Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Harrison Owen via OSList]

Christine, my only personal experience is with Developmentally Disabled (We 
might say “slow”), but I’ve heard of OS’s with psychiatric populations. In both 
cases the Open Space worked just as usual, and people seemed surprised that the 
participants were more functional in Open Space than they were usually. Made 
sense to me. 

 

Harrison 

 

Winter Address

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, MD 20854

301-365-2093

 

Summer Address

189 Beaucaire Ave.

Camden, ME 04843

207-763-3261

 

Websites

www.openspaceworld.com

www.ho-image.com

OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of 
OSLIST Go to: 
 
http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org

 

From: OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of 
christine koehler via OSList
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2014 2:19 AM
To: OSLIST
Subject: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

 

Hi everyone,

 

 

I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa 150 people) 
in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the participants. 

How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?

 

I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came out, as 
one of the organizer is working with them in order to help them be included in 
the society as any other citizen.

 

Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to prepare it 
(and if we have enough time for that...)


 

 

Christine 

-- 

 

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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Anne Bennett via OSList]

Hi Christine

I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years. Designing a 
range of events for various purposes, I found a few things of interest - 

1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the enthusiasms 
of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those perceived to have 
special challenges - often they don't - make general arrangements for 
supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones, obvious exits]. The more 
'we' think 'they' need special help, the more this may become true, and equally 
denies the truth that 'who doesnt need this help?' Although once there were 
'criminally insane' prisoners in an event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health 
care workers, their inputs and engagements were as sane and probably the most 
relevant of any. The notion of individuals making their own decisions to 
join/leave groups and manage their own time, communication and activity is a 
challenge for the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such 
behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the space, 
gentle encouragement, presence) is the
 main thing to bring on the day.

2. Subtler observations I would share:
-  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a lot of baggage to 
the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field day with the 
introjections etc etc;
- specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the most 
difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the heads of state, 
monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers and homeless) to get 
involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the room - a day or so in and a 
few are communicating almost like humans;
- mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time - serious 
(in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric disorders can 
mean some people have altered realities some or most of the time, and/or be 
chemically suppressed. This brings versions of contribution that add to the 
diverse mix that we can experience in any group. The principles of OST are 
among the most sense-making for such diversity and one is reminded anew of how 
universally helpful it is to stay mindful of these qualities of human society.

So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is a red 
herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is achieved may 
require something quite other than what might be going on or proposed

In friendship
Anne


>
> From: christine koehler via OSList 
>To: OSLIST  
>Sent: Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
>Subject: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
> 
>
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>
>
>
>I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa 150 people) 
>in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the participants. 
>How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
>
>
>I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came out, as 
>one of the organizer is working with them in order to help them be included in 
>the society as any other citizen.
>
>
>Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to prepare 
>it (and if we have enough time for that...)
>
>
>
>
>
>Christine -- 
>
>
>
>___
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>To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
>
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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Anne Bennett via OSList]

yeah - what he said
 
From: Harrison Owen via OSList 
>To: 'christine koehler' ; 'World wide Open 
>Space Technology email list'  
>Sent: Sunday, 5 October 2014, 13:34
>Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
> 
>
>
>Christine, my only personal experience is with Developmentally Disabled (We 
>might say “slow”), but I’ve heard of OS’s with psychiatric populations. In 
>both cases the Open Space worked just as usual, and people seemed surprised 
>that the participants were more functional in Open Space than they were 
>usually. Made sense to me. 
> 
>Harrison 
> 
>Winter Address
>7808 River Falls Drive
>Potomac, MD 20854
>301-365-2093
> 
>Summer Address
>189 Beaucaire Ave.
>Camden, ME 04843
>207-763-3261
> 
>Websites
>www.openspaceworld.com
>www.ho-image.com
>OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of 
>OSLIST Go 
>to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> 
>From:OSList [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of 
>christine koehler via OSList
>Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2014 2:19 AM
>To: OSLIST
>Subject: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
> 
>Hi everyone,
> 
> 
>I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa 150 people) 
>in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the participants. 
>How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
> 
>I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came out, as 
>one of the organizer is working with them in order to help them be included in 
>the society as any other citizen.
> 
>Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to prepare 
>it (and if we have enough time for that...)
>
> 
> 
>Christine 
>-- 
> 
>___
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>To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
>
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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[doug via OSList]

Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations 
institutionalized?


:- Doug. Germann



On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:

Hi Christine

I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
of interest -

1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an
event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs
and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The
notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups
and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for
the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such
behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the
space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the main thing to bring on the
day.

2. Subtler observations I would share:
-  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a lot of
baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field
day with the introjections etc etc;
- specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the
most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the
heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers
and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the
room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
- mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time -
serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric
disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of
the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of
contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any
group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such
diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to
stay mindful of these qualities of human society.

So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is
a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is
achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on
or proposed

In friendship
Anne


*From:* christine koehler via OSList 
*To:* OSLIST 
*Sent:* Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
*Subject:* [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

Hi everyone,


I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa
150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the
participants.
How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?

I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came
out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help
them be included in the society as any other citizen.

Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to
prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)


Christine
--


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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[anne.bennett8ac via OSList]

Precisely my point Doug
 ;-)


Sent from Samsung Mobile

 Original message 
From: doug via OSList  
Date: 2014/10/05  19:24  (GMT+00:00) 
To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org 
Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders 
 
Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations 
institutionalized?

:- Doug. Germann



On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
> Hi Christine
>
> I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
> Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
> of interest -
>
> 1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
> enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
> perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
> arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
> obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
> this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
> this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an
> event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs
> and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The
> notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups
> and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for
> the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such
> behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the
> space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the main thing to bring on the
> day.
>
> 2. Subtler observations I would share:
> -  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a lot of
> baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field
> day with the introjections etc etc;
> - specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the
> most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the
> heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers
> and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the
> room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
> - mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time -
> serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric
> disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of
> the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of
> contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any
> group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such
> diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to
> stay mindful of these qualities of human society.
>
> So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is
> a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is
> achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on
> or proposed
>
> In friendship
> Anne
>
> 
> *From:* christine koehler via OSList 
> *To:* OSLIST 
> *Sent:* Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
> *Subject:* [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
> I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa
> 150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the
> participants.
> How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
>
> I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came
> out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help
> them be included in the society as any other citizen.
>
> Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to
> prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)
>
>
> Christine
> --
>
>
> ___
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org
> 
> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
> 
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
>
>
>
> ___
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> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
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>
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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[doug via OSList]

;)


On 10/05/2014 04:08 PM, anne.bennett8ac wrote:

Precisely my point Doug
  ;-)


Sent from Samsung Mobile



 Original message 
From: doug via OSList 
Date: 2014/10/05 19:24 (GMT+00:00)
To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders


Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations
institutionalized?

:- Doug. Germann



On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
 > Hi Christine
 >
 > I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
 > Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
 > of interest -
 >
 > 1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
 > enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
 > perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
 > arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
 > obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
 > this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
 > this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an
 > event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs
 > and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The
 > notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups
 > and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for
 > the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such
 > behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the
 > space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the main thing to bring on the
 > day.
 >
 > 2. Subtler observations I would share:
 > -  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a lot of
 > baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field
 > day with the introjections etc etc;
 > - specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the
 > most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the
 > heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers
 > and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the
 > room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
 > - mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time -
 > serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric
 > disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of
 > the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of
 > contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any
 > group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such
 > diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to
 > stay mindful of these qualities of human society.
 >
 > So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is
 > a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is
 > achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on
 > or proposed
 >
 > In friendship
 > Anne
 >
 >

 > *From:* christine koehler via OSList 
 > *To:* OSLIST 
 > *Sent:* Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
 > *Subject:* [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric
disorders
 >
 > Hi everyone,
 >
 >
 > I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa
 > 150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the
 > participants.
 > How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
 >
 > I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came
 > out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help
 > them be included in the society as any other citizen.
 >
 > Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to
 > prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)
 >
 >
 > Christine
 > --
 >
 >
 > ___
 > OSList mailing list
 > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org
 > 
 > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
 > 
 > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
 > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > ___
 > OSList mailing list
 > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org
 > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
 > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
 > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
 >
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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[doug via OSList]

;)


On 10/05/2014 04:08 PM, anne.bennett8ac wrote:

Precisely my point Doug
 ;-)


Sent from Samsung Mobile



 Original message 
From: doug via OSList 
Date: 2014/10/05 19:24 (GMT+00:00)
To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric 
disorders



Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations
institutionalized?

