Module 2 - 'Empowerment'.
This module also was about exercises over theory.
How to empower ourselves or someone depends on people involved, we have to develop our own methods for each case. There are plenty of these.
Proper communication is important in that, words have power to heal or destroy.
Understanding oneself is a strength, understanding others as well.
Protecting our secrets & weaknessess, as well as releasing difficult emotions in a safe situations can be empowering as well.
In our lives & therapisits employment we'll face different people - some nice, some rude, some aggressive. Wisely choosing our roles (when possible) & masks might prove protection & an invaluable tools, teaching others to choose these can help them as well.
1. Favourite Role.
In life we are put in different roles.
During exercise everyone chose a group in which he or she finds himself or herself most comfortable - among 'leaders', 'supporters' & 'outsiders'.
We talked within our groups about strong & weak points of our roles.
Then we acted out, theatrically expressing these strong & weak points.
Then we talked about these strong/weak points, scenes, roles & common points.
2. Empowerment by Expression.
We sang uplifting texts, combined with proper gestures that added power to this expression.
Texts included:
- 'With open helmet visor, i go to the battle!',
- 'i know my value, and i am proud of it!'.
We learned that sounds of songs are liberating spirit, gestures strenghten, words we speak create us.
Then we talked about feelings & thoughts about this exercise.
We learned that shouting out feelings allows to get rid of emotional garbage, and during psychotherapy there are other methods for that as well - for example by asking someone to throw a pillow or to kick a chair.
We learned that we have blockades that make these exercises difficult, but there are methods to overcome these.
3. Masks.
In a center of room there were various face masks.
Each of us chose two of the masks, one representing mask we wear everyday, and one representing mask we wear in difficult situations.
Then we explained our choices between whole group.
We learned that talking about masks is emotionally difficult, it's in a way 'demasking ourselves' - revealing our secrets & weaknessess.
We learned that mask can be fitting well or cumbersome, there might be need to replace one's mask with other type of a mask.
We learned that masks obscure what's inside, can make feelings accumulate in psyche. Succesfully removing a mask can be liberating, but difficult endeavour.
We learned that masks can be worn subconsciously or with deliberation. Well fitting mask might protect us, might be a 'dynamic truth' that transforms us - mask becomes part of personality.
In our lives masks might be very useful tool for fitting in our social roles (work, parenthood, ...).
4. Emotions of discovery & revealing.
'Leaders' from exercise 1st were randomly assigned groups in which we talked about feelings & thoughts associated with exercise 3rd.
Group leaders related our written reports to everyone, we had opportunity to talk about our findings as well.
5. Orchestra.
Shy volunteers assumed roles of orchestra's leaders, conductors.
Each of conductors in turns gave tasks to each of course's participants (making sounds as howls, talking, hand clapping, stomping, etc ...), then directed 'concerto' by properly gesturing to make chosen people or groups to increase or decrease volume, change tempo, or to silence everyone.
Then we split into groups randomly, each participant was assigned to a conductor. We talked in groups about this exercise, then conductors related group's opinions in one phrase before whole of course's participants.
6. Drawing by Descriptions.
We were paired randomly with other course's participants, each of us randomly chose one of beautiful images provided by course's staff.
In pairs, one of participants described, spoke about image without showing it to other. The other painted or drew it on a piece of paper - asking questions, getting answers as needed. Then we changed roles.
Then we talked about exercise.
We learned that communication has this property, that we skip 'obvious elements' from our descriptions - but what is obvious to one, doesn't have to be obvious to other.
We learned that during communication it's important to name ideas, to listen, to ask questions.
7. Getting into someone's shoes.
We were paired randomly with other course's participants, then one of us followed other for 10 minutes, mimicking every move. After 10 minutes, roles changed - other followed one who led before.
Then we talked about exercise before whole group.
We learned that when we get in someone's shoes, distance is very useful.
We learned that leading partner should be responsible & take into account follower's limitations & needs - but not everyone does that.
We learned that there's difference between empathy & identification.
We learned that kids learn by mimicking parents; we learned that one who is authority, a model - should be responsible, be careful of what he or she is doing.
We understood that distance is useful for getting whole picture - as in Impressionist Art, where from close distance one can see only colorful dots, but at distance whole image can be seen.
