MacDuff announces "Everyone's invited to #49473 for a talk and discussion on peer counseling...the talk will begin momentarily and seats are still available :)" Macro(#7802PcM) announces "and if there's no seats, the floor isn't too hard ;)" Sancho Panza's(#49473RJ) You are in a low-ceilinged, plastered-and-beamed room. The ancient wood floor is dark with the stain of many smokey fires, candles and cigarets, but the bare wood shows through in spots where the stain has been worn thin by the many feet passing over it. At each curtained window sits a small cafe table, some of which have chess or another game set out on them. A fire smolders in the fireplace, beside which are racks of newpapers from all over the galaxy. Stairs to one side lead to a gallery above where there is a book shop, a door in the rear opens onto a garden. Everywhere is the rich aroma of coffee and the hiss of an espresso machine. Somewhere, someone is playing classical Spanish guitar. Macro stands at a podium on the stage. Contents: Poster(#8049v) A Nicely Framed Piece Of Paper Obvious exits: ound Table irty Table Stage ak Table mall Table Garden Gallery Out -MacDuff announces, "Welcome to Sancho Panza's! I'm MacDuff, your host for this salon." -MacDuff clears her throat, "Please take a seat on the floor or at any table. You will be able to hear whatever is spoken on stage and whatever anyone in Sancho Panza's SHOUTs." -MacDuff continues, "You will thus be able to talk with other people at your table without disturbing those at neighboring tables, but will be able to hear the entire presentation and discussion or questions from the floor." -MacDuff goes on, "To get the attention of the moderatator or speaker, just ASK. When you are recognized, SHOUT . Type CHHELP at any time for the zone commands. -MacDuff asks, "Are there any questions?" Katulu has arrived. buddha shakes his head. "Nope -- sounds like a great system." :) buddha waves quietly to Katulu. :) Katulu says "hello" -MacDuff speaks from the stage: Hearing no questions, you speedreaders...I would now like to introduce our guest speaker -MacDuff speaks from the stage: I'm sure Macro needs no introduction...he's well known to you all. So without further ado...heeeere's Macro! -Macro taps the microphone..."Is this thing on?" buddha grins behind a discrete hand. buddha smiles. "We can here you fine, Macro." -Puck shouts from Round Table: Yup! we can hear you -Macro speaks from the stage: Welcome. :) This is the first salon in what I hope will be a series :) But, hopefully, my last cause I'm nervous like you wouldn't believe ;) Ann_Sel_Adams starts the camera rolling :) -Macro speaks from the stage: Okay. The topic tonight is Peer Counselling, a course taught at my school, open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Minerva has arrived. Minerva stands up from the small table and wanders into the room. Minerva walks over to the round table and sits down. Minerva has left. -Macro speaks from the stage: Before we begin, I'd like to say this: If you have any questions, 'ask', and I'll respond. Don't be afraid of interrupting. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: according to the course calendar, a course called 'Human Services 11LD' is offered during the first semester. It is a locally developed course taught by one of the counsellor. -Macro speaks from the stage: counsellors. duh. spelling. :) Anyway, the more common name is 'Peer Helping'. I took this course this past school year, because I was intrigued by the description as well as being in the same art class as two students that were taking it the previous year, their daily commentary and all that. -Macro speaks from the stage: This program is only four years old and was started as a pilot project by the counsellors. We are not unique in the school district to offer a course of this type, but we are unique by offering it within the timetable, not as an extra-curricular activity. -Macro speaks from the stage: This is a general list of the subjects a Peer Counsellor in-training can expect to cover in a given course: -Macro speaks from the stage: if they don't make any sense to you, don't worry, I'll explain them on request :) -Macro speaks from the stage: Frames of Reference; Mazlow's Hierarchy of Needs; Communication; Listening and Attending skills; Stress; Cultural Diversity; Dating Relationships/Date Violence Prevention.. -Macro speaks from the stage: Grieving and Loss; Eating Disorders; Suicide; Passive/Assertive/Aggressive behaviour; Critical Incidents; Most importantly, The Helping Skill. -Macro speaks from the stage: as you can see, there's a lot to cover in half a school year.. buddha nods, impressed. -Macro speaks from the stage: as well, tacked on, are two term projects. They are distinct in the task that they must benefit the student body in some way. -Macro speaks from the stage: Some projects in the past have been organizing food/clothing/toy drives near Christmas, organizing dances, teaching classes.. the idea was to make the Peer Helping class active within the school, outside the normal fashion. -Macro speaks from the stage: As well, there are a few written tests, a few one-on-one tests just for progress checks.. and in-class writing assignments. -Macro speaks from the stage: any questions so far? :) -Macro speaks from the stage: any? anyone awake? :) -fawx shouts from Round Table: *jumps awake* -Macro speaks from the stage: okay, I'll continue. :) -Ann_Sel_Adams shouts from Sancho Panza's: *keeps the camera a-rollin* buddha smiles. "We're were, just trying to figure out the system." :) Ann_Sel_Adams laffs Ann_Sel_Adams says "chhelp" -Macro speaks from the stage: The "highlight", as it were, of the entire Peer Helping course is the Peer Helping Training Retreat at a place called Camp Quanoes. buddha nods. "I've got it, just waiting to see who people decide to use it." -Puck shouts from Round Table: I'm awake. just no questions. you're doing great -Macro speaks from the stage: Camp Quanoes is a Christian Summer Youth camp located about two hours out of the city, and is so beautiful you'd never know that just around the pint there's a pulp and paper mill :) -Macro speaks from the stage: point. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: We spend three days/two nights there each year, aroung the end of October, spending the whole day doing the training related to the Helping Skill. -Macro speaks from the stage: out of the entire course, the Helping Skill is the most crucial of all subject units. -buddha raises his hand from Sancho Panza's -Macro speaks from the stage: Yes, buddha? :) buddha hehs. "Didn't know that would happen," he blushes. Brianna has arrived. -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: Do the students in the class do any peer counseling in a formal way, or are they just expected to do drive-by counseling? ;) -Macro speaks from the stage: it's entirely at our discretion. Ann_Sel_Adams [to Brianna]: hi :) -Macro speaks from the stage: I was going to get into this later, but why not grab the buddha by his arms and go for it. :) buddha blushes. ;) -Macro speaks from the stage: In the Counsellors' Bay, there's an office "inhabited" by each counsellor. There's four of those. As well, there's an extra office for the Peer Helpers. Ann_Sel_Adams [to buddha]: you broke the ice :) Ann_Sel_Adams [to Brianna]: read 'chhelp' for the zone commands. have a seat on the floor or at one of the tables buddha laughs. "Hacked it to pieces, I guess." :) -Macro speaks from the stage: It is usually locked, however we can sign out the key, and use it when we need it. -Macro speaks from the stage: Students can request Peer Helpers the same way they can Counsellors.. they can specify a Peer Helper or just ask for one in general. The message is then passed on to us and we arrange a time, and get a slip made up to excuse the student from class. -Macro speaks from the stage: however, there's nothing stopping me from just hauling someone into an empty room from the corridors and talking to them there. :) -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: How long does that usually take, Macro? The escuse slip, not the hauling. ;) -Macro speaks from the stage: That answer your question, buddha? :) (I hope) :) -Macro speaks from the stage: oh, five minutes. you get the student's timetable, coordinate it with your own, sign the slip and put it in the appropriate teacher's box the day before or whatever. -Macro speaks from the stage: but, for a slip to return from class, you need a counsellor's signature :) Bookcase> The clock chimes "The time is now Mon Aug 31 22:59:09 1998." -Macro speaks from the stage: er, to class :) -Macro speaks from the stage: okay, back to the retreat. This is the fun part :) -Macro speaks from the stage: the retreat is fun because it's three days of solid, hard work. there's usually about 80 people :) -Macro speaks from the stage: The teacher, and two other teachers come along with the entire peer helping class, plus a bunch of senior peer helpers. -Macro speaks from the stage: seniors are those who completed the course the year before. for example, me in this coming year. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: From there, the ground rules, which are the same as class, are laid out, and the training begins. -Macro speaks from the stage: by tradition, everyone pulls an all-nighter the second night, so we're usually a little bagged by morning :) -Macro speaks from the stage: the closing ceremony is the best. everyone bawls their eyes out. it's hard to explain if you haven't been there. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: anyway. now I'm going to tell you why the class is so different from all the others, not looking at the course outline. -Macro speaks from the stage: the FIRST rule that our teacher lays out, on the first day, is that everyone here has chosen to be here, to learn, and we are to treat each other with respect. -Macro speaks from the stage: that means: no put-downs. no interrupting people when they're speaking. -Macro speaks from the stage: and being respectful of other people's feelings and all that. -Macro speaks from the stage: with that scaring the daylights out of a newbie class, we begin on the fun stuff. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: this class is special because it is a place of safety, caring, and trust. -Macro speaks from the stage: If someone is having a bad day, we treat them with understanding, and usually they're not afraid to say why they're feeling so horrible, and we try to solve the problem. -Macro speaks from the stage: as opposed to the usual class full of kids who are only here cause it's mandatory: "What's YOUR problem! Grouchy (insert your OWN foul language here ;)" Brianna has disconnected. -Macro speaks from the stage: The first thing we do to further that premise of trust and respect is to begin each class or so with an activity called "Beefs and Bouquets" -Macro speaks from the stage: We essentially open the floor to anyone who has any gripes or congrats. -Macro speaks from the stage: the gist of Beefs usually came around to a few subjects: homework, stress, friends.. -Macro speaks from the stage: the list of Bouquets generally ran along the lines of: I'm having a good day; thanks to (friend's name here), and the like. Catspaw has arrived. -Macro speaks from the stage: it allowed us to vent, and also tell about the good things that happened to us. buddha smiles and waves. -Macro speaks from the stage: any questions now? my fingers are starting to hurt. ;) Ann_Sel_Adams [to Catspaw]: hi :) -Ann_Sel_Adams raises eir hand from Sancho Panza's -Macro taps the microphone..."Is this thing on?" -Macro speaks from the stage: yes, Ann_Sel_Adams? :) Ann_Sel_Adams says "ooops. no @sex :)" buddha chortles quietly. -Ann_Sel_Adams shouts from Sancho Panza's: Is this peer counseling of other kids in your class, or for the student body in general? -Macro speaks from the stage: the student body in general, and, at our discretion, anyone else. Ann_Sel_Adams ponders what it wants to be -Ann_Sel_Adams raises eir hand from Sancho Panza's -Macro speaks from the stage: The role of Peer Helpers are: Provide someone to talk to if the individual cannot talk to an adult or does not feel comfortable in doing so -Macro speaks from the stage: as well as be involved in the school. -Macro speaks from the stage: and, yes, again, Ann_Sel_Adams? :) Catspaw walks back into Sec 4 - Arc 0. Catspaw moves quietly and gracefully through the doorway. Catspaw has left. -Macro speaks from the stage: a benefit that we have over the counsellors. we are somewhere that they can never be: the halls and the classrooms. -Ann_Sel_Adams shouts from Sancho Panza's: Thanks for clarifying that. Now can you give some examples of the kinds of problems other kids bring the peer counselors? -Macro speaks from the stage: all right. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: I don't know what most "cases" are about, due to confidentiality. Oh, big point. I'll get to that in a second. -Macro speaks from the stage: things that I've handled, personally, are: -Macro speaks from the stage: I assisted a new student for a morning.. got him his timetable, showed him to his classes, etc. -Macro speaks from the stage: I also was asked to talk to a student who was having difficulties in his classes with other students. Ironically, the day before our talk, he got in a fight with another student in the hall, and I was only fifteen feet away. -Macro speaks from the stage: some typical problems might range from just being stressed out and needing to be able to just slow down and back off.. -Macro speaks from the stage: to as high as drug abuse, pregnancy, and suicide. -buddha raises his hand from Sancho Panza's -Macro speaks from the stage: yes, buddha? :) -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: What have you found to be the hardest part of being a counselor, Macro? Ann_Sel_Adams says "pretty serious stuff" buddha nods. -Macro speaks from the stage: Remembering all my training when I'm actually face to face with my client, and bearing the responsability of being the caregiver, if I can term it that. Katulu has disconnected. -Macro speaks from the stage: any other questions? :) fire away :) -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: Can you talk a bit more about 'being the caregiver'? Seems like that could mean a whole bunch of things. -Macro speaks from the stage: sure. -Macro speaks from the stage: As a Peer Helper, I am a counsellor, of sorts. I do not have a PhD on my wall that says I was in University for five years. -Macro speaks from the stage: My task, when a student or other individual comes to me, is to show them how to resolve their problem. -Macro speaks from the stage: If they have a major problem, it may involve some very heavy emotional release. -Macro speaks from the stage: my responsability is to assist them in solving their problem themselves, not do it for them, to provide a friendly and caring face and area for this individual to come to when necessary, and to provide TOTAL confidentiality. -Macro speaks from the stage: I don't even tell my teacher/counsellor about my clients, other than how well the session went, unless they're directly involved with the student themselves. -Macro speaks from the stage: if someone has a major problem, ie, we're talking life-altering class of problems, I bear the burden of having my task to help them. -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: Hmm. I confess I'm a little surprise that someone would be showing another how to solve his or her problems -- do you really know so clearly what the solution is? -Macro speaks from the stage: This is not to say I don't say uncle when it's too tough for me. If I can't handle