Summer/Fall 2007

On April 24th a group of us from Champaign County traveled to Bloomington, IL to attend the 2007 Annual Recovery Conference. It was my first exposure to this annual conference. I was very pleased to hear presentations by many self-help group members as well as the lay person perspective on mental health recovery. The conference theme was “Recovery: Living Your Dream.” The keynote speaker, Nanette Larson, helped to provide a vision of recovery. She has developed a poster with the foundational principles of recovery which include hope, personal responsibility, support, education, self-advocacy and spirituality.

Some of the sessions I attended helped to flesh out the theme for me. Carol Mussey, National Program Coordinator of GROW in America, shared with us that recovery is no mystery, but is a journey of healing and personal growth, and is a complex process requiring complex solutions. Carol said the solutions include admitting we have problems and we can’t recover alone. We need friends, community, spiritual resources and to do our part for self-activation. Self-activation includes keeping in contact and avoiding isolation, patience, persistence, perspective and praise. She also encouraged right thinking: credit yourself for progress, act rightly in spite of feelings, do the ordinary things we fear and remember we are more durable than vulnerable.*

I also attended a session by Tom Troe who had to undergo extensive physical and mental healing from being the victim of a traumatic violent crime. He shared with us the perspective of being brutally attacked and the enormous burdens this placed on his life. Despite the monolithic effort it took to heal, Tom ended his presentation by sharing specific ways to support a person who has post-traumatic stress disorder. He is writing a book about his experience and recovery entitled, “Through the Victim’s Eyes.” His website is www.VictimsEyes.com.

Another session I attended was a mother-daughter dialogue on living with a parent who has a mental illness. Krista Taylor, and her daughter, Zoe Corso, did an excellent job presenting the parent and child perspective on mental illness. It was especially impressive to see a mother-daughter team demonstrating open, honest feedback and communication about this often difficult family topic. Krista and Zoe found a successful family life for themselves included open and honest communication about the mental illness, a plan for when the parent was symptomatic, affirmation and celebration of successes, a focus on the strengths of the person and a perspective that the parent is more than their illness, planned play and leisure time, development of family traditions and history, knowing how and when to get help and discovering the deeper meanings of life and what brings joy.

The crowning touch of the conference for me was the art exhibition and the Stars of Light traveling theater troupe composed of persons with mental illness, staff and community volunteers who provide dramatic presentations about mental illness and the worth of the often stigmatized person in society. We were able to ask questions after the presentation and interact with the performers to develop a deeper appreciation for their life challenges. I hope we can bring this fine group of performers to our next self-help conference scheduled for fall 2008.

*The phrases and words in italic are taken from GROW program and copyright by GROW INT’L, A.C.T., Australia

Inspiration and Friendship Happen at Facilitator Workshop

At our spring facilitator workshop, 16 people from various self-help groups and backgrounds gathered to discuss and learn more about the art of facilitation. Some of the participants were tried and true group leaders while others were just learning about this role. Some of the members were thinking about forming a group and some were teaching students in their classes about self-help groups. One of the activities we did during the workshop was to form learning partners for the day. One of the pairs had such a rich experience they decided to continue to get to know each other and meet for coffee after the workshop. In another case, a nursing student who attended was not sure if he even wanted to get out of bed that day but decided it was worth checking the workshop out. He commented at the end of the day that this workshop had lifted him out of a low energy state of being and had provided him with the inspiration to interact and promote the development of groups for patients and families he might work with in the future. Another group leader who was dealing with burnout found new energy and ways to go back and get her group on the “positive, uplifting” track.

The next facilitator workshop will be held Saturday, October 20th. (See page 3 inside for details.) If you currently help facilitate a self-help group, are thinking about starting a group or interact as a professional with a group, I encourage you to attend this workshop. The interaction among the participants, the skill exercises, resources provided, an excellent lunch and beautiful workshop setting all add up to a supportive and potentially inspiring day.

Announcements

· Revised Specialized Lists on Addictions, Caregiving, Disability, Grief, Health, Mental Health, Parenting, Physical and Emotional Abuse, Teens and Youth, and Sexual Orientation groups are available. Call the center to order copies free if you arrange to pick them up.

· Achieving Your Personal Best program to be offered in Champaign County. This program is highly interactive and promotes self-management for individuals with any chronic physical or mental health condition and their caregiver(s). The six-week course consists of 2½ hour classes once a week. The course includes information that will help the individual and loved ones manage symptoms, medications, safe exercise, relaxation techniques, goal-setting, relationships, communication skills and more. If you would like to be placed on a list to receive announcements of course times and dates call Rosanna McLain, Program Director, Senior Resource Center at Family Service 352-5100.

· Radio Opportunity: The Self-Help Center is hoping to launch a community radio program about the nature of self-help and the many groups available to meet the challenges of life and life transitions. Stay tuned for details. Email me if you would like to be considered for either a half hour live program with callers or would be willing to do a pre-recorded interview.

