Post by dougW on Dec 31st, 2010 at 4:27pm
I'm copying this directly from the ClusterBuster board.
The conference thread there is in the General Section, so log in is not required (other than to view any links)
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This is the first speaker announcement.
Perhaps once or twice a year, somewhere on our planet, there is a room filled mostly with Cluster Headache sufferers, along with a few loved ones and medical professionals. In that room, there exists a rare opportunity to better understand ourselves, each other, and our condition.
Such an opportunity will be possible at the ClusterBusters conference beginning September 16, 2011 in Chicago Illinois, led by a fellow clusterhead and licensed psychotherapist, Dr. Larry Schor.
Dr. Schor describes the sessions as this:
There are a number of common factors that are hard, if not impossible to explain to others. My sense is that nearly everyone with this condition has been psychotic. Apparently it is quite common during an attack to feel compulsions like, “Maybe if I get the pliers and pull some of these molars it would help” or “If I drill a small hole in my head it might relieve the pressure”
There also seems to be a pretty universal experience of assault by some otherly beast. The attached picture seems to capture this for many of us.
Suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completions are alarmingly high among CH sufferers. For many, it also seems that the suicidal ideation is not even so much about stopping the pain, but more as a way of killing “It” even if it means I will die in the process. There is a fear that this might sound like melodramatic hyperbole to outsiders.
The existential therapist, Irvin Yalom identifies the therapeutic factors of group work (see link below).
I believe these principles offer particular relevance for our group.
On the Saturday afternoon of the Conference, Dr. Schor will facilitate two group sessions.
Our first group meeting will focus on the theme of what we have in common that makes us an “us.” What this means is that we clusterheads have all or mostly felt psychotic helpless, been misunderstood by people who suggested unhelpful things, been traumatized by the assault of a cluster attack, contemplated suicide, felt the need to hide for various reasons, etc. There appears to exist a PTSD-like quality among some. The individual and cumulative effects of enduring attacks alter aspects of our lives.
Our second group meeting will explore “what helps.” Recognizing that no singular treatment works for everyone, we will share our successes and failures; medically, emotionally, and relationally as we collaboratively approach some of the difficult choices required to navigate through this condition.
Registration details will be available shortly.
Mark this conference date on your calendars, you’re not going to want to miss this.
Link:
Therapeutic Factors in Group Work: adapted from (Yalom and Leszcz, 2005)
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or END PRINTPAGE
The conference thread there is in the General Section, so log in is not required (other than to view any links)
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGEThis is the first speaker announcement.
Perhaps once or twice a year, somewhere on our planet, there is a room filled mostly with Cluster Headache sufferers, along with a few loved ones and medical professionals. In that room, there exists a rare opportunity to better understand ourselves, each other, and our condition.
Such an opportunity will be possible at the ClusterBusters conference beginning September 16, 2011 in Chicago Illinois, led by a fellow clusterhead and licensed psychotherapist, Dr. Larry Schor.
Dr. Schor describes the sessions as this:
There are a number of common factors that are hard, if not impossible to explain to others. My sense is that nearly everyone with this condition has been psychotic. Apparently it is quite common during an attack to feel compulsions like, “Maybe if I get the pliers and pull some of these molars it would help” or “If I drill a small hole in my head it might relieve the pressure”
There also seems to be a pretty universal experience of assault by some otherly beast. The attached picture seems to capture this for many of us.
Suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completions are alarmingly high among CH sufferers. For many, it also seems that the suicidal ideation is not even so much about stopping the pain, but more as a way of killing “It” even if it means I will die in the process. There is a fear that this might sound like melodramatic hyperbole to outsiders.
The existential therapist, Irvin Yalom identifies the therapeutic factors of group work (see link below).
I believe these principles offer particular relevance for our group.
On the Saturday afternoon of the Conference, Dr. Schor will facilitate two group sessions.
Our first group meeting will focus on the theme of what we have in common that makes us an “us.” What this means is that we clusterheads have all or mostly felt psychotic helpless, been misunderstood by people who suggested unhelpful things, been traumatized by the assault of a cluster attack, contemplated suicide, felt the need to hide for various reasons, etc. There appears to exist a PTSD-like quality among some. The individual and cumulative effects of enduring attacks alter aspects of our lives.
Our second group meeting will explore “what helps.” Recognizing that no singular treatment works for everyone, we will share our successes and failures; medically, emotionally, and relationally as we collaboratively approach some of the difficult choices required to navigate through this condition.
Registration details will be available shortly.
Mark this conference date on your calendars, you’re not going to want to miss this.
Link:
Therapeutic Factors in Group Work: adapted from (Yalom and Leszcz, 2005)
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGE