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Mary
What’s the date of the last one, because
people (Paula interjects “My birthday”)
were saying there’s only four after the
break? Is the last one the 8th November?
Bill
I’ve got the 8th November, yeah.
Mary
Oh okay, that’s what I thought too.
Bill
Hmm. That’s right.
Judi
Yes, there are only four then.
Bill
No, 11th, 18th, 25th October, 1st and 8th
November.
I’ll notice if you don’t come to the last
one (laughter).
Judi
As if you’d come on the last one.
Bill
I usually do.
I try and make a habit of doing that.
Judi
So who are we expecting?
Bill
Veronica’s away, isn’t she?
Chapter Five - A Beginning – Page 149
Why are we still unsure about the dates at
this late stage? Seems to imply a very
disordered attachment, anxiety and
confusion. (Here, I am drawing on clinical
experience of the possible meaning of
patterns of discourse, and on the capacity
to detect the impact of these partly through
my own bodily and mental experience).
Is this anxious banter, reflecting the
frustration and tension in the group? There
is also a playful quality. (As an aside, this
is an important aspect of staff contribution
to learning by students. I wonder whether
the students mention this kind of behaviour
from, and interaction between, the staff in
the final session, Session Fifteen. In fact
they do not).
We don’t seem to know who is in this
group – are we enacting their inner
turmoil? (This reflection comes from my
own clinical experience of
countertransference impact).