[OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[christine koehler via OSList]

Thank you all for your answers.
It all makes sense, I realized I was dealing with my own fears because of
the rush of the event and the
location that was a challenge for me last week (a circus  with terraces-
right now the team found wonderful solutions and I am sure everything will
be fine ).

Please forgive me for the strange words I used, I hope I did not hurt
anyone. My English is what it is , learned as an adult,  and I am not aware
of mistakes or clumsiness when I write. I meant no offense. In French I am
able to choose my words carefully, not in English. However I decided once
that I would take the risk of offending people rather than not daring to
write on this list. All your answers are  too precious to me. It's also a
very good way for me to  learn proper English.

Thank you very much Tree for your words. I am moved. I guess it must be
difficult to read my fears projected on people with mental health
disabilities. I guess you have to deal with this kind of behaviors quite
often. So thank you again for taking the time to write it once more. For
sure I will remember it.

Especially as I share exactly what you write, my gratitude to Harrison who
with Open Space helped me realize that my freedom was all in my own hands,
within myself. And that my responsibility was to confront that, and not get
trapped by my fears. But instead use my feet.

 I realize I am shyly beginning to use them (pretty difficult to learn,
progress not constant, falling back into traps still too often). This time
the traps for me was "doctors words". people who are supposed to know. But
like me, who are trapped into their own fears.  Maybe it will be my
lifetime issue.

I am reading Marianne Williamson words again
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most
frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you *not* to be? You are a child
of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing
enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure
around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make
manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us;
it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
This helps. I took my decision : everyone will be welcome, whoever he or
she is. To teach us/me - or to touch us/me- with his/her light.

Christine



On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 10:41 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> ...curious about the differing labels (and constructed meanings therein) -
> disability is an odd one for me when discussing psychiatric/mental health
> issues - checking with my UK cohorts - doesn't this sound a little fixed?
> We don't have cancer disabilities (etc). Some personality, learning and
> cognitive disorders are pretty much intrinsic to an individual (autism, for
> example). Some diseases excite the pharma world and the neuroscientists in
> seeking a lucrative cure. Most mental health is a weather system really??
> Psychoses are helped with drugs and lots of the smarter kinds of help
> including self-help. Neuroses are often the natural if challenging and
> often extreme responses to life. The fsahions in terms of language around
> this area change constantly - so how do others read 'disability' in this
> 'diversely and variably abled' world?
> yours curiously
> Anne
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* R Chaffe via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *To:* Therese Fitzpatrick <therese.fitzpatrick at gmail.com>; World wide
> Open Space Technology email list <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, 6 October 2014, 1:17
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric
> disorders
>
> "who ever comes is the right people".
>
> Having spent the past 7 years working directly with persons with a
> diagnosed disability and 20 years working in the wider community (often
> with people under significant stress) the same challenge remains and that
> is to unconditionally accept people on their terms and as they are.
>
> The second challenge is give them the security of an Open Space where they
> can be heard, that is I need to listen.
>
> Rev Ray Richmond ( of the Wayside Chapel  Kings Cross Sydney) gave me one
> rule and  - harm to others is totally unacceptable and that is where a
> facilitator must intervene to secure the space.
>
> Maslow highlighted the conditions under which people can reach their full
> potential and safety and security are two conditions that are essential.
>
> Facilitating Open Space I can only make one promise and that is to the
> best of my ability I will create and maintain a secure space where the
> participants can do what ever they do.  I can only promise the environment
> not the outputs or the outcomes.  The challenge to the sponsor is are they
> willing to let the participants choose?
>
> The law of two feet is always an option.
>
> Working with adult persons with a disability it is a wonder when they are
> given permission to actually do their own thing  rather than play a role to
> meet others expectations.  Too often I have found that these adults have
> been "micro managed" to a level very few of us would accept.  When I
> released  the shackles of this control the wealth of contribution is
> spectacular.
>
> At the end of one Open Space event where the participants were encouraged
> to look for issues and opportunities in their work place.  The participants
> were encouraged to make a paper aeroplane ( including one person who had
> spent most of her adult life to the age of 45 in mental institution).  Then
> each ( with their own design) launched their aircraft.  Each person was
> then asked to choose one flight that best described their "work place"
> .....  The insights and conversations that were shared were very rich - in
> their own way in their own words they gave a graphic and very accurate
> picture of the "workplace" and a set of opportunities which can only be
> describe as inspirational.
>
> As Harrison said the rewards outweigh the effort - trust the system and
> keep the space and of course a nap is always a good option.
>
> Regards
> Rob
>
>
>
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