[Dialogue] Process for a self-help group

Fri Sep 17 11:37:50 EDT 2004

When we had a smaller staff (15 or so) we did a reflective scripture
conversation (pretty standard questions from the breakfast model):

What words or phrases struck you?
What were the issues in the text?
Where do you experience those issues in life today?
What does the text have to say to us?

We've grown beyond that size, so can't gather everyone for it.  It was
effective in our workplace setting, and gathered a remarkable set of
insights.  We used the lectionary reading for the coming Sunday (and it
helped in sermon prep as well).

Use of the NT was as a cultural document that bridged Anglo and Hispanic
worlds.

Bill Schlesinger
Project Vida
3607 Rivera Ave
El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-7057 x 207
(915) 490-6148 mobile
(915) 533-7158 fax
pvida at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net
[mailto:Dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Jo Nelson
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 7:34 AM
To: ICA Dialogue List
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Process for a self-help group

Hi, folks,
I use the conversation method frequently with groups to understand
articles,
stories, and other art-forms.  With long-term groups, I don't
necessarily
tell them what method I'm using -- it unfolds naturally and they don't
notice that there is a method.

I'd like to add that one of the keys for me in using the art form method
these days is to deepen and broaden the reflective level.  The
reflective
level is very much about associations and images that triggered in one's
own
mind by the text or object, and bringing them to awareness.  Emotions or
feelings are in one sense simply clues to those associations and images.
I
find that if I ask questions that evoke personal images and get a wide
range
of them, that the interpretive level is much richer.  I usually ask a
series
of reflective questions, each slightly deeper than the one before it and
making sure a wide range of answers is accepted,  like

What intrigued you in this ....?
What worried you or made you uncomfortable?
What were you reminded of in your own experience?
Where have you experienced something like this?

If there are both positive and negative reactions named, and also a
number
of associations, then the interpretive questions catalyze broader
answers
than just "poor me".

Some generic interpretive questions that I adapt:
How does this compare or contrast to our own experiences?
What might we learn from this?
What significance or implications does this have for our own lives?

Art of Focused Conversation for Schools has a number of conversations on
books and other artforms, for all ages.  There is a spectacular one for
the
movie Schindler's List, contributed by OliveAnn Slotta, David Dunn, and
others in Denver.  It was designed for high school or adults. I could
paste
it into an email if people would like it.

The book also has an appendix with an exhaustive list of possible
questions
for each level.  

Take care,
Jo

On 09/16/2004 9:23 PM, Nan Grow wrote:

> Dear Del,  Since "retiring" I have led  a study group at the local
library
> for a group of about thirty seniors.  Until Bush came into office, I
was
> even paid to do it !!  Now we take turns, but the group has pretty
well
> learned to use AND ADAPT the art form method.  We are always amazed
how much
> we get out of books on the Top Ten list and even the dreary Florida
novels
> that seem to be unending.  Last Tuesday I led "The Lovely Bones" ,
noit my
> choice, but a rather rich murder story which reveals the real bones
that tie
> people together.  I was fearful because the boof had the heroine going
back
> and forth between earth and the first rung of heaven,  but the
Southern
> Baptists took it well and really got a lot, and  gave a lot to the
hour and
> a half discussion. Used the four steps but was a bit creative with the
> questions: objective, reflective, interpretive and decisional.  I
dpn't
> think any decided to be murderers, tho' they agreed that using an
icicle to
> do it was ingenious!
>               G&P  Nan Grow
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Del Morrill" <delmorrill at hypnocenter.com>
> To: "Colleague Dialogue" <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 7:50 PM
> Subject: RE: [Dialogue] Process for a self-help group
> 
> 
>> I had a group of women who met for awhile in my home - "Women's
Worth"
> after
>> the book by Marianne Williamson.
>> Tried to have a structure with flexibility.  Read some meaningful
article
> or
>> some paragraphs out of a book, then, starting with rather objective
or
>> innocuous questions like what lines or phrases do you remember,
continuing
>> into questions like did you hear yourself anywhere in this, or, how
is
> this
>> expressed in your own life, or in the life of our country, etc., etc.
It
>> allowed us to do something more than just chat about nonentities.
Even
> with
>> that, it eventually became merely a place for people to gripe about
their
>> problems or worse, focused on the problems of the same people over
and
>> over --- so I cancelled it out eventually.    I'd love to hear of
anyone's
>> success with ongoing groups that are beyond group counseling
sessions.
>> Your colleague,
>> Del
>> 
>> Responding to Ghee's note:
>> I'd be interested to hear if anyone has
>> experience of working with a very loosely structured group that meets
>> regularly over along period of time: what processes have worked, what
type
>> of planning is required, what's your experience?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Del Hunter Morrill, M.S., Counseling Hypnotherapist
>> Author of the GREAT ESCAPES script books
>> and the NEW BEGINNINGS recording series
>> 
>> TRANSITIONS, a Center for Counseling &  Hypnosis
>> and home of New Beginnings Publishing
>> Located in Tacoma, Washington USA
>> (253) 383-5757; (888) 663-5757 (toll free)
>> delmorrill at hypnocenter.com, http://www.hypnocenter.com
>> 
>> "If you believe, you can, you will.  Have confidence in  your
abilities,
>> then follow through."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net
>> [mailto:Dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net]On Behalf Of Ghee Bowman
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:47 AM
>> To: 'Colleague Dialogue'
>> Subject: [Dialogue] Process for a self-help group
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dialogue mailing list
>> Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
>> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Dialogue mailing list
> Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
> 

-- 
Jo Nelson, CPF  <jnelson at ica-associates.ca>
ICA Associates, Inc.  655 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 1G4
Ph. 416-691-2316, x230  Toll-free 877-691-1422  Fax 416-691-2491
Website <ica-associates.ca>

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people cannot change the
world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead

_______________________________________________
Dialogue mailing list
Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net