December 2005 Business

1) Sharing – Time Allocation:
Up to now, each person, when recognized by the moderator, could talk as long as he/she wished, and each person could share several times.  Starting in January, we will experiment with a new format.  Each person will still be able to share several times, but each individual share will be allowed a maximum of 6 minutes.  The moderator will give a warning at 4 minutes, and another at 5.  Of course, the person sharing may stop before 6 minutes if he/she wishes.  (We anticipate that New Landscape will grow, and this new format will accommodate a larger membership.)

2) Writing Project:
Last month, we agreed that the Writing Project would no longer contain lengthy abstracts of the sharing portion of the meeting.  This was in the interest of maintaining safety and boundaries.  This month, we discussed feedback from therapists who found the sharing abstracts helpful in understanding dissociative clients and requested that we continue them-with the proviso that anyone who didn’t want their shares abstracted could say so.  The group reaffirmed its decision that we are a support group, not an education group, and that we should err on the side of providing a feeling of safety to all members.  We will not abstract anyone’s share, but we will continue to include a list of the topics discussed during the sharing portion of the meeting.  

3) New Member Pamphlet:
We looked at the sample new-member pamphlet prepared by one of the members.  It is attractive and includes all the items specified at last month’s meeting.  Two of the members will fine-tune it during the coming month and present it at the January meeting.  

4) Changing the term “almost-better” to something else:
It was felt that some people might be deterred from attending New Landscape meetings because they don’t think they fit the term “almost-better.”  To address that, we discussed re-defining “almost-better.”  In the discussion, it came out that the definition as it stands is OK, but it is the term itself that is problematic and should be changed.  Some suggestions were “old-timers,” and “people in recovery.”  It was agreed that we would decide on a new term at the January meeting, but leave the rest of the definition intact.  As it now stands, the definition is:

• An almost-better is fairly well along in the healing process (not someone who is newly diagnosed and unable to cope with ups and downs).  
• An almost-better may still have a dissociative system, but he/she has a framework for understanding it.  
• An almost-better may still have occasional abreactions and crises, but he/she has a support system and an ability to cope with them outside the group.  

If you are not sure you fit the definition, you’re welcome to come to the meeting and give it a try.  

5) Flyer for posting in places like clinics: 
We looked at the draft flyer prepared by one of the members.  We would like to post it in places like clinics, where therapists could pass it along to anyone they think might be appropriate for New Landscape.  It was suggested that the flyer have tear-off strips on the bottom with contact information.  A revised flyer will be presented to the group next month.