Report from Galway Self Help Group Meeting

Date: 5 January 2010

Report:

Ten souls braved the cold and wind to attend the first meeting of the New Year. The meeting began with only a few people, but pretty soon the room was nearly full. The group continues to attract new members, our latest attendee on this night having learned about the group from the ISA website.

Celia was our group coordinator for the evening, and her naturally gentle and kind manner facilitated a very relaxed and safe atmosphere. Pretty soon the group were involved in open and honest sharing of their experiences and struggles as a person who stammers. However, in a supportive environment such as this, people often begin to see a funny side to some of their struggles too and so as the stories were being told, heart rending as some of them are, they were being punctuated with laughter too as other group members identified with the story teller. One of the constant themes in our meetings is how supportive members find the group and how it helps them keep up their hope and courage that they can find a way to live the kind of life they wish to live regardless of stammering.

An update on how we are progressing with our request for individual and group therapy was given - plans are well under way, and a firm date in Spring is forthcoming.

The meeting was brought to a close, and members braved the weather on their homeward journey.