8. Deaf Phone.
Randomly selected course's participant (student) got quietly instructions from course's staff, about message to convey. He whispered to his neighbour (we sat in a circle in our room, chairs were placed that way). Message was passed by whispering into neighbours' ear, from a person to person - until whole circle was completed. Then last person spoke message aloud.
Final message was very different from original, yet it contained one word from original message.
We learned that the shorter message, the easier it is to remember.
We learned that longer messages are easily malformed.
We learned that we perceive, hear and understand through 'prism of ourselves'; when we have something we don't understand, or fail to hear, when there's something missing - we add our own personal content.
9. Empowering Letter.
We were paired randomly with other course's participants, then wrote a letter to our partner - something empowering, something that could let someone be stronger, feel nice, feel reassured.
Then we gave letters to whom they were wrote, and read these before whole group.
Saturday, 29 July 2017
Friday, 28 July 2017
'Ex-In' Module 01b/10 - 'Health & Good Mood'.
Module 01b - 'Health & Good Mood'.
This module also consisted mostly of group exercises.
We understood that this is a training group, with a 'pre-given formula'.
It wasn't a therapeutic group.
In a therapeutic group, staff follows patients without enforcing too strict form or too many of rules.
i've skipped one exercise in this article, because it's very difficult to convery with words alone. It taught us that there are often solutions to seemingly impossible problems. i still don't understand how we got it right. Part of group led, part followed, others reassured others to keep going. As a group we did succeed.
1. Sharing Experiences.
We were speaking about feeling we experienced during previous 3-day session.
2. Drawing Difficulties.
We split into groups, and drew or painted what's difficult in a previous 3-day session - from a group's point of view.
Then two representants of each group related plastic artwork's meanings & related comments to everyone.
After relation, anyone could add their own words.
This experience had a goal of expressing feelings, of naming feelings, worked with trust & cooperation in a group.
We understood that when we talk of something, this might touch a 'closed subject' of a person, make old thoughts & feelings alive again. This is good thing - it shows that there's personal emotional & thinking work to do still, at a convenient time & situation for that person.
We understood that exercises that touch feelings of a patient are beneficial, as these start a process of 'working with feelings', and allow everyone to handle accumulated feelings & stress, to get healthier.
We understood something about 'masks we wear' when we fulfill various life's roles - that these not only protect, but also can be cumbersome, can block.
We understood that during a therapist's work one has to bear 'weight of others', we were hinted that we'll learn methods of bearing other people's problems without getting overwhelmed by these, without burning out professionally.
We understood that to endure emotions of other people is similar to enduring one's own emotions. Methods for that are individual, vary per each person.
We understood that in a therapist's work we'll have to find a way to open a person, to help him or her express oneself, that there are 'keys to people', everyone has these.
3. Feelings Cards.
In a corridor there were put large placards with feeling names, with feeling pictures drawn symbolically & simply as well.
We walked around a corridor, we heard music song parts and stood by a proper placard that represented feelings we experienced during that song.
There were 10 songs in total.
We could see & understand how differently different people can react to the same stimuli that way.
4. Circle of Emotions.
We stood in a circle, each of participants spoke one feeling's name & expressed it with a gesture. Everyone repeated that gesture.
We understood that ways to express vary from a person to a person, that 'symbol is never explained forever'.
5. Emotions - Allies or Enemies.
We worked in groups, each group thought, talked and wrote about emotions, whether these are allies or enemies.
Then two representatives of each of our groups shared explainations to everyone.
We understood that during mental ilness emotions are sometimes inadequately shown. Certain people have difficulties of expressing feelings, this results in hindared reactions & social problems.
6. Gifts.
We randomly chose another person in a group, then gave him or her a small gift & commented that in a positive way, before whole group.
Something material or nonmaterial: a postacrd, a mascot, a good word/advice/wish, a banana, a cigarette, etc.
Everyone got a gift.
This module also consisted mostly of group exercises.
We understood that this is a training group, with a 'pre-given formula'.
It wasn't a therapeutic group.
In a therapeutic group, staff follows patients without enforcing too strict form or too many of rules.
i've skipped one exercise in this article, because it's very difficult to convery with words alone. It taught us that there are often solutions to seemingly impossible problems. i still don't understand how we got it right. Part of group led, part followed, others reassured others to keep going. As a group we did succeed.
1. Sharing Experiences.
We were speaking about feeling we experienced during previous 3-day session.
