last one is me
and I want to be disturbed!)"
So that was a group work experience.
It stirs my bones
to feel what they feel.
Create a space where they can trust.
Trust at a level
where they can share vulnerabilities.
Not that ANSWERS are given.
BUT support by being able to voice
their inner life - hurts - struggles ......
Do you know anyone hurting at Christmas.
It can be overwhelming
but - we can't do everything
but we can all do something .....
bBeautiful this Christmas ......