:- Doug. Germann



On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
> Hi Christine
>
> I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
> Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
> of interest -
>
> 1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
> enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
> perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
> arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
> obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
> this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
> this help?' Although once there were 'criminally insane' prisoners in an
> event, hand-cuffed to their forensic health care workers, their inputs
> and engagements were as sane and probably the most relevant of any. The
> notion of individuals making their own decisions to join/leave groups
> and manage their own time, communication and activity is a challenge for
> the institutionalised - how many organisations are free of such
> behavioural effects? Your art of facilitation (calm liberation of the
> space, gentle encouragement, presence) is the main thing to bring on the
> day.
>
> 2. Subtler observations I would share:
> -  the 'norms' (people who are 'us' not 'them') bring a lot of
> baggage to the thing - the psychodynamicals among us can have a field
> day with the introjections etc etc;
> - specifically the psychiatrically credentialled professionals have the
> most difficulty of any specific group I have ever met (including the
> heads of state, monks, prisoners, scientists, artists, asylum seekers
> and homeless) to get involved at the EQ level with anyone else in the
> room - a day or so in and a few are communicating almost like humans;
> - mental health labels can be applied to most of us some of the time -
> serious (in terms of lifestyle-impacting), chronic or acute psychiatric
> disorders can mean some people have altered realities some or most of
> the time, and/or be chemically suppressed. This brings versions of
> contribution that add to the diverse mix that we can experience in any
> group. The principles of OST are among the most sense-making for such
> diversity and one is reminded anew of how universally helpful it is to
> stay mindful of these qualities of human society.
>
> So I guess the intentions of your planners are nice, the time element is
> a red herring, and the perceptions of who is 'included' and how this is
> achieved may require something quite other than what might be going on
> or proposed
>
> In friendship
> Anne
>
> 
> *From:* christine koehler via OSList 


> *To:* OSLIST 
> *Sent:* Sunday, 5 October 2014, 7:18
> *Subject:* [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric 
disorders

>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
> I would like to know if you have experienced an open space (circa
> 150 people) in which people with psychiatric disorders are among the
> participants.
> How did it go ? How did you prepare it ?
>
> I am asking because during pre-work of an open space, the topic came
> out, as one of the organizer is working with them in order to help
> them be included in the society as any other citizen.
>
> Of course I understand the idea and I second it, but I wonder how to
> prepare it (and if we have enough time for that...)
>
>
> Christine
> --
>
>
> ___
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org
> 
> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org
> 
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
>
>
>
> ___
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> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
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Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Therese Fitzpatrick via OSList]

Christine Koehler, every single Open Space event that I have either
attended or facilitated has had at least one person with a psychiatric
disorder - me.  Knowing as much as I do about mental health disabilities
and how common they are, I'd be willing to be every Open Space event has
participants with manic depression (not my disability), personality
disorders, schizophrenia, bouts of psychosis, major depression, etc. I know
people in just about every Open Space I have ever participated in with such
challenges.

You don't need to do anything differently.

I just thought of OS as I walked eight miles yesterday in the unusual very
hot sun here in Berkeley. I was canvassing for a political candidate, my
body in pain as it always is when I walk (arthritis) and grumping along
silently to myself "Why am I doing this on such a hot day?" And then I
thought "Oh, that's right, I live in OS.  I don't have to be doing this. I
am making a contribution, I feel called to make this contribution."

When I met OS, the world made more sense to me than it ever had until that
point. And I have lived in OS ever since. I go to conventional meetings
with talking heads in front of a room full of people seated in rows and,
almost every time, I leave. Even when I don't leave traditional meetings, I
get up whenever I want, wander in and out of the room if I feel so moved
and I make no apologies. Once in awhile someone will ask me "You seem to
just do whatever you want" and I say "I live in Open Space, come on in, the
water is perfect always".

