When leading a group, it is the responsibility of the clinical social worker to find a way to enable all members to benefit from the experience. Although some members may not benefit, it is important for the clinical social worker to identify the positive aspects that he/she is witnessing. This strategy may create a feeling of empowerment for the members.
For this Discussion, it may be helpful to review the video of the “Levy” group session again.
By Day 4
Post your description of at least three benefits that are evident in the “Levy” group video. Describe ways this group session has been effective in helping the members of the group.
Levy Family Episode 6 Program Transcript FEMALE SPEAKER: I know three of you did tours of duty in Iraq, and the others in Afghanistan. So I just wanted to follow up on that, talk about how you're adjusting. [MUSIC PLAYING] MALE SPEAKER 1: You say adjust to, but there's no adjustment. You're just thrown back into your life like you're supposed to pick up where you left off, but that's a joke. Two years ago, I was dug in, pinned down by 50 Cal sniper fire, just praying the chopper would get me out alive. Now, the hardest part of my day is standing in the grocery store trying to decide if I want yellow or brown mustard with my hot dogs. JAKE: Nah, two six packs or a case. FEMALE SPEAKER: You find that you drink more than you used to? JAKE: Why not ask him if he finds he's eating more hot dogs than he used to? BILL: You know why? JAKE: Why is that? Oh great, Buddha. BILL: Because I've been where you are. You talk about booze like it's some joke, but nobody's laughing. You can't get adjusted to anything when you're trying to get loaded. JAKE: I guess you won't be joining me for a drink at the bar later. I was going to buy. FEMALE SPEAKER: No, that's a good point, Bill. Sometimes we do things to avoid dealing with unpleasant feelings, like adjusting to life back at home. JAKE: What do you know about it? Give me a break. Back off, or I'll make you. BILL: I drink too much too. But I've had enough of you mouthing off. JAKE: My wife's had enough of me too. She's the reason I'm here. We never used to fight. I never used to drink so much, but now I can't stop myself from doing either. FEMALE SPEAKER: So why do you drink too much? ©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1 Levy Family Episode 6 BILL: It's the only way I can shut it out, images of what I saw over there, horrible things that no one should ever have to see. I wake up some nights and I hear mortar rounds coming in. And I reach for my helmet and my weapon, but they're not there. So I freak out. And then I see pretty curtains. TV'S on. And then I remember I'm at home. I realize I'm not going to get blown up after all. FEMALE SPEAKER: Thanks for sharing, Jake. You make a good point. It can seem a lot easier to self medicate rather than face the fears, the bad memories that we have. So what do you think? What are some other things, maybe, you do to avoid the challenge to being a civilian again?