Comments on: Can Community and Openness De-Stigmatize Therapy? http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/ Thu, 10 May 2012 14:59:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-1/#comment-7700 rhettsmith Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:19:05 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7700 Ben, Always a problem in group therapy....some people have asked me that in regards to going to AA. But I have found that AA has been super powerful and helpful to many of people who are struggling with alcoholism. So sometimes "flocking together" can be crucial to one's health...it's often up to the group facilitators to help set rules and moderate boundaries, etc, etc. You posted great stuff...lots to think about and ponder on my part. Appreciate it. rhett Ben,

Always a problem in group therapy….some people have asked me that in regards to going to AA. But I have found that AA has been super powerful and helpful to many of people who are struggling with alcoholism. So sometimes "flocking together" can be crucial to one's health…it's often up to the group facilitators to help set rules and moderate boundaries, etc, etc.

You posted great stuff…lots to think about and ponder on my part. Appreciate it.

rhett

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-/#comment-7699 rhettsmith Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:17:13 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7699 Ben, Wow, nice analogy there....haaaaa. No one like being in that situation with the doctor. But, I'm not talking about exposing people's problems to others...I believe confidentiality is huge and important, and ethical. But I think there are some important dynamics in group therapy, as you mention, that can help people feel less of a stigma, and more open. Some stuff people will probably never share in a group setting, and that's fine....I don't share all either. But I think it can help us see that we aren't alone if we know others are struggling with stuff also. Ben,

Wow, nice analogy there….haaaaa. No one like being in that situation with the doctor.

But, I'm not talking about exposing people's problems to others…I believe confidentiality is huge and important, and ethical. But I think there are some important dynamics in group therapy, as you mention, that can help people feel less of a stigma, and more open. Some stuff people will probably never share in a group setting, and that's fine….I don't share all either. But I think it can help us see that we aren't alone if we know others are struggling with stuff also.

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-/#comment-7698 rhettsmith Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:15:26 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7698 Ben, Great comment....I guess there is a reason we all find ourselves opening up over coffee in a nice little shop. I think environment is huge when it comes to therapy, and I've thought about what it would look like to do therapy in a more social setting. Still private, but in a more social area...not hidden, off the beaten path. Ben,

Great comment….I guess there is a reason we all find ourselves opening up over coffee in a nice little shop. I think environment is huge when it comes to therapy, and I've thought about what it would look like to do therapy in a more social setting. Still private, but in a more social area…not hidden, off the beaten path.

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-1/#comment-7697 rhettsmith Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:23:29 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7697 Ben, great comments....I will respond to each one them later today....thanks for posting them. Need to sort and think through them. rhett Ben, great comments….I will respond to each one them later today….thanks for posting them. Need to sort and think through them.

rhett

]]> By: Ben http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-1/#comment-7695 Ben Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:36:42 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7695 The only con I could see is a support group turning into a group of enablers in the long run. I believe that people need to find a sense of confidence and independence if they are truly going to find freedom in their problems. But as the saying goes, "birds of a feather, flock together" and people with similar issues could end up just venting to each other about the issues but not getting any solutions from them. The only con I could see is a support group turning into a group of enablers in the long run. I believe that people need to find a sense of confidence and independence if they are truly going to find freedom in their problems. But as the saying goes, "birds of a feather, flock together" and people with similar issues could end up just venting to each other about the issues but not getting any solutions from them.

]]> By: Ben http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-1/#comment-7696 Ben Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:36:28 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7696 Ok, one post down, one more to go, haha. To be honest, I would be scared to death if people publicly knew all of my deep problems. Therapy has a stigma of uncomfortability to begin with, it is almost like the "cough and turn" part when getting a physical. You aren't a fan of where the doctors hands are and you are just waiting for it to get over, however, you are happy that there aren't video cameras making it public. But, getting past my own fears of that, knowing that having a group therapy session could be beneficial to hear how others cope and find solutions to their problems could do a world of good. I think seeing a therapist would be something I share with my own friends and probably on my blog to be honest, but I would still feel uncomfortable sharing it face to face with someone outside of my own inner circle of friends. Ok, one post down, one more to go, haha. To be honest, I would be scared to death if people publicly knew all of my deep problems. Therapy has a stigma of uncomfortability to begin with, it is almost like the "cough and turn" part when getting a physical. You aren't a fan of where the doctors hands are and you are just waiting for it to get over, however, you are happy that there aren't video cameras making it public.
But, getting past my own fears of that, knowing that having a group therapy session could be beneficial to hear how others cope and find solutions to their problems could do a world of good.
I think seeing a therapist would be something I share with my own friends and probably on my blog to be honest, but I would still feel uncomfortable sharing it face to face with someone outside of my own inner circle of friends.

]]> By: Ben http://rhettsmith.com/2009/06/can-community-and-openness-de-stigmatize-therapy/comment-page-1/#comment-7694 Ben Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:30:12 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/therapy/?p=274#comment-7694 When you first wrote about this a year ago, I wasn't a fan of it. But after experiencing times with people I have mentored, I would completely agree that atmosphere is almost everything. My main mentoring spot was Starbucks. What I found was in that open environment, you connected the time with comfort and relaxation as opposed to one of anxiety. The idea of being next to a coffee shop would be ideal. Someone could get a latte and it would almost act like comfort food to them, a nice, warm cozy reminder of sitting with someone and naturally chatting. Being in an open space also gives someone the semblance of control, they aren't confined into your territory but instead have the opportunity to look around and not feel confined to four walls and a dimly lit lamp. (My original post was better, btw. haha) When you first wrote about this a year ago, I wasn't a fan of it. But after experiencing times with people I have mentored, I would completely agree that atmosphere is almost everything. My main mentoring spot was Starbucks. What I found was in that open environment, you connected the time with comfort and relaxation as opposed to one of anxiety.

The idea of being next to a coffee shop would be ideal. Someone could get a latte and it would almost act like comfort food to them, a nice, warm cozy reminder of sitting with someone and naturally chatting. Being in an open space also gives someone the semblance of control, they aren't confined into your territory but instead have the opportunity to look around and not feel confined to four walls and a dimly lit lamp. (My original post was better, btw. haha)

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