PART IV: Development of the Self-Help Panel
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PHIL: In the July-August Reporter you mentioned that you would like to talk with me about the development of the self-help panel. I think that's a great idea, and it occurs to me that we might divide this topic into three parts: (1) the historical development leading up to 1952, when Dr. Low finally constructed the first completely self-help panel; (2) the years 1952 to 1954, when the self-help panels were established completely separate from, but closely cooperating with, the professional care offered by Dr. Low; (3) the years from 1954 to the present with self-help panels established through the United States and Canada, cooperating with the professional community in all areas of the country, but operating independent of professional guidance under the auspices of the Recovery organization.
TREASURE: Sounds like an excellent idea to me, Phil. I know you were in a position to watch the self-help panel develop on a day today basis during the years from about 1948 to 1952. It's difficult to pin-point the time exactly but, in 1947 when I first came to Chicago and was sent to Recovery by Dr. Low to learn how to conduct a group, the group procedures were not outlined as we know them today. Wasn't it about 1948 when he started dropping in almost every afternoon while you and other Recovery members were meeting at headquarters?
PHIL: Yes, it was about that time. He would demonstrate how he wanted the meetings to be conducted.
TREASURE: Did he actually say that he was training you to be the original self-help panel leader?
PHIL: No, Treasure, not at first. It was a very gradual process. Undoubtedly, he was still working out the group procedures as he wanted them to be constructed. However, as the months went by, this daily training in leadership began to take shape and it became more and more apparent that there were some definite ideas he was trying to get across to me and that he wanted me to practice when I led the panels.
TREASURE: As you know, Phil, I made many trips to Chicago after that first visit, and I remember very well being at headquarters when Dr. Low would put in an appearance, sit down at the table with us, and motion us to continue. Then, he would begin to participate himself.
PHIL: Yes, that's the way it was. Sometimes he would have a cup of coffee with us. It was quite informal.
TREASURE: I remember one afternoon when a panel member started to write down what another member was saying. Dr. Low stopped everything and pointed out that he wanted no note taking. To this day, there are members who can't understand why notes may not be taken during a panel. Of course, notes may be taken during the playing of Dr. Low's tapes, but that's because he was an authority and can be quoted. Example-givers aren't authorities and, consequently, cannot be quoted. But, Phil since you were the one being trained as the self-help panel leader, I'm sure you watched Dr. Low demonstrate time and time again just which procedures were to be allowed and which were not.
PHIL: Yes, and I suppose it is difficult for members today to realize just how much Dr. Low supervised the self-help activities during those years when he was slowly, but surely, developing the Method and the group procedures so they could some day stand alone without professional supervision. The self-help panel is the result of his professional expertise and research with his patients in the group during the early years of Recovery.
TREASURE: Perhaps we're getting just a little ahead of ourselves, Phil. I have always been particularly inspired by what Annette Brocken accomplished in Recovery's formative years. Wasn't she mainly responsible for seeing that Recovery became an independent association? And, didn't she supply the leadership that was needed to bring about the organizational development under Dr. Low's guidance?
PHIL: You're right! The importance of Annette's contribution can't be overemphasized! She was the one who worked most closely with Dr. Low as Recovery evolved into an independent organization. That was way back in 1941; and she continued to lead the organization through subsequent years during which important research and experimentation was carried out by Dr. Low. For instance, the first regular meeting held in the community was organized by Annette in 1942, and led by Dr. Low at the Lake Shore Field House, just a few blocks from his home. We sure would be ahead of our story if we didn't lead up to the self-help panel by bringing out this important history.
TREASURE: Was this meeting at the Field House the forerunner of the so-called "home" groups?
PHIL: Right! Except Dr. Low never attended the home groups. Although, he did reserve the right to make an appearance at any time. Only patients of Dr. Low attended, and each group was led by a leader selected by Dr. Low. Of course, he supervised even these groups through his contact with the leaders on a regular basis. He not only received reports from them, but also gave help and guidance to the leaders as to how they were to handle certain situations, etc.
TREASURE: The fact that he did not attend the meetings held each week in members' homes put them on their own resources, and aided the development of the self-help idea. But, at the same time, he had an opportunity to observe indirectly what was taking place.
PHIL: You remember, Treasure, Dr. Low said the finest training in self-leadership and self-help is offered when the professional person is not present.
TREASURE: I remember attending one of those home groups during the week of my first visit in 1947. The leader seemed to be more of an authority than we find today. But, I also remember how free we felt to discuss our difficulties. Didn't they call those who led the home groups "seniors"?
PHIL: That's right. The "seniors" were members who served on the Saturday afternoon panels at headquarters. Dr. Low would give a brief talk on a Recovery topic. Then, the four or five "seniors' would present a panel, giving examples of Recovery practice. There would be an audience of anywhere form 50 to 100, composed of patients, relatives and friends. Following the panel, Dr. Low would talk again on the selected topic, relating to the examples that had been presented by the panel. He never used notes.
