Geneveive starts the group’s first session by asking each to recall a happy childhood memory. What did you think of this technique, and what did you think about their responses? Did the question prompt you to recall your own childhood memory?
Seemed like a positive way to begin and yes it did prompt me to consider what I could come up with in the spur of the moment.
Connie I agree it is a way to get the people a bit comfortable and to be able to know something about the members of the group. I did think about many memories of my childhood. I think we tend to do that when we are older!
That seemed like a reasonable way to start the group. A way of having people experience that everything in their lives is not all about sadness and grief. I can see if that question was posed in a therapy group that someone might say they have no happy memories. A therapist should have a response ready for that possibility. I did stop and review a happy childhood memory of my own.
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They were all strangers so this was a good way for each of them to get to know what made each of them happy at a younger age. I think Genevieve was setting the stage for the unhappiness each of them would share. In all honesty if I was asked for a quick response, I would have been the last to volunteer. It’s not that I don’t have a happy childhood memory but rather a tough decision on which I would choose.
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That was an interesting icebreaker, I thought. I’m not really good at icebreaker so u have no idea what i would have said for my own story on the spot!
I felt like the way the story unfolds really mirrors the way grief works in real life. We don’t suddenly understand everything at once; comes in pieces over time. As the characters share more about their experiences, I was able to see the bigger emotional picture. Each person’s story adds another layer, so by the end you have a much fuller sense of how differently people experience and process loss.
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Yes, I think it was a good way for them to connect with each other and for each of them to be comfortable in the group setting. I think she also wanted to reinforce with each of them that they were indeed capable of feeling happiness.
I think it was a good technique. Almost everyone has a happy childhood memory and sharing it puts you in a positive place with the rest of the group before you dig into why you are there.
Loved the technique, made me stopped and reflect on some of my childhood memories. It was a nice feeling, indeed!