And then I thought of Harrison. I think his discovery of what was already
'there' was really brilliant. I was flooded with gratitude for OS, for the
freedom it gives me every moment of my life.

People with mental health disablities (I would never use the phrase
'psychiatric disabilities' -- that phrase sounds like psychiatric
professionals who, in my 10 to 12 years dealing with them, rarely seem to
really understand that people with mental health disabilities have more in
common with all humans than differences.

It is, imho, subtly negative and demeaning to assume people with mental
health disabilities, or challenges, need special care in OS.  It is a form
of bigotry that is virtually never acknowledged. You undervalue the
humanity of participants if you think people with 'psychiatric
disabilities' need special treatment in OS and you might not fully grasp
the brilliant of OS. I don't mean to be impolite. It's just that OS is safe
for this person with a mental health disability, the safest space I know of.

I am reading a book right now, "Of Water and Spirit" by an African shaman
and great writer Malidomo Patrice Some. He has since written other books.
When he first came to USA and saw what we in this country consider mental
illness, he exclaimed "In my country, when people exhibit the signs you in
the USA see as mental illness, we see someone who is beginning a passage to
become a shaman, a healer, we see such behavior as signs of special paths
in life and we facilitate them to become whatever it is they are trying to
become."  I paraphrase.

As others have already said, there is no need for special prep for persons
with mental health disabilities.

I guess if someone is in full blown psychosis, which does happen, they
might not be in an optimal energy to attend an OS. Other than a participant
who is literally unable to track reality, there is not really much
different about people with mental health challenges and people without.
Everything we humans do is culture and every aspect of culture is a human
invention, including mental health disabilities. In some cultures, what is
seen here as mental health disabilities is seen as specially gifted and
celebrated.

On Sun, Oct 5, 2014 at 1:24 PM, doug via OSList <
oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

>  ;)
>
>  On 10/05/2014 04:08 PM, anne.bennett8ac wrote:
>
> Precisely my point Doug
>  ;-)
>
>
>  Sent from Samsung Mobile
>
>
>
>  Original message 
> From: doug via OSList 
> 
> Date: 2014/10/05 19:24 (GMT+00:00)
> To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders
>
>
> Aren't those who work in the institutions we call organizations
> institutionalized?
>
> :- Doug. Germann
>
>
>
> On 10/05/2014 08:47 AM, Anne Bennett via OSList wrote:
> > Hi Christine
> >
> > I have worked in nominally 'mental health' areas for many years.
> > Designing a range of events for various purposes, I found a few things
> > of interest -
> >
> > 1. Practical things first - resist the 'over helping', restrain the
> > enthusiasms of the 'helpful' and minimise the special attention to those
> > perceived to have special challenges - often they don't - make general
> > arrangements for supportive/relaxed/unimposing spaces [chilled zones,
> > obvious exits]. The more 'we' think 'they' need special help, the more
> > this may become true, and equally denies the truth that 'who doesnt need
> > th

Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[Therese Fitzpatrick via OSList]

If one of your event clients want persons with mental health disabilities
(I suggest you stop using the phrase psychiatric disorders - it scares lots
of people and what does it mean, case by case -- each person with mental
health disabilities is different from the next, right?) really wants to
help persons with mental health disabilities be included in society with
everyone else, it is very simple. Include them without blame or judgment,
be unattached to outcome, expect the unexpected and trust the law of two
feet.