2. Drawing Difficulties.
We split into groups, and drew or painted what's difficult in a previous 3-day session - from a group's point of view.
Then two representants of each group related plastic artwork's meanings & related comments to everyone.
After relation, anyone could add their own words.
This experience had a goal of expressing feelings, of naming feelings, worked with trust & cooperation in a group.
We understood that when we talk of something, this might touch a 'closed subject' of a person, make old thoughts & feelings alive again. This is good thing - it shows that there's personal emotional & thinking work to do still, at a convenient time & situation for that person.
We understood that exercises that touch feelings of a patient are beneficial, as these start a process of 'working with feelings', and allow everyone to handle accumulated feelings & stress, to get healthier.
We understood something about 'masks we wear' when we fulfill various life's roles - that these not only protect, but also can be cumbersome, can block.
We understood that during a therapist's work one has to bear 'weight of others', we were hinted that we'll learn methods of bearing other people's problems without getting overwhelmed by these, without burning out professionally.
We understood that to endure emotions of other people is similar to enduring one's own emotions. Methods for that are individual, vary per each person.
We understood that in a therapist's work we'll have to find a way to open a person, to help him or her express oneself, that there are 'keys to people', everyone has these.
3. Feelings Cards.
In a corridor there were put large placards with feeling names, with feeling pictures drawn symbolically & simply as well.
We walked around a corridor, we heard music song parts and stood by a proper placard that represented feelings we experienced during that song.
There were 10 songs in total.
We could see & understand how differently different people can react to the same stimuli that way.
4. Circle of Emotions.
We stood in a circle, each of participants spoke one feeling's name & expressed it with a gesture. Everyone repeated that gesture.
We understood that ways to express vary from a person to a person, that 'symbol is never explained forever'.
5. Emotions - Allies or Enemies.
We worked in groups, each group thought, talked and wrote about emotions, whether these are allies or enemies.
Then two representatives of each of our groups shared explainations to everyone.
We understood that during mental ilness emotions are sometimes inadequately shown. Certain people have difficulties of expressing feelings, this results in hindared reactions & social problems.
6. Gifts.
We randomly chose another person in a group, then gave him or her a small gift & commented that in a positive way, before whole group.
Something material or nonmaterial: a postacrd, a mascot, a good word/advice/wish, a banana, a cigarette, etc.
Everyone got a gift.
Sunday, 9 July 2017
'Ex-In' Module 01a/10 - 'Health & Good Mood'; Getting to know each other.
Introduction.
i've enlisted on a course to be a psychotherapist.
It's a way for mentally ill people to help themselves & other mentally ill people using our own experience, as well as some psychological theory, arts & therapeutic group methods.
Details: in this article.
Course consists of 10 modules, each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each.
Module 01a - 'Health & Good Mood; Getting to know each other'.
During first module we didn't have much of theory. It was mostly exercises related with module's topic, along with explaination & talking about personal experiences after it. This way we could observe how different people experience these, to learn our common points & differencies, to understand others and ourselves, to unite as a group, to see how 'knowledge about us' unfolds.
i am liking this approach, as theory can be read from books - and group exercises are best learned & practiced with other people.
i didn't write in my notes about all of exercises, just of most memorable ones & those that happened in latter stage of the module.
Here's what we did, in short:
1. Interviews & Presentations of the group members.
We paired ourselves with people we know least and talked about ourselves. Then we did present what we did find to others - that's how we were acquainted a little with everyone.
2. Names & Movement.
We went outside, formed a circle & did this exercise. Each of us - including our instructors - spoke a name & added a movement to it, a movement that symbolized & expressed that person. After name & movement was performed, rest of our group followed - spoke name & repeated movement. Then next person did the same and we repeated all names & movements done so far - until all names and moves were executed. Then we did this in reverse direction.
We were told it's a form of 'movement & dance', this was a 'mind-speech-body' mnemonic meant to help us remember our names.
Instructor who introduced us into this exercise is expert at 'movement & dance therapy' - thus our group had this resource, as each of us - both instructors and trainees - added what he or she had best to our group's potential.
3. Symbol of health & of growing healthy.
Each of us drew on a piece of paper our personal symbol of health and growing healthy. Then we paired ourselves with a person we know least (different person than in previous exercise) and talked about meanings. Then we related what we did find out to other members of our group.
This way we started to understand each of us' personal metrics of health, our expectations & process of reaching this state.
4. Pantomime.
We were split into a few of subgroups & given names of movies & native american-styled names to convey by acting without using words or sounds.
Aside from great fun & cooperation, we did learn about nonverbal communication. This example showed us that while stereotypes, known symbols & movie titles are easy to convey, discover & guess, nonverbal communication with unknown people is hard to understand. Once a person is known, it's easier to understand gestures, facial expressions, body language.
We were told that nonverbal communication is one of the topics that we will pay attention to later, as well as an important part of communication & working in a group.
5. Letter to myself.
We wrote a letter to ourselves of how we can care for ourselves, then those who were not too shy - read that message for others' benefits.
We learned that we should take care of ourselves first, then we can help others better.
6. Bringing in something.
We were encouraged to bring something on a course, so others could see & talk. We were told that in next modules we'll talk about these important symbolic items, exact purpose of this exercise should be revealed later.
7. Our strong points.
We were talking with others our strong points, resources we can add for the benefit of our group.
We learned that in a group our personality traits are shared, we can complement each other in a well organized group.
A process of group integration turns individuals into a synergic whole.
That's why Ex-Ins (Experts by Experience) are paired with 'Experts by Education', that's why there usually is more than one of such pairs in a therapeutic, scientific or educational group.
8. Movement Therapy.
With symbolic body movements, breath and voice we were expressing that we absorb good, positive energies and feelings, then using different body movements, breath and voice we were getting rid of negative, harmful, bad things.
Exact copying of moves were not so important - we focused on doing what's a comfortable similarity for us instead. Not everyone participating in therapy has fully healthy body, some have troubles with some exercises, and personal comfort and ease is important for everyone.
9. Acting out Fairy Tales, with a Twist.
We were split into groups and given tasks to act out a childhood tale with narration, but with an alternative ending, with a humorous twist.
Aside from relaxation & cooperation this exercise had a purpose of enhancing our creativity & imagination, it was also a practice of 'getting out of a stereotype', of practicing perceiving thigs from a different perspective. This has uses in a therapy when we will try to understand other patients.
We were asked if we took care of ourselves during this exercise, if our roles were comfortable. (my role was fine with me).
We learned that as soon as we 'put on different glass', our tools & thinking might be no longer useful, no longer convenient. Different people use different means for handling life's situations.
10. How we can take care of others?
We were split into groups and each of groups wrote ideas of how we can help each other.
Our ideas were similar but slightly different, we talked about this for a while.
11. Handling conflicts & difficult situations.
We learned some methods of handling conflicts within our fairly large group, we learned to respect our different responsibilities & roles in a group. Both staff (educators or therapists) as well as customers (trainees and patients) have different responsibilities and roles. For a group exercise to succeed & bring benefit, there has to be respect & a few of formal rules. We learned anarchy does not help, even if psychology allows for some of non-strictness. Our speeches should be essential, related with the subject, to the point - without too much of digression, deviation from subject. Obeying these rules is also respecting the time of ourselves and of others.
Rules and group contracts should be formed & kept to ensure smooth progression of group's goals, but also to ensure that members feel safe in a group.
We learned that group conflicts are best handled early, so 'group's atmosphere won't grow into a giant'.
12. Summary & Parting Ways.
Then we practiced movement, breath & voice exercises to get rid of strong emotions & negativity, summarized our feelings at module's end, talked of how we see possible course's future and parted for now.
Next module will happen in about 3 weeks.
Overall it was great and positive experience - even if emotionally intense; i am looking for course's future with hope & optimism.
i've enlisted on a course to be a psychotherapist.
It's a way for mentally ill people to help themselves & other mentally ill people using our own experience, as well as some psychological theory, arts & therapeutic group methods.
Details: in this article.
Course consists of 10 modules, each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each.
Module 01a - 'Health & Good Mood; Getting to know each other'.
During first module we didn't have much of theory. It was mostly exercises related with module's topic, along with explaination & talking about personal experiences after it. This way we could observe how different people experience these, to learn our common points & differencies, to understand others and ourselves, to unite as a group, to see how 'knowledge about us' unfolds.
i am liking this approach, as theory can be read from books - and group exercises are best learned & practiced with other people.
i didn't write in my notes about all of exercises, just of most memorable ones & those that happened in latter stage of the module.
