Posted by James K on February 16, 2006, at 18:57:01
In reply to groups in hospital...what do you think?mini-survey, posted by sleepygirl on February 16, 2006, at 16:11:35
> I'm curious about what people's experiences have been on inpatient psychiatric units
> 1) were you offered any type of group when inpatient?Always. If there aren't groups of some kind, what is the point? I could just have someone lock me in the closet for free. That said, I've been ripped off a time or two.
> 2) was it a therapy group or a recreation group?Both, any real treatment place would have both.
> 3) do you think groups are important inpatient?
> why/why not?Again, I don't see why I would go without therapy, and I can't have individual therapy all day long (financially or emotionaly). The bonds and connections and help from the other patients who are there for the right reasons are sometimes the only positive part of the whole experience.
> 4) what kind of groups would you want?
smaller groups of the same people to deal with deep core issues, bigger groups of education. Rec where they force us out of our shells to some extent.
I've been in so many times, from near the best, to (I hope) near the worst. I've had a group where me, a mentally disabled crack addict, and a therapist in training discussed things that would belong on a sandwich. I've listened to people who are mentally incapable of shutting up have held 15 other people hostage for an hour. I've seen people break down and through and finally say out loud the thing they have never said. I had someone ask us to write down one word that describes ourselves and go around the room discussing, and I'm last and my word was "dead", but group is over so hold that thought. If I ever end up in one of those hallways where people wander up and down the place staring and the tv is never off, and groups don't happen for this reason and that reason, I'm going to start showing my bad side. The facilitator and the readiness of the patients is the key. If the facilitator whatever the credentials can't control the process, or too many people aren't in the right frame of mind for healing, the hour is wasted. I always go. I can't sleep there anyway, and the day rooms and grounds (there are never grounds) are off limits during group. I always have to go to the chemical dependency groups, so never get to talk about child abuse, and self injury.More than you asked.
James K
poster:James K
thread:610338
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060211/msgs/610387.html