On Sun, Oct 5, 2014 at 4:33 PM, Therese Fitzpatrick <
therese.fitzpatr...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Christine Koehler, every single Open Space event that I have either
> attended or facilitated has had at least one person with a psychiatric
> disorder - me.  Knowing as much as I do about mental health disabilities
> and how common they are, I'd be willing to be every Open Space event has
> participants with manic depression (not my disability), personality
> disorders, schizophrenia, bouts of psychosis, major depression, etc. I know
> people in just about every Open Space I have ever participated in with such
> challenges.
>
> You don't need to do anything differently.
>
> I just thought of OS as I walked eight miles yesterday in the unusual very
> hot sun here in Berkeley. I was canvassing for a political candidate, my
> body in pain as it always is when I walk (arthritis) and grumping along
> silently to myself "Why am I doing this on such a hot day?" And then I
> thought "Oh, that's right, I live in OS.  I don't have to be doing this. I
> am making a contribution, I feel called to make this contribution."
>
> When I met OS, the world made more sense to me than it ever had until that
> point. And I have lived in OS ever since. I go to conventional meetings
> with talking heads in front of a room full of people seated in rows and,
> almost every time, I leave. Even when I don't leave traditional meetings, I
> get up whenever I want, wander in and out of the room if I feel so moved
> and I make no apologies. Once in awhile someone will ask me "You seem to
> just do whatever you want" and I say "I live in Open Space, come on in, the
> water is perfect always".
>
> And then I thought of Harrison. I think his discovery of what was already
> 'there' was really brilliant. I was flooded with gratitude for OS, for the
> freedom it gives me every moment of my life.
>
> People with mental health disablities (I would never use the phrase
> 'psychiatric disabilities' -- that phrase sounds like psychiatric
> professionals who, in my 10 to 12 years dealing with them, rarely seem to
> really understand that people with mental health disabilities have more in
> common with all humans than differences.
>
> It is, imho, subtly negative and demeaning to assume people with mental
> health disabilities, or challenges, need special care in OS.  It is a form
> of bigotry that is virtually never acknowledged. You undervalue the
> humanity of participants if you think people with 'psychiatric
> disabilities' need special treatment in OS and you might not fully grasp
> the brilliant of OS. I don't mean to be impolite. It's just that OS is safe
> for this person with a mental health disability, the safest space I know of.
>
> I am reading a book right now, "Of Water and Spirit" by an African shaman
> and great writer Malidomo Patrice Some. He has since written other books.
> When he first came to USA and saw what we in this country consider mental
> illness, he exclaimed "In my country, when people exhibit the signs you in
> the USA see as mental illness, we see someone who is beginning a passage to
> become a shaman, a healer, we see such behavior as signs of special paths
> in life and we facilitate them to become whatever it is they are trying to
> become."  I paraphrase.
>
> As others have already said, there is no need for special prep for persons
> with mental health disabilities.
>
> I guess if someone is in full blown psychosis, which does happen, they
> might not be in an optimal energy to attend an OS. Other than a participant
> who is literally unable to track reality, there is not really much
> different about people with mental health challenges and people without.
> Everything we humans do is culture and every aspect of culture is a human
> invention, including mental health disabilities. In some cultures, what is
> seen here as mental health disabilities is seen as specially gifted and
> celebrated.
>
> On Sun, Oct 5, 2014 at 1:24 PM, doug via OSList <
> oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>
>>  ;)
>>
>>  On 10/05/2014 04:08 PM, anne.bennett8ac wrote:
>>
>> Precisely my point Doug
>>  ;-)
>>
>>
>>  Sent from Samsung Mobile
>>
>>
>>
>>  Original message 
>> From: doug via OSList 
>> 
>> Date: 2014/10/05 19:24 (GMT+00:00)
>> To: oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>> Subject: Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric
>> disorders
>>
>>
>> Aren't those who work in the institutions we

Re: [OSList] Opening space with people with psychiatric disorders

[R Chaffe via OSList]

 "who ever comes is the right people".   

Having spent the past 7 years working directly with persons with a diagnosed 
disability and 20 years working in the wider community (often with people under 
significant stress) the same challenge remains and that is to unconditionally 
accept people on their terms and as they are. 

 The second challenge is give them the security of an Open Space where they can 
be heard, that is I need to listen.  

Rev Ray Richmond ( of the Wayside Chapel  Kings Cross Sydney) gave me one rule 
and  - harm to others is totally unacceptable and that is where a facilitator 
must intervene to secure the space.

Maslow highlighted the conditions under which people can reach their full 
potential and safety and security are two conditions that are essential.

Facilitating Open Space I can only make one promise and that is to the best of 
my ability I will create and maintain a secure space where the participants can 
do what ever they do.  I can only promise the environment not the outputs or 
the outcomes.  The challenge to the sponsor is are they willing to let the 
participants choose?  