Here's what we did, in short:
1. Interviews & Presentations of the group members.
We paired ourselves with people we know least and talked about ourselves. Then we did present what we did find to others - that's how we were acquainted a little with everyone.
2. Names & Movement.
We went outside, formed a circle & did this exercise. Each of us - including our instructors - spoke a name & added a movement to it, a movement that symbolized & expressed that person. After name & movement was performed, rest of our group followed - spoke name & repeated movement. Then next person did the same and we repeated all names & movements done so far - until all names and moves were executed. Then we did this in reverse direction.
We were told it's a form of 'movement & dance', this was a 'mind-speech-body' mnemonic meant to help us remember our names.
Instructor who introduced us into this exercise is expert at 'movement & dance therapy' - thus our group had this resource, as each of us - both instructors and trainees - added what he or she had best to our group's potential.
3. Symbol of health & of growing healthy.
Each of us drew on a piece of paper our personal symbol of health and growing healthy. Then we paired ourselves with a person we know least (different person than in previous exercise) and talked about meanings. Then we related what we did find out to other members of our group.
This way we started to understand each of us' personal metrics of health, our expectations & process of reaching this state.
4. Pantomime.
We were split into a few of subgroups & given names of movies & native american-styled names to convey by acting without using words or sounds.
Aside from great fun & cooperation, we did learn about nonverbal communication. This example showed us that while stereotypes, known symbols & movie titles are easy to convey, discover & guess, nonverbal communication with unknown people is hard to understand. Once a person is known, it's easier to understand gestures, facial expressions, body language.
We were told that nonverbal communication is one of the topics that we will pay attention to later, as well as an important part of communication & working in a group.
5. Letter to myself.
We wrote a letter to ourselves of how we can care for ourselves, then those who were not too shy - read that message for others' benefits.
We learned that we should take care of ourselves first, then we can help others better.
6. Bringing in something.
We were encouraged to bring something on a course, so others could see & talk. We were told that in next modules we'll talk about these important symbolic items, exact purpose of this exercise should be revealed later.
7. Our strong points.
We were talking with others our strong points, resources we can add for the benefit of our group.
We learned that in a group our personality traits are shared, we can complement each other in a well organized group.
A process of group integration turns individuals into a synergic whole.
That's why Ex-Ins (Experts by Experience) are paired with 'Experts by Education', that's why there usually is more than one of such pairs in a therapeutic, scientific or educational group.
8. Movement Therapy.
With symbolic body movements, breath and voice we were expressing that we absorb good, positive energies and feelings, then using different body movements, breath and voice we were getting rid of negative, harmful, bad things.
Exact copying of moves were not so important - we focused on doing what's a comfortable similarity for us instead. Not everyone participating in therapy has fully healthy body, some have troubles with some exercises, and personal comfort and ease is important for everyone.
9. Acting out Fairy Tales, with a Twist.
We were split into groups and given tasks to act out a childhood tale with narration, but with an alternative ending, with a humorous twist.
Aside from relaxation & cooperation this exercise had a purpose of enhancing our creativity & imagination, it was also a practice of 'getting out of a stereotype', of practicing perceiving thigs from a different perspective. This has uses in a therapy when we will try to understand other patients.
We were asked if we took care of ourselves during this exercise, if our roles were comfortable. (my role was fine with me).
We learned that as soon as we 'put on different glass', our tools & thinking might be no longer useful, no longer convenient. Different people use different means for handling life's situations.
10. How we can take care of others?
We were split into groups and each of groups wrote ideas of how we can help each other.
Our ideas were similar but slightly different, we talked about this for a while.
11. Handling conflicts & difficult situations.
We learned some methods of handling conflicts within our fairly large group, we learned to respect our different responsibilities & roles in a group. Both staff (educators or therapists) as well as customers (trainees and patients) have different responsibilities and roles. For a group exercise to succeed & bring benefit, there has to be respect & a few of formal rules. We learned anarchy does not help, even if psychology allows for some of non-strictness. Our speeches should be essential, related with the subject, to the point - without too much of digression, deviation from subject. Obeying these rules is also respecting the time of ourselves and of others.
Rules and group contracts should be formed & kept to ensure smooth progression of group's goals, but also to ensure that members feel safe in a group.
We learned that group conflicts are best handled early, so 'group's atmosphere won't grow into a giant'.
