Be back in two weeks!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pause for Thought
Check this out --> Feminist Activists Find Peace in Thailand
I wanted to link to this article for a couple of reasons. For one, feminism and VAW (violence against women) work are very important to me. My training background is actually in assaulted women’s counselling, not mental health, although the two have obvious intersections. I love learning about what feminist activism looks like around the world.
The other reason is that I found as I read this, I was contrasting the “retreat” experience they describe with the professional trainings and workshops I attend here in Canada. The focus on “self-love and self-worth as an essential part of their work in the world” sounds really in line with my philosophy, but not my practice. I certainly haven’t had many experiences in my professional life where there is such an emphasis on this sort of thing. The perks offered to us at trainings usually max out at a free lunch, and possibly getting to go home a bit early.
I don’t know much about Thai society or the culture of social service work there, so I can’t really comment on whether the needs of these workers would be different than where I am, and what they might make of their retreat experience. But as the writer says, seeing “15 women grown napping together on the floor of a conference room after a lively plenary” would be “odd” to see in the U.S. (and I’m considering the U.S. and Canada to be more or less the same in this respect).
It sounds nice. But would it work? Would anyone go for it? I can imagine the mixed reactions of my co-workers – divided between feeling uncomfortable, and griping about how they could be making phone calls or getting assessments done instead.
Is this because we really don’t value self-care? We talk a lot about avoiding compassion fatigue, but the general consensus seems to often be that we are responsible for this on our own time.
On the other hand, is it because sleeping or meditating would be considered a private activity, and we would be asked to let our guard down to such a degree in a very public and shared space? A lot of what they describe would be strikingly different from our typical professional activities and behaviours, and would (I think) demand a lot of openness to the experience. Would this cross my boundaries?
I don’t know. But I’m curious.
Has anyone experienced something like this?
I wanted to link to this article for a couple of reasons. For one, feminism and VAW (violence against women) work are very important to me. My training background is actually in assaulted women’s counselling, not mental health, although the two have obvious intersections. I love learning about what feminist activism looks like around the world.
The other reason is that I found as I read this, I was contrasting the “retreat” experience they describe with the professional trainings and workshops I attend here in Canada. The focus on “self-love and self-worth as an essential part of their work in the world” sounds really in line with my philosophy, but not my practice. I certainly haven’t had many experiences in my professional life where there is such an emphasis on this sort of thing. The perks offered to us at trainings usually max out at a free lunch, and possibly getting to go home a bit early.
I don’t know much about Thai society or the culture of social service work there, so I can’t really comment on whether the needs of these workers would be different than where I am, and what they might make of their retreat experience. But as the writer says, seeing “15 women grown napping together on the floor of a conference room after a lively plenary” would be “odd” to see in the U.S. (and I’m considering the U.S. and Canada to be more or less the same in this respect).
It sounds nice. But would it work? Would anyone go for it? I can imagine the mixed reactions of my co-workers – divided between feeling uncomfortable, and griping about how they could be making phone calls or getting assessments done instead.
Is this because we really don’t value self-care? We talk a lot about avoiding compassion fatigue, but the general consensus seems to often be that we are responsible for this on our own time.
On the other hand, is it because sleeping or meditating would be considered a private activity, and we would be asked to let our guard down to such a degree in a very public and shared space? A lot of what they describe would be strikingly different from our typical professional activities and behaviours, and would (I think) demand a lot of openness to the experience. Would this cross my boundaries?
I don’t know. But I’m curious.
Has anyone experienced something like this?
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sibling Slip-up
When I meet clients for an intake assessment, I make notes on an unofficial “intake form.” It has prompting questions under headings like “medication” and “family history” with boxes giving me lots of space to write. I use it as a reference to complete the proper assessment on our electronic database later on. I often end up jotting things down in random boxes, as clients don’t always stick to the script.
So sometimes this happens:
Q: Are there any current family/marital issues?
A: brother, step-brother, step-sister.
So sometimes this happens:
Q: Are there any current family/marital issues?
A: brother, step-brother, step-sister.
My stomach in crisis
Emergency!
Where did all the office snacks go?!? They were here on Friday when I left, but now they seem to have disappeared…
I need something to get me though all these assessments.
Where did all the office snacks go?!? They were here on Friday when I left, but now they seem to have disappeared…
I need something to get me though all these assessments.
I think there are some anxiety issues we should talk about...
No, just because you leave me SIX messages before the office is even open does not mean that I will meet with you four hours ahead of schedule. You can pace around the waiting area all you like.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Couldn't resist another one...
“No ma’am, I don’t think they could fumigate the hospital and take your husbands clothes but leave him in the room.”
-co-worker on the phone with a woman whose husband apparently “took a bunch of pills” and somehow ended up in a psych hospital at the other end of the province. He called his wife complaining that “men in white coats”* removed all his belongings but left him in the room while they sprayed some sort of noxious gas, and she in turn was looking to us for help. She also wanted to know what “rights” she had if the doctor said he would call her with an update at 3:00 and it was 3:01.
Wish I could have heard the whole conversation!
*apparently not just a terrible stereotype anymore!
-co-worker on the phone with a woman whose husband apparently “took a bunch of pills” and somehow ended up in a psych hospital at the other end of the province. He called his wife complaining that “men in white coats”* removed all his belongings but left him in the room while they sprayed some sort of noxious gas, and she in turn was looking to us for help. She also wanted to know what “rights” she had if the doctor said he would call her with an update at 3:00 and it was 3:01.
Wish I could have heard the whole conversation!
*apparently not just a terrible stereotype anymore!
Thanks, Doc
Note in hospital records that my desk-mate was reading today:
“...this woman did not appear to be very bright”
...
Seriously? Is this considered a “professional” or “medical” opinion?
I’m going to start a training program entitled “Appropriate Note Writing forDummies Psychiatrists.
P.S. thanks to a couple new "followers" for tagging along! Hi!
“...this woman did not appear to be very bright”
...
Seriously? Is this considered a “professional” or “medical” opinion?
I’m going to start a training program entitled “Appropriate Note Writing for
P.S. thanks to a couple new "followers" for tagging along! Hi!
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