The law of two feet is always an option.

Working with adult persons with a disability it is a wonder when they are given 
permission to actually do their own thing  rather than play a role to meet 
others expectations.  Too often I have found that these adults have been "micro 
managed" to a level very few of us would accept.   When I released  the 
shackles of this control the wealth of contribution is spectacular.

At the end of one Open Space event where the participants were encouraged to 
look for issues and opportunities in their work place.  The participants were 
encouraged to make a paper aeroplane ( including one person who had spent most 
of her adult life to the age of 45 in mental institution).  Then each ( with 
their own design) launched their aircraft.  Each person was then asked to 
choose one flight that best described their "work place" .  The insights 
and conversations that were shared were very rich - in their own way in their 
own words they gave a graphic and very accurate picture of the "workplace" and 
a set of opportunities which can only be describe as inspirational.

As Harrison said the rewards outweigh the effort - trust the system and keep 
the space and of course a nap is always a good option.

Regards
Rob

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[OSList] Open Space for a group of 6??

[Agnieszka Maja Wawrzyniak via OSList]

Hi :)

Here's a question: Is 6 people enough to make an Open Space session?

Next Saturday I'm going to facilitate a group that would benefit from an
OST (there's a conflict situation, no one knows the answer, people who are
extremely passionate are coming etc..)...
So far I have worked with much bigger groups but never tried it out with
such a small group...I'm eager to hear your opinions and ideas...


Agnieszka
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Re: [OSList] Open Space for a group of 6??

[openspacedk1 via OSList]

Dear Agnieszka,

Smallest I have experienced was with 4, I believe that as lf the issue 
at stake
has enouigh energy, it works - and this is clearlily the case from what 
you describe.


As an example, I once facilitated an event for the alumni network of a 
higher educational institution.
All teaching staff and all alumni were invited, a big room and 
sufficient catering for everybody.


Everybody turned out to be the chairwoman (who had invited) and five 
participants.
So she was quite depressed and wanted to cancel. I said "the people are 
the right people", we'll have good discussions and a usefullmeeting, and 
she went along - and we had a good meeting, with a clear conclusion: the 
alumni organisation was ended.


This was not the end of the story - thechair went to the rector to 
inform him, whereupon he said "our alumni association ? Our network of 
ambassadors in society ?" What does the director of the alumni 
bureay say to this ?


When he found out there in act wasn't an alumni bureau, let alone a 
director, he called an emergency meeting of the management, established 
an alumni bureau and started a capmaign.


This is some years ago - I did learn to suggest to have participants 
register to avoid wasting all too much coffee and sandwiches -


Greetings Gerard

Open Space Institite Denmark




isAgnieszka Maja Wawrzyniak via OSList skrev den 2014-10-06 08:13:

Hi :)

Here's a question: Is 6 people enough to make an Open Space session?

Next Saturday I'm going to facilitate a group that would benefit from
an OST (there's a conflict situation, no one knows the answer, people
who are extremely passionate are coming etc..)...
So far I have worked with much bigger groups but never tried it out
with such a small group...I'm eager to hear your opinions and ideas...

Agnieszka
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.

Re: [OSList] Open Space for a group of 6??

[Lise Damkjær via OSList]

Hi Agnieszka

We once had a Nordic open space on open space with 9 - that worked very 
well! (off course)


I think it could be a challenge that people would assume that they can 
handle the situation in a group of 6 - and then won't use the law of two 
feet, use the opportunity for break-out-sessions and being a butterfly 
and so on.
I would emphasize the Open Space things and look forward to see 
something new happening. I think it could be a great experience to the 
group to see what actually happens in the group.


Good Luck!

Lise

Den 06-10-2014 08:13, Agnieszka Maja Wawrzyniak via OSList skrev:


Hi :)

Here's a question: Is 6 people enough to make an Open Space session?

Next Saturday I'm going to facilitate a group that would benefit from 
an OST (there's a conflict situation, no one knows the answer, people 
who are extremely passionate are coming etc..)...
So far I have worked with much bigger groups but never tried it out 
with such a small group...I'm eager to hear your opinions and ideas...




Agnieszka



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Learning4life
T: +45 2949 9636
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