12. Summary & Parting Ways.
Then we practiced movement, breath & voice exercises to get rid of strong emotions & negativity, summarized our feelings at module's end, talked of how we see possible course's future and parted for now.
Next module will happen in about 3 weeks.
Overall it was great and positive experience - even if emotionally intense; i am looking for course's future with hope & optimism.
Friday, 7 July 2017
Turning Weakness into a Strength, into a Way to Benefit Others.
Is mental illness an end of life, a death of a career?
i know it doesn't have to be.
Career is not everything, ill people can be beneficial even when they are unemployed ... but i think working helps - both the ill person itself, as well as others - if work is not immoral.
Laziness & severing social contacts makes symptoms worsen, lack of money takes away independence & access to many tools for benefitting others. Working professionally can be therapeutic as well - it's contact with others, a motivation for caring for oneself & a source of money among other things - but too much of stress & overworking has opposite effect. Working people have better self-esteem, and can use money to help others as well.
i know i'll share my income with noble causes once i am employed.
i've enlisted on a 'Ex-In' (Experience Involved) course, to be a psychotherapist in future.
It's an international european union's project targeted for mentally ill people.
It was tested & proven success in many nations including Germany - therapies that combined Ex-Ins paired with healthy therapists had more of therapeutical successes than therapies with psychotherapists without illness experiences only.
Project Ex-In tries to involve people after psychological crisis into a psychological support network - we will use our knowledge of mental illness that we have (we know a lot of it, we experience it every day), we will use training exerices (not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical techniques of a therapy) that will fill educational gaps & give us tools.
We will help other mentally ill people, sharing our best experiences, sharing best we have learned in life as well as on a course - both from qualified instructors, but also we'll use best tricks of other students; we will use reason & proven methods of dealing with symptoms, mental illness & associated problems. We will look for employment after the course & after internships are over.
First 8 of 240 planned hours passed today, i will share soon what i can about it. It was a great time, with a lot of positive people, with a lot of positive energy. Privacy & confidentiality are important - we agreed to not reveal group dynamics, names, photos & personal experiences of people involved, but we can share ideas about course, it's methods & goals.
Course is free - it's financed by European Union & 'Leonardo' Foundation, will last until December - it is composed of 10 modules, each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each day.
Paid internships will happen later, lasting for 6 months in total.
Then we'll be able to look for work, with support of the project's organizers.
i've enlisted for this course to help other people, to improve my karma (i am a Buddhist), as well as to find employment & earn money.
it's also a destigmatisation project, i think this is fairly important as well.
'Every being, no matter healthy or ill - is equally important & valuable' - following & paraphrasing words of one of my therapists.
We do not wish to be better or worse than healthy people, we want equal chances & equal treatment for everyone.
Course consists of 10 modules - each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each day:
1. Health & Good Mood; Getting to know each other.
Discovering & understanding what is health, discovering what is healthy lifestyle, formulating personal strategies that serve improving psychological health and improving relations with family & social network.
2. Empowerment.
Getting familiar and increasing feeling of inner strength, finding ourselves in everyday life situations, gaining & practicing decision making skills, and negotiating & keeping 'contracts' with other people.
3. Experience & Participation.
Supporting process of being aware of thoughts and behaviors associated with experiences during psychic illness periods, gaining skill of 'reflection' and acquiring 'insight' by talking about ourselves in a group, and by listening to other people.
4. Getting Healthier.
Increasing awareness and reflection on one's own history of getting ill and getting healthier, acquiring knowledge of processess that support getting healthier and about people who regained health; making decision & active entrance into a process of planning one's own getting-healthy-plan.
5. Trialog.
Understanding value of trialog, of cooperation with: a. person with mental ilness experience, b. her or his family and social network, c. professionals (doctor, therapist); this cooperation gives opportunity to discover differing perspectives and views on the same occurances, and in consequence acquiring possibility of getting more effective support on a way to being healthy.
