With festivity in the air, we started rather late, about 11 am! :-(
Aashish and Gajendra were the new participants, who just went along with the group and challenged their beliefs and limits. An anxious father and mother of a three year old child also came in the evening for consultations. JP discussed Cognitive distortions, based on which the two subgroups listed out parallels from the stuttering world. Since yesterday evening, during stammering interviews, some of our beliefs got already challenged, it was easy this morning to look at our beliefs more dispassionately and discuss them openly.
After lunch, Manohar directed and participated in a role play: "My SHG". About 9-10 participants played out a typical (some time way beyond "typical") scene of a SHG: members pushing and pulling in different directions; lack of focus & cohesion, weak facilitation etc. There were many moments of laughter, as well as considerable insights and reflection. It lasted about 45 minutes. The debriefing too took lot of time with participants discussing the real issues emerging in their SHG. We also discussed about possible ways to go about addressing these concerns.
Later, Raja gave a presentation about the deeper psychological issues related to stammering: we may constantly compare ourselves with the fluent TV anchor- or the next guy at work. We may get obsessed with our "issue" and go to great lengths to "conquer" it. Two noteworthy ideas emerging, were: We have to compete with our "self", not with others. We do not know enough of others. In any case we may not be in the same league! Secondly, working on our strengths was a good strategy, rather than being obsessed with our weakness over a long period of life. Yes, PWS must work on her/his communication sufficiently, so that it is no more an obstacle in day to day life- but do we have to aspire to become a particular TV anchor? Just to prove some point? He left the group with many deep thoughts, communicated with much sincerity.
4 comments:
No women in the workshop? I think I recognized Vivek in one of the pictures. He shared some of his experiences with this workshop with us on the stuttering chat list serv group. He provided a link of a video where he spoke on an impromptu subject. You folks at TISA are doing great work. Self-help groups around the world should take a page from your book and see how progressive you are, offering workshops kike this, where participants can practice and get supportive feedback.
You should be very pleased with your efforts. One day I will look on here and see that Indian women are also seeking out help and sharing their experiences.
Yes, Pam. We tried but failed. But I feel happy that we did try. I tell you- why dont you send some American women PWS for our next workshop?!
Well jokes apart- Indian women pws have made a beginning: a large number of women contributed to our first news letter (u can download a copy from stammer.in)..
In our Kolkata workshop some months back, there were three women (2 pws, 1 slp)..
Many young women contribute to our blog..
But, yes, we could do with more!
Thnaks for your encouraging thoughts..
The following are some of points i liked in the Raja's speech.
1.Dropping the emotional baggage
2.Working on our strengths and not focusing much on the weakness
3.Comparing with oneself and not others
Thanks Raja and Thanks sachin!
@Sujit, that's very thoughtful of you to share the gist of Raja's presentation. (missed it)
Women PWS are starting to shed inhibitions, that said, we as the society will have to go a long way before we can "accept" women PWS.
Post a Comment