something I will pass it on. -Macro speaks from the stage: Well, I don't give solutions. I gently nudge the individual towards their own solution. -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: AH. Sorry, I misunderstood you there. -Macro speaks from the stage: if someone's totally stressed, I ask them why. They list a few possibilites (ex, 80 cups of coffee a day, 2 tons of homework a night, three jobs, family troubles).... -Macro speaks from the stage: I ask how they could try and reduce their stress, knowing that these events/things could be causing them stress. -Macro speaks from the stage: they might come up with their own idea, like cutting down on the coffee, quitting a job, dealing with the home front.. -Macro speaks from the stage: all without me saying a word in the matter. -Macro speaks from the stage: if they don't get it, I supply SUGGESTIONS.. "maybe you should.." "perhaps if..".. et cetera. -Macro speaks from the stage: that clear it up for ya? :) -Macro speaks from the stage: I guess we covered confidentiality back there. My biggest task for myself, is to not let the problem transfer to me. -Macro speaks from the stage: the analogy is the individual has a monkey on their back. don't let them unload it on to you, help them to remove it themselves. -Macro speaks from the stage: if I walk around with six people's monkeys on my back, I'm in for it. :) buddha smiles. -Macro speaks from the stage: that's not to say I don't worry about them. I just don't let them give their problem to me. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: um, I guess I'll just let questions lead the way now. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: any specifics about the course subjects? -MacDuff raises her hand from Stage -Macro speaks from the stage: Yes? :) -MacDuff shouts from Stage: Could you say a few words about "frames of reference?" -Macro speaks from the stage: Frames of Reference is the first thing we learn. -Macro speaks from the stage: and no, it's not exactly the same as when you look at Einstein's work :) -Macro speaks from the stage: The Frame of Reference, when we are talking about individuals, is a concept that defines who you are. -Macro speaks from the stage: Your frame of reference is an image of who you are and how you respond to the outside world, influenced by events that occured from pre-natality to half a second ago. -Macro speaks from the stage: your frame of reference defines and influences how you perceive things, your biases, your behaviours, and the way you relate to the world. -MacDuff shouts from Stage: how about a few examples? -Macro speaks from the stage: and, as you'd guess from the description above, every single person's frame of reference is different. -Macro speaks from the stage: that's one of the most important things for a Peer Helper to know, because they must remember not to place their frame on someone else when they deal with them. -Macro speaks from the stage: Is that sufficient, MacDuff? :) -Macro speaks from the stage: Holy samosas. over an hour. I think I'll bring this to a close soon, and end it with just questions. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: Now's the time to ask your questoins. :) -Macro speaks from the stage: no questions, huh? :) -Macro speaks from the stage: questions? feedback? :) flames? :) -MacDuff speaks from the stage: Well, thank you very much, Macro, for such an informative evening. -Macro speaks from the stage: Okay. :) If anyone wishes more information, feel free to let me know. -Puck shouts from Round Table: ***APPLAUDS**** -MacDuff speaks from the stage: Perhaps you'll come back another evening and share some more of what you've gotten from this program :) -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: **whoohooo**! -Ann_Sel_Adams shouts from Sancho Panza's: *clap* *clap* *clap* -Ann_Sel_Adams shouts from Sancho Panza's: we need an 'applause' command! -Macro speaks from the stage: you'll have to drag me, kic.. *looks at microphone* eep. is this thing still on?! ;) -buddha shouts from Sancho Panza's: "Well done Macro-- You've got a really impressive program out there." buddha smiles. -Macro speaks from the stage: Nah, I'd be happy to come back again. :) -Macro shouts from Stage: and, educators: if you're interested in doing a smilar program, I can refer you to my teacher :) Donsai has arrived. Donsai enters powerfully and greets you warmly. -MacDuff shouts from Stage: Thank you all for coming. Feedback on the technical end of things would be appreciated, so we can improve things for next time. -MacDuff shouts from Stage: now! coffee's on the house! -Macro speaks from the stage: and feedback on my bag of wind would be personally appreciated. ;) MacDuff has arrived. MacDuff stumbles in from the Stage. buddha smiles and nods to Donsai. "You missed a very interesting presentation-- Macro's school has a really neat program." Macro has arrived. Macro stumbles in from the Stage. MacDuff says "yadda yadda!" Donsai sighs. Ahh well. -Macro shouts from Sancho Panza's: *takes his bows and drags MacDuff to take hers as well* ;) [Editor's note: An informal discussion ensued between Macro, the audience, and late-arrivals, in which Macro shared some of his personal experience with the program.]