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Archive Number 54 | ||
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Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 02:49:52 +0000
Julie wrote: Dear Tina & Other interested Wonderful Folks, You may be aware of the reality that sometimes "storytelling" can help people get to the their true feelings, etc. Years ago, it may still exist today, during the Staffing of patients in a short term, psych hospital the doctors would ofter refer to what some patients told them "as storytelling." Their idea was that the patient was making it up, avoiding feelings. Sometimes some of them probably where and some weren't. And when they weren't--making it up-- they were probably doing the best that they knew how to do, AT THE TIME, to communitcate horrifying experiences of physcial, sexual abuse or both. For example, the more that physican and/or sexual abuse came out of the closet....the more some therapist, especially the women at first, began to hear patterns. As they paid attention to them, they also began to see that whether what they women told was true or not wasn't, AT THAT TELLING, as important as the REALITY that the WOMAN FINALLY TOLD IT. Several years ago a group of women, psych-and-general nursing, along with a few therapist and other interested people opened a house called Cornelia Place. The house is a safe haven for women to spend a few days, a few hours or have their some of therapy sessions take happen at Cornelia place. Whether it's a few hours, overnight or several days---the purposes of the stay provide the woman a safe place to process what she's revealed. Instead of having to leave a Heavy Therapy Session and go deal with her family, or the job, or "whatever," one of the most important factors was The Woman was Heard." She, her personhood, Soul, "whatever" were heard. No aspect of her is criticized for what she revealed. Plus, she remains in a safe place for her to "just be." During the days when "holistic approaches and medicine" were considered as "weird, strange, unstable, etc." I was one part of a group of nurses, therapist, a psychatist and pyschologist or 2-3; plus many other helping profession people who met quarterly for several years. The women who started Cornelia Place was a part of this group and they educated us that whether the womans' (and it would be the same for men)story was true or not, was irrlevant at the time she told it. It was important that she tell her stories of horror, because in the process of telling and having them heard she was in very early stages on the road to eventually healing. As women have been able, SAFELY sort through their horrendous experiences, with the help of their therapist, Cornelia Place, many have gotten healthy and others are following suit. Not of them yet, but there are insurance companies, medical assistance, etc. finally and slowly began to recognize let this happen and out of a hospital setting also saves money. If you want more information on this contact either the Executive Director or Clinical Director at Corneila Place, 2200 28th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 827-4774. They have a new E.D. and I don't know her name. In a publication of the 2000 Minnesota Women's Press, Inc. the "blurb" submitted by Conelia Place states: "Short-term residential and outpatient services for women experiencing mental health crisis due to abuse. Finally, during the time that I worked that I planned and carried out, in a small cafe located in the same neighborhood of Corneila Place a Storytelling Fund Raiser for the house. Since it's been a few years this tells me it's probably time plan another. Every little bit counts. Peace, Joy, Julie (Jukey) Storyteller > I agree with Christy West. I've used storytelling in therapeutic sessions, > but don't confuse it with "therapy" / In fact, I've learned when people use > 'storytelling' to avoid their feelings. It can be a way of patients' > intellectualizing. I found it helpful to be the "storyteller" when coming > into rehab hospitals, substance abuse centers. etc. Mainly I've trained > such workers in the use of Storytelling. Tina Alston, Ph.D. Coordinator of > Children's Services Pigeon Forge Public Library. > web site:http://smokymtns.com/tina/tinahome.htm | ||