Report from Galway Self Help Group Meeting

Date: 2 February 2010

Report:

Our meeting tonight was enthusiastically led by Seamus W and assisted by Jeananne and Celia.

Having given a brief outline of the aims of the group, Seamus went over some of the ground rules to help group members remember the confidentiality of things shared and done and to ensure a smooth running meeting. This was followed by an invitation for group members who felt like it (without obligation) to introduce and to say a few words about themselves. As it turned out, everyone felt like sharing. For people who can have such difficult speaking, we sure are able to do a lot of it!

Tonight we welcomed Carol, a Speech and Language Therapist who talked about and will be involved in the upcoming therapy and group therapy that will be starting some time in March. The group will meet weekly for 10 weeks from 8pm until 10pm on Wednesdays. Out of this will arise a second group, a 'tool-box' group that will be run by the group members themselves as a vehicle to continue to 'bed-in' and work with the attitudes, experiences and techniques gained in the therapy group. If you are interested in individual or group therapy, contact the Speech and Language department in UCHG. Patricia, the Speech and Language Therapist who is co-odinating the therapy group will be at our next meeting on March 2nd to provide more information and answer any questions people may have.

This was followed by a relaxation/self-awareness expertly led by Celia.

Later we broke into small groups to discuss how things have been over the last month and to talk about plans for the coming month to work on our speech or to simply mind and look after ourselves. One such idea was that for those who might be inclined to give themselves a hard time if they end up struggling severely in a speaking situation, to do the opposite, and instead to be kind and gentle to themselves and maybe even give themselves a treat!

The group had a general discussion on how to govern itself going forward, but time ran out before any conclusions could be drawn. Group members brought forward lots of ideas that included forward planning of meetings around specific themes. Further discussion will ensue no doubt. Seamus then closed the meeting.