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

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.

[traceofeffort]

I'll spread the word as much as I can, then. Not that there are THAT many of us, but I think this will work better if we can bring as many people as possible.

I'll probably continue going to the Bureau-run meetings anyway though. The new people won't know about our meetings if nobody tells them, right?

[consortofalderaan]

That is a good point. We'll need to be continually aware of new Different who want an alternative to what the Bureau offers.

[traceofeffort]

And they won't be aware there IS an alternative unless someone tells them. I probably shouldn't be the only person, of course, but that's something I can do.

Thank you for offering to do this. I definitely still have reservations about... all of this, sometimes. So somewhere the Bureau isn't listening will be good for me, too.

[consortofalderaan]

You're right to recognize that that is not a task to take on alone. The more people who volunteer to help, the easier it will be for all of us.

I do hope that creating our own space to process what we are going through will help everyone who participates.

[traceofeffort]

Mm, right. And it's good that we have someone that knows what he's doing leading the operation. I'd probably just run it like a big mixer because I don't know any better. So I'm looking forward to something I can get more use out of.

Oh, before I forget - let me know if you want to pool money for refreshments, I'll pitch in for that. If I have to drink dollar-store powdered lemonade again I'm going to take the whole bucket and dump it in the Hudson. I know it's not a HELPFUL complaint, but it's been stuck in my head for a while.

[consortofalderaan]

Not powdered lemonade - noted.