Breast Cancer Pilot Writing Group

Based upon the book “Words that Heal: Writing through Cancer” by Sharon Bray

If I Close My Eyes

If I close my eyes what will I see?

Rainbows of colors?

Bright sunlight?

Blue skies?

If I close my eyes in this dark

Winter of my life,

Can I see beyond the lurking?

Menacing cells that threaten to destroy?

If I close my eyes, I can

Envision anything

Anything I want,

Anything I need

Anything I desire

If I close my eyes and see

Light and love and

Words of healing

Robust red blood coursing

Through my veins

Will this powerful rushing

Carry away the intruders

The fear

The sadness?

If I close my eyes, I can see

The smiling, twinkling eyes

Of those who love me

My husband, my children

My friends, my God?

If I close my eyes, will all

These things which really

Makeup the true essence of life

Overwhelm that

Which threatens it?

If I close my eyes, I can

Transfer the warm glow

Of love and life

Into my body

And obliterate the dark.

Poet: Nia Klein 2007

Group Updates

Group Changes:

Caring Hearts (Vermilion County) – Meeting date has changed from Thursday to 3^rd Tuesday, 7 p.m. in the board room of the First Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Franklin, Danville

Co-Dependents Anonymous – A group meets in Rantoul on Tuesdays 7-8 p.m., Serenity Shack, Ohio St., Rantoul

CU Autism Network for Parents and Professionals – Change Linda Torterelli’s phone number from 352-1048 to 244-1395 (pgs. 27 and 63 in the Support Group Directory)

Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance Urbana-Champaign – Change contact information from Sten Johansen to Zelig Bartell 355-5128 E-mail: zsbartell@yahoo.com (Page 51 in the Support Group Directory)

New Groups:

Leukemia/Lymphoma/Myeloma/Transplant Support Group – Support and education for patients, family and friends. Meets 2^nd Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m., University Place Christian Church, 403 S. Wright St., Champaign. Contact: Mica Will 586-1667 or 898-1018

Sexual Addictions Support Group – Gender specific, faith-based for recovery related to sexual addiction. Meets Thurs., 7:30-8:30 p.m., LifeQuest Center, 1702 Interstate Dr., Champaign Contact: Marshall Lipscomb 493-2300

Sharing Moments – Education and support for caregivers of persons with Dementia. Meets 3^rd Thurs., 7 p.m., Amber Glen, 1704 E. Amber Lane, Urbana Contact: Joy Rathe 384-0100

The Self-Help Center of Family Service Presents….

Fall Workshop

Saturday, October 20th

FACILITATION SKILLS FOR SELF-HELP/SUPPORT GROUP LEADERS

Topics: Facilitator Roles, Leadership Style and Shared Leadership, Group Membership Issues, Active Listening Skills, Getting the Most out of Group Discussion, Dealing with Group Conflict and Difficult Behaviors.

Workshop Facilitator: Sharon Monday-Dorsey, Self-Help Center Coordinator and Panel Members from Selected Self-Help Groups.

Workshop Time & Location: Saturday, October 20^th 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Forum at Carle. Networking Registration: 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.; program begins at 9:00 a.m. We will break at noon for a networking lunch hour.

Registration Fee: $35 includes lunch and resource packet; $10 additional fee for professionals seeking CEU credit.

Information: Self-Help Center 352-0099

---------------------------------------------------Registration Form---------------------------------------------

Your Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Group Name/Organization:_________________________________________________________

Phone:_________________________E-mail:___________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________

Indicate any Dietary Restrictions/Preferences: ________________________________________

Fees Enclosed: __$35 Basic Registration Fee

__$10 Additional Fee for Professionals Requesting CEU credit

Make checks payable to:

Self-Help Center of Family Service

405 S. State, Champaign, IL 61820

Register Early! Workshop Size is Limited!

Thank You

Ted Kappes, Prairienet Community Networking Initiative, for his ongoing assistance with updating Self-Help Center information on the website.

David Gordon, Urbana Adult Education, for his generous assistance with the layout and production of this edition of the Self-Helper newsletter.

Self-Help Center Advisory Committee Members: Zelig Bartell, Imani Bazzell, Dennis Cockrum, Carol Choutka, Suzanne Martinez, Hadley Ravencroft, Vanessa Ream, Ann Russell, Tom Seals, Mendy Smith, Mark Zinzow

The Self-Helper

published by The Self-Help Center

A Program of Family Service

405 South State Street

Champaign, IL 61820

217-352-0099

e-mail: selfhelp@prairienet.org

Web: www.prairienet.org/selfhelp/

Staff

Sheryl Bautch.......................................... Exec. Dir. of Family Service

Annie Clay............................................................... Program Director

Sharon Monday-Dorsey.................................................... Coordinator

Elizabeth Easley, Joan Lathrap.......................................... Volunteers