6. Self-Discovery.
Therapists usually don't talk with their clients about their psychotic symptoms, because there's possibility of invoking psychotic symptoms' conents returns. In a consequence, we attempt to treat ill person in a way that does not touch directly neither these painful experiences, nor consequences of illness. Most of people who experiences psychological crisis has a feeling that traditional psychiatry does not perceive and does not understand their experiences, and in fact adds to their distance from society more than it did help. Experiencing symptoms has it's meaning however. Traditional psychiatric operations are focused on limits resulting from illness, instead of supporting patient's need to influence his or her own getting-healthier-process. By the end of this module, participants will be able to share and write about their own mental illness experiences, in a consistent, understandable and structured way; they will get acquainted with various approaches and models that explain psychic disturbances; they will understand basic rules of performing interview that explores one's own experience; will be able to understand better their own experiences associated with mental illness (especially so called psychotic experiences, especially about so called 'hearing voices').
7. Advocacy for mentally ill people.
Equipping people with mental illness experience with neccessary knowlege, skills and competences, required for fulfilling role of advocacy for mentally ill people (for example, by creating associations, leading educational activities, and other), in a way that will allow them to have a real influence on introducing and shaping changes in a healthcare system, in a way that beneficiary's voice is heard when decisions fall - so therapeutic activities are best suited for patients' needs.
8. Rating the Getting-Healthier Process.
Module allows participants of the course to develop knowledge and skills needed for accompanying other people that are experiencing a crisis, to familiarize & understand their situation, to be able to support them with making plans for future and rate getting-healthier process (of their own and of others). Module has also a goal of helping people with mental illness experience to order & structure their thoughts, feelings and to give meaning to experiences resulting from mental illness. It's to teach about introducing best planning strategies for building relations with other people, that will be useful in continuing self-development process.
9. Companionship & Support.
In the Western World, since a long time people with mental illness experience (in remission) are professionally active both in psychological health institutions, advisory, and in influencing quality of psychiatric services. This activity is based on a thought that a person who experienced mental illness understands needs and expectations of his or her own, and of other people touched by the same illness. Supporting person, who is based on his or her own experiences can serve as a positive example model. These people are independent and fulfill role of an expert, who in a way intermediates between professionals (doctors, therapists) and ill people. A person in remission explains and shares knowledge of methods and behaviors that were useful in a getting-healthier process. By the module's end, participants will know rules of supporting mentally ill people, will acquire varied knowledge and meaning of using it in a process of supporting by communication and work put into building relations; Will be able to reflect upon their own style of supporting others.
10. Intervention during a crisis.
Goal of this module is participants acquiring skill of safe performance in a crisis situation, develop empathy, understanding of a crisis and going through difficult life situations. Additional goal is learning of how to support other people who experience different types of crises.
For more about project (in a polish language), feel free to visit: a page.
i know it doesn't have to be.
Career is not everything, ill people can be beneficial even when they are unemployed ... but i think working helps - both the ill person itself, as well as others - if work is not immoral.
Laziness & severing social contacts makes symptoms worsen, lack of money takes away independence & access to many tools for benefitting others. Working professionally can be therapeutic as well - it's contact with others, a motivation for caring for oneself & a source of money among other things - but too much of stress & overworking has opposite effect. Working people have better self-esteem, and can use money to help others as well.
i know i'll share my income with noble causes once i am employed.
i've enlisted on a 'Ex-In' (Experience Involved) course, to be a psychotherapist in future.
It's an international european union's project targeted for mentally ill people.
It was tested & proven success in many nations including Germany - therapies that combined Ex-Ins paired with healthy therapists had more of therapeutical successes than therapies with psychotherapists without illness experiences only.
Project Ex-In tries to involve people after psychological crisis into a psychological support network - we will use our knowledge of mental illness that we have (we know a lot of it, we experience it every day), we will use training exerices (not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical techniques of a therapy) that will fill educational gaps & give us tools.
We will help other mentally ill people, sharing our best experiences, sharing best we have learned in life as well as on a course - both from qualified instructors, but also we'll use best tricks of other students; we will use reason & proven methods of dealing with symptoms, mental illness & associated problems. We will look for employment after the course & after internships are over.
First 8 of 240 planned hours passed today, i will share soon what i can about it. It was a great time, with a lot of positive people, with a lot of positive energy. Privacy & confidentiality are important - we agreed to not reveal group dynamics, names, photos & personal experiences of people involved, but we can share ideas about course, it's methods & goals.
Course is free - it's financed by European Union & 'Leonardo' Foundation, will last until December - it is composed of 10 modules, each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each day.
Paid internships will happen later, lasting for 6 months in total.
Then we'll be able to look for work, with support of the project's organizers.
i've enlisted for this course to help other people, to improve my karma (i am a Buddhist), as well as to find employment & earn money.
it's also a destigmatisation project, i think this is fairly important as well.
