Phone Appointment with Dr. Whitehead
January 16, 2019
Dr. Whitehead (the Pain Psychologist) called me this morning (for whatever Francis asked her to do for me). After talking some, we mutually decided that a Depression Group might be the best option for me. So I agreed to go to the next one, starting on January 31, which is every Thursday evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m., for 10 weeks, until the first Thursday in April.
Depression Group #1
Thursday, January 31, 2019, 5:30-6:45 p.m.
We were both feeling pretty good after Linda’s appointment this morning for the ultrasound of her carotid artery where the surgery was performed in December 2016. And then an immediate appointment with Dr. Gingry’s (the surgeon) office, where she was told that her carotid artery was still perfect!
This is a new building, a new community. I checked in 25 minutes early because I didn’t know how the traffic would be at five o’clock. But we got a good parking place! I knew it would be dark by the time I came out, so I was glad that I didn’t have to go too far from the van to the front door of Building A.
It was a very large group–probably about 30 people–in a small room. It amused me to think of it as just another Facebook Group, except that it was in real time, and I could see the faces and hear the voices of the other group members. And, like Facebook groups, there were about a half dozen people who were the most vocal, who spoke up, asked questions, made comments; and no matter how irrelevant or stupid they sounded to me, the facilitator accepted them and responded positively.
First, there was the introduction, including actual dates and attendance rules. Instead of 10 weeks, as Dr. Whitehead had told me, this group session is planned for 9 weeks, in 3 groups of 3 weeks, with a break in between. This means that the entirety of this group session will last until the end of April. Oh, and the time is 5:30 to 7:00, instead of 7:30.
As I expected, there will be “homework,” just as there had been in the Pain Management Program. Lisa, the facilitator, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She started by explaining the concept of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Ugh, this is sounding like the diabetes groups I attended many years ago! Making a commitment to do something outside of “class.”
Lisa started with a graphic on the whiteboard as well as the paper chart, showing the relationship of Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors, in the Cycle of Depression. She elicited responses from the group for each one. She said that we don’t have control over our feelings, but we do have control–or choice–over our behaviors, and eventually, thoughts.
She went around the room and asked everyone to say their name and one thing they had gotten out of tonight’s session. Also, we had to commit to doing one thing during the next week (or before the next session). I said I was impressed with the professionalism of this group session. My commitment was to do a “Gratitude Journal.” It seemed doable to me. Apparently, several others had the same thought because several of them also committed to a “Gratitude Journal.”
Lisa ended tonight’s session 15 minutes early (at 6:45 instead of 7:00 p.m.), which was 45 minutes earlier than I had thought. Which was nice, because we could get home and get started on supper. I’ll have to edit my Google calendar to reflect the schedule.
