Meetings usually last for about 90 minutes. We start each meeting by reading a chapter from Mental Health through Will-Training, and we then discuss the chapter. Attendees take turns reading from the chapter, you can read as little or as much as you want, or just pass. The average person reads about a page. We use the chapter discussion period to review concepts from the book and ensure that everybody has a chance to ask or answer questions about the content.
See the books page if you are unfamiliar with this text.
Mental Health through Will-Training has about 50 chapters, it takes us a year to get through it since we read just a little bit at each meeting. The chapters are sometimes difficult to understand so we encourage everybody to try to talk about the ideas to help solidify concepts.
Key Concepts
We usually repeat key concepts from Recovery during the discussion.
- At its core Recovery is about developing good habits. These include:
- Resisting our impulses.
- Expressing our feelings in a civilised manner.
- Spotting and naming our tempers.
- Being group minded.
- Recovery is simple, that does not mean it is easy.
- The Recovery method requires work, and we acknowledge that.
- While the fundamental ideas are easy to remember, they can be challenging to put into practise.
- Recovery provides us with tools.
- Spotting your tempers, or observing internal reactions is our first tool.
- While we cannot always control our feelings we can control what we think say and do.
- Recovery tools include:
- Recognising that we are average
- Learning to avoid unnecessary conflicts
- Understanding that mistakes are part of life
- Being able to persevere through difficult situations
- Respecting others
Examples
The second half of each meeting is used to present and discuss examples. An example provides an illustration of the use and application of the Recovery method. The example is usually of a trivial event that led to temper or upset. The person presenting the example describes their spotting of tempers and the tools they used to help them through the situation.
After the presenter has finished summarizing the example the other group members get the chance to spot tempers and identify relevant tools. Usually examples are not given by first time attendees, but rather by members with a few months or more of practise in the method.
The example is not an advice giving scenario, or the chance for individuals to commiserate, but rather helps the group members by discussing the practical application of Recovery tools in an everyday situation.
We spend about 45 minutes in each meeting on examples, each example usually is presented in full in about 15 minutes, we often cover 2 or 3 examples in each meeting.
Some additional references on examples are provided on the Recovery Canada Example page.
Some Things That we Don't Address
Recovery meetings are attended by volunteers, we are not professionals, but rather individuals with a shared concern and interest in practising better mental health. Since we are not professionals we do not discuss medications, we do not provide advice, and we avoid discussing deeply upsetting situations.
Our goal is to provide tools to address problems, and to teach the use of those tools in a friendly and supportive environment. We focus on trivial situations in part because our lives are filled with trivialities, and when these aren't being handled well, our lives aren't going well.
That is not to say that Recovery tools are only for small things, rather it is the case that, like learning to drive, its best to practise basic skills in a safe setting like a parking lot. Occasionally in life everyone faces extreme adversity, with these tools in hand, those situations are no longer overwhelming but become manageable.
More Information
How Does This Work?
Videos Explaining the Recovery Method