'Every being, no matter healthy or ill - is equally important & valuable' - following & paraphrasing words of one of my therapists.
We do not wish to be better or worse than healthy people, we want equal chances & equal treatment for everyone.
Course consists of 10 modules - each lasting for 3 days, 8 hours each day:
1. Health & Good Mood; Getting to know each other.
Discovering & understanding what is health, discovering what is healthy lifestyle, formulating personal strategies that serve improving psychological health and improving relations with family & social network.
2. Empowerment.
Getting familiar and increasing feeling of inner strength, finding ourselves in everyday life situations, gaining & practicing decision making skills, and negotiating & keeping 'contracts' with other people.
3. Experience & Participation.
Supporting process of being aware of thoughts and behaviors associated with experiences during psychic illness periods, gaining skill of 'reflection' and acquiring 'insight' by talking about ourselves in a group, and by listening to other people.
4. Getting Healthier.
Increasing awareness and reflection on one's own history of getting ill and getting healthier, acquiring knowledge of processess that support getting healthier and about people who regained health; making decision & active entrance into a process of planning one's own getting-healthy-plan.
5. Trialog.
Understanding value of trialog, of cooperation with: a. person with mental ilness experience, b. her or his family and social network, c. professionals (doctor, therapist); this cooperation gives opportunity to discover differing perspectives and views on the same occurances, and in consequence acquiring possibility of getting more effective support on a way to being healthy.
6. Self-Discovery.
Therapists usually don't talk with their clients about their psychotic symptoms, because there's possibility of invoking psychotic symptoms' conents returns. In a consequence, we attempt to treat ill person in a way that does not touch directly neither these painful experiences, nor consequences of illness. Most of people who experiences psychological crisis has a feeling that traditional psychiatry does not perceive and does not understand their experiences, and in fact adds to their distance from society more than it did help. Experiencing symptoms has it's meaning however. Traditional psychiatric operations are focused on limits resulting from illness, instead of supporting patient's need to influence his or her own getting-healthier-process. By the end of this module, participants will be able to share and write about their own mental illness experiences, in a consistent, understandable and structured way; they will get acquainted with various approaches and models that explain psychic disturbances; they will understand basic rules of performing interview that explores one's own experience; will be able to understand better their own experiences associated with mental illness (especially so called psychotic experiences, especially about so called 'hearing voices').
7. Advocacy for mentally ill people.
Equipping people with mental illness experience with neccessary knowlege, skills and competences, required for fulfilling role of advocacy for mentally ill people (for example, by creating associations, leading educational activities, and other), in a way that will allow them to have a real influence on introducing and shaping changes in a healthcare system, in a way that beneficiary's voice is heard when decisions fall - so therapeutic activities are best suited for patients' needs.
8. Rating the Getting-Healthier Process.
Module allows participants of the course to develop knowledge and skills needed for accompanying other people that are experiencing a crisis, to familiarize & understand their situation, to be able to support them with making plans for future and rate getting-healthier process (of their own and of others). Module has also a goal of helping people with mental illness experience to order & structure their thoughts, feelings and to give meaning to experiences resulting from mental illness. It's to teach about introducing best planning strategies for building relations with other people, that will be useful in continuing self-development process.
9. Companionship & Support.
In the Western World, since a long time people with mental illness experience (in remission) are professionally active both in psychological health institutions, advisory, and in influencing quality of psychiatric services. This activity is based on a thought that a person who experienced mental illness understands needs and expectations of his or her own, and of other people touched by the same illness. Supporting person, who is based on his or her own experiences can serve as a positive example model. These people are independent and fulfill role of an expert, who in a way intermediates between professionals (doctors, therapists) and ill people. A person in remission explains and shares knowledge of methods and behaviors that were useful in a getting-healthier process. By the module's end, participants will know rules of supporting mentally ill people, will acquire varied knowledge and meaning of using it in a process of supporting by communication and work put into building relations; Will be able to reflect upon their own style of supporting others.
10. Intervention during a crisis.
Goal of this module is participants acquiring skill of safe performance in a crisis situation, develop empathy, understanding of a crisis and going through difficult life situations. Additional goal is learning of how to support other people who experience different types of crises.
For more about project (in a polish language), feel free to visit: a page.
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