Interesting day

So today started out with my supervisor and I going to the military unit to fill our water and all the patients were in group it seemed (they don't have group at that time...) so we were like what is happening... and all the staff was standing watching and there every one was very serious... one of the patients spoke up about how "if you don't want help, and you don't want to be here, and you're sleeping during groups then get the f*** out because I need this. This is my last chance. I have a wife and kids who are depending on me." My supervisor just kind of looked at each other like "wow wat." but we talked about how we are sooo glad he said that because that annoys me SO MUCH. They are here for a reason and they need to take it seriously.
Later I went to the adolescent unit to get something and one of the little kids was SCREAMINNGGG. They were restraining him (which we rarely have to do at this hospital because we use verbal de-escalation. Restraint is the very very last resort.) They were carrying him by his legs and arms! Apparently he wanted two snacks instead of just one... and he was sooo good in my group yesterday. So that was odd.
So later my supervisor was leading the adult group and I decided to go with her to help her afterwords with notes. I was a little nervous about the group because for the past week they've been really resistant/sarcastic/not therapeutically focused at all. The group was about letting go and it went SO WELL! The two people who were being really inappropriate yesterday were ones who opened up and were the most vulnerable. . Literally each person who has been causing problems seemed to be very effected by this group. There were many tears shed. My supervisor and I were talking about it all day and she kept telling staff about it, just because of how awesome it was. A few of the staff told her things like how they love the expressive therapies department and how it really effects the patients and they're sorry that's so overdue. It was so encouraging because we often feel that the staff does not appreciate expressive therapy or they think it's not important!
So later today I did the adolescent group. Apparently yesterday they were being really difficult but we separated the younger kids and the older kids so I did the older kids. They were soooo good! I feel like I built an awesome rapport with them so I asked my supervisor if I could do them again tomorrow. I like just hanging out and talking to them. I wish I was in a longer term place sometimes just so I could get to know the patients better. I'v been realizing how much I love that age group lately. I told one of the girls on that unit last week that I liked doing groups there and she goes "wow that's a first." I guess most people hate it. Of course they can be really difficult but I feel like they are usually pretty easily redirected by humor. (except for patients like Mr. I want two snacks instead of one.) I blame my little sister for my love for this age group because I often see her in a lot of my patients just because she's an adolescent I'm really close to. So I just feel connected with them in a way.
So then I got home and was making dinner and my roommate comes out and said her dog died today.... I was not expecting that AT ALL. She really really loved that dog. It was literally like her child. I have never seen anyone love a dog like that. She is devastated. I told her I was sorry and hugged her and told her I'd be praying for her but I don't know what to do!! I put some cookies out for her and wrote her a nice note saying sorry and let me know if you need anything. I just feel soooo sad for her. It's weird that her dog is not walking around the house. She has greeted me every single day after work without fail. It's going to be so sad coming home now.

my heart exploded today

Today's open adult group was SO GOOD. Since it's labor day we decided to just do a chill relaxing fun group so my director decided to just pick out some songs between the both of us and jam. We gave the patients some percussion instruments and we sang Let It Be, Lean On Me, and some other fun songs. This one patient who is seriously one of the NICEST people I have ever met borrowed my guitar to play 2 songs he wrote. I. CRIED. They were SOOO GOOD! Everyone was so awesome and supportive of him and his songs were just amazing. I would buy them. I would listen to them all the time. Everyone was encouraging him to record them. As he was playing one of his songs one of the patients was discharging and walking out and another patient was hugging him and started crying and I seriously was trying so hard to not start sobbing. It was a beautiful moment as I listened to the song and looked around at all the patients and thought about how kind and supportive they are of each other despite all the crap they've been through... I was overflowing with just plain love and joy. After group one of the patients came up to my supervisor and was crying and telling her thank you for the gift of music you bring to us. She said she always wanted to study music but never finished and apparently she's a really good singer. My supervisor told her when you sing, you are bringing the gift of music to others. You have been blessed with it, and you bless others.
Dangggg.
This is why I do this. For these moments. My heart was so full. :) :) :)