Group-Analytic Contexts, Issue 80, June 2018
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Newsletter – Summer <strong>2018</strong> 9<br />
Silence.<br />
‘Or indeed,’ I added desperately, ‘to speak about any topics at all.’<br />
More silence.<br />
‘At this stage’ I added lamely, ‘it’s really over to the group.’<br />
After a few more minutes of silence Miss C giggled and made<br />
a poor effort to stifle the sound. Some of the others looked at her and<br />
smiled uneasily. She then followed this up with a remark to the effect<br />
that the whole business was ridiculous.<br />
Longer silence.<br />
Eventually Mrs N addressed me deferentially: ‘Could you<br />
please tell us, doctor’, she asked, ‘what is it about the atmosphere in<br />
the ward which affects one’s mood?’<br />
This was my cue. ‘What does the group think about this?’ I<br />
said grandly.<br />
Further silence, after which Mrs N elaborated, saying that she<br />
had felt that the ward atmosphere the previous day had given rise to a<br />
general feeling of depression and she wondered whether it was the<br />
atmosphere alone that could have been responsible.<br />
At this point Miss C stepped in challengingly to say that she<br />
hadn’t been aware of a particularly depressing atmosphere. Other<br />
members of the group maintained that, to the contrary, there had been.<br />
We were off!<br />
Or not. A moment later Miss T put up her hand, and looking<br />
directly at me, asked whether she could be excused. ‘Well, how does<br />
the group feel?’ I said robotically. Miss C, definitely representing the<br />
anti-group by this time, remarked that since Miss T had been called<br />
away from a softball game and since nothing else seemed to be<br />
happening, she should be allowed to go.<br />
Miss O then asked Miss T whether she didn’t think it more<br />
worthwhile that she stayed. Miss T retorted that nothing seemed to be<br />
happening, that she enjoyed her game of softball, and that she only<br />
had the opportunity to play once a week. Mrs B agreed that Miss T<br />
should be allowed to go if she wanted to.<br />
Eventually Miss C said, ‘Hands up those who feel that<br />
Lorraine [Miss T] should be allowed to go and play softball.’ Mrs B<br />
and Mrs N raised their hands inconspicuously shoulder high. The rest
Change language