Filtered from the Bureau - text

[consortofalderaan]

I have a proposal I want to make.

To put it diplomatically, I do not think the Bureau-run support groups are helpful. Meeting others dealing with new memories of past lives is good, but the way the Bureau runs their meetings has no other benefit.

I am a therapist; this is an area I’m well trained for.

But I would like to know if this worth pursuing.

How many would be interested if we started our own support group, completely separate from the Bureau?

Comments

[neverjedi]

I would be. I think it's a good idea.

do you have a space in mind?

[consortofalderaan]

I do not have a space yet. Once I know how many are interested, we can determine what kind of facility we would need.

[neverjedi]

Perfect. If there's anything I can help with, let me know.

[consortofalderaan]

What are you comfortable helping with?

[neverjedi]

Anything that can be of use and isn't public speaking.

filtered, text;

[traceofeffort]

They're good because the Bureau makes it clear they're there and they're... kinda sorta safe spaces? But no, they're not very good for actually connecting with other people, even if it works at least sometimes. I would totally be on board with trying something new.

Re: filtered, text;

[consortofalderaan]

They aren't really a safe space.

A safe space for a support group like that requires trust between the facilitator and the attendees. And the Bureau does not try to earn our trust. They just assume they have our trust. That, from the start, creates a toxic environment for the type of therapy a support group is meant to provide.

[traceofeffort]

That's... true, I guess. I didn't really think of that. The toxic environment stuff, I mean. The trust thing I've been on board with for a long time. Nobody really knows us, so we'd have to earn that trust, but I think we have better intentions on our side.

And hey, is there anything I can do to help?

[consortofalderaan]

Right now, I need to know how many Different might be interested in something like this. If you know of anyone that might be interested, mention this to them.

Once I know the numbers, we will need to find a place, or various places we can hold meetings.

[captainspain]

I would be on board with this.....the bureau just gives me the willies.

[consortofalderaan]

I haven't spoken to a single person who does not have a negative opinion of the Bureau.

It's for that reason I feel we should do this for ourselves.

[captainspain]

I agree...sometimes I feeling like I should be speaking out more.

[consortofalderaan]

Against the Bureau?

[smilingarmor]

This is an excellent idea! And if you're looking for a space, I just so happen to have one available. One with much nicer atmosphere than any place the Bureau hosts their meetings, if I do say so myself. We'd likely need to provide the snacks ourselves much of the time, but I suspect we can do that better than the Bureau's meetings too.

[consortofalderaan]

I'm glad to see this generating interest.

What place do you have in mind?

I would prefer it to not be someone's home. A person's home should ultimately be their own safe space and inviting people you may or may not potentially do not get along with into that space, even for a good cause, disrupts that safety.

[smilingarmor]

Not my home, but my business; I happen to run a small theater on the West Side, and there's a lounge downstairs that's generally not in use Monday-Thursday. It's out of the way of any productions that might be rehearsing, and quite a comfortable place, even without music and cocktails.

[consortofalderaan]

That would be good for Monday through Thursday.

Is there a process for renting it out?

[not_as_i_do]

Well, you know where I stand on the subject.

[consortofalderaan]

I have your support.

Do I have your valuable volunteering commitment?

[not_as_i_do]

Depends on the sort of things you'd like me to help with, I suppose. We both still have our own practices to attend to, after all.

[consortofalderaan]

More a listening ear to hear about a larger plan.

[seawalled]

That'd be lovely, I think. And I'd be willing to help if you needed. I've done community outreach and organized a few things back home over the pond.

[consortofalderaan]

Oh really? I would love your help. That kind of experience is invaluable.

What did you do before, back home?

[seawalled]

Oh it was general office work, the job. Nothing massive, standard typing and phones and emails ... But I helped out at soup kitchens, organized food drives, stuff like that. A lot of collecting volunteer names and putting schedules together. People said I had kind of a knack for it.

[she thinks of the few memories she's seen of her other life so far, and hums a little in thought]

Wonder if it wasn't bits of that other life peekin' through.

[consortofalderaan]

I think those skills would transfer well to what we are trying to do here.

I do wonder if any part of my life now is a reflection of the life I had before. But I'm not married to a queen of a planet, I'm not involved in politics, I've never been to space. A fun thought experiment, though.