TREASURE: As the years went by, there were increasing numbers of people like myself from other cities and states who wanted to learn more. Dr. Low invited me to attend those sessions. I also attended several of the "senior" meetings which Dr. Low held monthly with the leaders of the home groups.
PHIL: The purpose of those monthly meetings was to provide more training in group leadership. You might say that they were the forerunner of the "prospective leaders' meetings" now held in our Areas throughout the country.
TREASURE: Yes, but with one important difference--Dr. Low led those senior meetings. In spite of all of the self-help development, Dr. Low had not yet set a cut-off point between himself and the self-help activities.
PHIL: Exactly! For instance, in the year 1948 absolutely everything in Recovery was professionally supervised by him. Including the out-of-town branches in existence at that time: yours in Brighton, Michigan (1947); and Muscatine, Iowa (1946).
TREASURE: Yes, Dr. Low and I were almost constantly in touch, either by telephone or in writing. And, of course, I was able to get to Chicago frequently. It was a great experience for me to be able to be a part of all the activities there. Once, at one of the "senior" meetings, he talked about how well our group had done in Michigan. As he spoke about it in glowing terms, I began to feel proud and exceptional. After all, these branch groups were a new development. Then, he went on to say, "What Treasure has done as a leader can be done by others. After all, she is not performing acrobatics!"
PHIL: Pardon me for chuckling! Really, I'm laughing with you, not at you. Although Dr. Low trained me as the original self-help panel leader, he made it very clear to me again and again that what I did as a leader, any other average Recovery leader could do!
TREASURE: That goes right to the heart of the principle that the leader is not an expert or an authority, but an average member of the group!
PHIL: Very true! But Dr. Low also reminded me repeatedly that I was the leader, and that it was my responsibility to remind the members what the group procedures are. Also, of course, that I must demonstrate my use of the Method.
TREASURE: What a fine experience that must have been, to serve your apprenticeship as a leader--day-after-day for more than four years--under Dr. Low's tutelage! Can you give us a few examples of just how he trained you?
PHIL: Of course, I could give you dozens of examples, but let me mention just a few. For instance, if a member was asking the group for help with some difficulty he was experiencing and perhaps only presenting a list of the symptoms he was having, Dr. Low would remind him that he must put it in the form of an example. He told us repeatedly that only then could we demonstrate how we would practice in a given situation.
TREASURE: Did he stress that the example-giver relates only one example?
PHIL: Yes, he did and that strikes home! I remember that he reminded me numerous times that I was making my examples too complicated. He would point out that I was talking about several examples at the same time. He was very emphatic about this--only ONE example should be given at a time, in order to demonstrate the proper application of the Method.
TREASURE: You've mentioned two ways that Dr. Low trained you to keep Recovery simple--the way he wanted it. Before we run out of space again, what else did you learn from him along these lines?
PHIL: That everything in the Recovery principles can be brought back to temper!
TREASURE: Could you explain that?
PHIL: Well, Dr. Low said over and over again that we come to Recovery to learn about temper. Mainly, the fearful temper, but also the angry variety and self-diagnosing which immediately leads to temper.
TREASURE: You mean that when we self-diagnose we immediately go into temper?
PHIL: Sure, because we don't usually diagnose securely. When we make a diagnosis of danger we then have thoughts such as: "I can't stand this, I'm hopeless, how can I ever get well? No one has any use for me, etc., etc., etc." Self-pity, self-blame, and uncontrolled feelings enter the picture.
TREASURE: So, all of the principles of self-help can really be brought back to temper! I guess this really does simplify the method if we think in those terms.
PHIL: Many times Dr. Low told us that in order for the self-help method to be effective it must be kept simple. When it's kept simple, the member has the self-help method at his fingertips and can immediately put it into practice 24-hours a day, whether it's 10 o'clock in the morning, 5 o'clock in the afternoon, or waking up at 5:00 A.M. with severe symptoms.
TREASURE: I can testify to that myself! All the intellectual exercise of talking about complicated examples at the meetings wouldn't help me when I was in a panic alone in those early days or, if I should be in a set-back now. Only the simple procedure will do the trick when symptoms really bring on their tyranny. So, if we care about the person who is having difficulty, we would do well to remember Dr. Low's admonitions about keeping it simple and learn just how we are to accomplish this simplicity.
PHIL: Absolutely! Over and over Dr. Low stressed simplicity!
TREASURE: I really think we've covered some very important points in this article, Phil. There's so much to talk about, it's hard to stop but let's save some for next time.
PHIL: Right you are! Adios, until the next issue.
