Posted by Dinah on January 23, 2003, at 9:06:17
In reply to Re: therapeutic conversational techniques » Dinah, posted by jay on January 23, 2003, at 3:57:18
The nervousness I referred to earlier was about a possible sense of elitism that it might convey. That posters who already feel unsure about adding their comments and support might feel more so if they felt that there were people on the board who had special techniques. I guess it could work the opposite way. People would have access to the techniques and thus feel more competent to post, but perhaps they wouldn't feel that they had mastered the techniques as well as others. Perhaps this nervousness comes from my recent concern on the board with making newcomers feel welcome.
Plus, I keep having the old stereotype of a college student who is taking a few psychology classes. That we may get so stuck on technique that we lose the genuineness that currently is one of the best things about this board. Not to mention that my dear departed grandma could offer a few tips to many mental health professionals I have come in contact with on how to listen and be supportive. She never learned a technique in her life, but she cared about how others felt. And she cared about making others feel comfortable and accepted.
Finally, I remember being extremely turned off by the twelve step programs and Recovery, Inc. by their groupspeak. I tend to run screaming into the night when confronted by groupspeak. And I would hate to have phrases used in techniques amount to that.
I guess how I would feel about any such project would depend a lot on implementation. If it was just something like the tips section, that people could read about new skills if they wished to, that wouldn't bother me. (I'm not sure you can "learn" these skills through reading. Don't people who are trained in these skills receive a lot of supervision in them?) If it became an expected or preferred way of relating on the board, I don't think I'd like it at all.
Just my 2 cents, for what it's worth.
poster:Dinah
thread:8766
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20021128/msgs/8981.html