Thanks, Carolyn.
Yes, I heard back again this morning, and we've confirmed for Sat. (I wasn't sure if we would, since it's a holiday weekend.) I'm very excited and really looking forward to it. I am so happy to have found someone with her credentials and background ... hope she lives up to them!! Will be interesting, in any case. The spiritual aspect of this is getting worse and worse. It's been getting worse for me every week at church, and now, thankfully, choir is done so I can take the summer off. (Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. This year I desperately need the time away from there.) But truthfully, I am doubting my ability to go back in the fall. And, I am actually doubting my faith for I think the first time in my life. Job well done by a pastor, no?
How do you do the avatar thing? I've wanted to post a picture of my cat, Lily, but didn't know how.
I talked about the inner child thing at group last night. We had a really good group. there's a member who wasn't there, who I really like but he really dominates because he is very intelligent, perceptive ... and talks (nearly always as feedback to us, not so much about himself.) I've been getting annoyed lately because, although what he has to say really is truly insightful, he's so vocal that I don't get feedback from the others, who quite often delight me with what they have to say. (Talk about voicelessness! It's on their shoulders that they don't speak up.) I was going to tell him this last night.
But he wasn't there, so it was a lot more free-flowing. It's always a very different group when he's not there. He's a big presence.
Anyway -- I should put this on the food thread! -- we spent almost the entire session talking about food. (One of the guys started it.) It stirred up some memories in me; they seemed like a beginning. I did talk about this board and how people had recommended doing the IC thing.
It really was a good session. Therapist talked about how not many therapists do group any more, some of the reasons, etc. Since the other two, who are fairly new, were trying to remember how long they'd been in group, therapist looked it up. Then -- groan! -- he looked me up too. Yup. It will be 20 years this November.
I was impressed with myself, though. I thought I'd been individual for a year before I started group. I started individual in mid-november, started group the next February. That is a very short time to know a new therapist and jump into group. (Of course, I had no idea what I was getting into!) I impressed myself with my courage.
I'll never forget my first night. I walked into the waiting area, dressed as well as I could, hair, make-up, etc., feeling fairly well presented (I was much better at it then; younger -- although I am not making quite the revival!!) -- a bunch of people sitting there. I introduced myself.
We walked in, sat down, and Art, this fireman guy who I will ALWAYS love and respect, looked at me and said, "you have a dynamite face. How come you're overweight?"
And that was my introduction to group.
I told you they were a vocal bunch!!
Art is one of my favorite people of all time. He had quite a story ... and he became the most honest person I have ever met. It was an amazing privilege to watch him grow. Just loved him! I was so sorry when he left; he was perhaps the one person I remember who actually did all the work he needed to do, and truly "graduated." (Maybe someone else did, but I can't remember. But I tend to think not.)
Sorry for the reminiscing ... but thought maybe someone would be interested in a description of group. It's not like the Bob Newhart show at all! (Well, maybe a little.)
I was also impressed to find out that my therapist had done postgraduate study for three years in group therapy. Very interesting story. He went an extra year so he could train with a very well known group therapist/professor, Pamela Frank. (Guess who's going to google her today, ha, ha.)
That's him -- very responsible and dedicated and professional.
