Mental health support group in Valencia
AYFS is a free fortnightly in-person mental health support group that I've run since 2021 - first in Shanghai, and now in Valencia.
The premise is simple: it's okay to feel shitty. And it's okay to talk about it.
We all feel shitty sometimes, and while personal therapy can be enormously helpful, it is often out of reach financially, and doesn't serve all purposes.
By meeting together as a group, we have the opportunity to hear others' stories, to empathise, to share our own thoughts and feelings with others, no matter how scary we may think they might be. It is an opportunity to reflect collectively, to feel listened to and to find (sometimes surprising) acceptance from others.
It is also a place to meet others who have a keen interest in mental health, regardless of whether they feel shitty or not.
Are You Feeling Shitty? (AYFS)
Each session has a different theme. These include Compassion, Envy, Grief, Attachment, Consumption, Loneliness, Anger, Generosity and more.
Each session lasts around 90 minutes, and follows a set structure:
Part 1: Grounding & greetings
Part 2: Moderated group discussion of theme
Part 3: Listening session. Anyone can share why they’re feeling shitty, not necessarily related to the week's theme, and no one responds. This is just a chance to share and listen, not to discuss.
Part 4: Gratitude exercise & social time
How does it work?
At AYFS, we do not give each other advice. Why? There are several reasons.
In line with the humanistic/person-centred approach to psychotherapy, it can be assumed that people are experts in their own lives, that they can find the best solutions for themselves. The therapeutic environment is designed to facilitate that discovery, not impose solutions.
What works for one person does not necessarily work for another.
Giving advice is often more for the benefit of the person giving it, than the person receiving it.
Listening, collaborative reflecting, and non-judgemental empathy tend to be more effective than advice-giving.
Advice-Free Zone
I currently post about the support group on Meetup.com, on WhatsApp, and on Instagram. You can find the meetup group by clicking here, or connect on Whatsapp or Insta, here:
Three images above made by 愚木混株 (Yumu), a wonderful artist from Shanghai who I collaborated with in 2021. Find more of his work here.
You can find out more about my practice here.