Dear Friends,
We have now had four successful in-person support groups in Waltham, as well as groups for Family & Friends and Young Adults at Robbins Library in Arlington. I have facilitated in Waltham and it is wonderful to be back in person.
Our Downtown group pioneered the effort and have had in-person as well as Zoom groups for nearly two years.
We’re not back to the attendance we enjoyed before the pandemic, when well over 100 people gathered each Wednesday evening for groups and socializing, but it is a start. Several people at Waltham thanked me for the group and expressed their firm belief that in-person groups are crucial to their well-being. For me as a facilitator, what happened at the breaks was just as important as the group itself. Private conversations were struck up: something that is very difficult to manage in a Zoom meeting where the whole group hears everything. One-on-one contact is so important.
We continue to work with McLean to resume our in-person meetings there. It’s been a slow process, but some progress has been made. We will announce on our website and via eBlast any changes.
Pondering my experience of the past dozen years or so of facilitating at DBSA Boston, I’ve learned a lot: from the trainer extraordinaire, Chuck Weinstein, from my fellow facilitators, and from group members.
When I started, I was obsessed with making the groups last exactly 120 minutes (including the 10-minute break.) It was as if I had a stern employer watching over me with a stopwatch, making sure I didn’t clock out a moment early. In the past year I’m more relaxed. The groups still tend to end very close to the hour or half hour, but I appreciate the organic nature of groups and how special these facilitated support groups are.
February was a great month for in-person gatherings, starting with an ice cream social at my house February 6, where we met together for a relaxed and casual evening.
By the way, someone left a large brown buttoned sweater at the ice cream social (see attached photo). Unfortunately, I don’t have many email addresses, so I haven’t been able to track down the owner. Please let me know if it is yours.
Mary@dbsaboston.org
Mary Johnston
DBSA Boston President
Last updated 03/03/22