Elachi Indian Cuisine Charity - Mental Health, 4th Oct 2011

It was June 2009 when I last peformed at the Elachi Indian Cuisine Restaurant in West London.  Perform it was, with my early work of "The Shadow" and "Profound Jealousy".  Although, last summer, I was busy completing my counselling diploma at Goldsmiths, University of London and recording my poetry to classical music for fun in the Media Suite.

However, I found myself presented with an Acknowledgement of Service for Divorce letter on the 4th October 2011, early in the morning! What comes after an Acknowlegement of Service for a Divorce?  As a subjective experience,  it was a day down at the Womens Refuge doing some deep therapeutic work with clients, private client work later in the day, then a quick voice exercise rehersal to do some charity work at Elachi Restaurant. And, a profound sense of delight to be invited again, to do a poetry recital from my latest collection.  Should I have been upset?  I could have. 

You see Jennifer Hooper Enterprise is not just about "Jennifer" its about helping people to stay well through creativity and therapy and managing problems.  There I was last night in the company of colleagues, business associates and coucillors who know of my work with the following speech.

"

Good evening everyone and welcome to another exciting charity event with a theme of Mental Health.  It’s so lovely to be here again to recite my work at this event.

So whilst we are here to support this all important theme.  I wonder, “how” is mental health important for all family members?  I hope you will all agree, very important, especially in these economic times.

Nine times out of 10, someone with a mental health issues is a member of a family, no matter how close or distant the relation.  Somehow, I wonder if “proximity” can sometimes exacerbate a persons mental health, if they feel that they are simply not understood or even misunderstood?  It get’s complicated doesn’t it.

It can get so complicated sometimes that they only way that some feel to find a solution is through “violence”.  And yes there is an economic struggle, but what ever happened to the notion of love or falling in love?  I wonder if:

It's all Economics

http://creativecounsellingtherapy.blogspot.co,/2010/08/its-all-ecomonics.html

Having entered a competition last year, it was good to receive a letter from Poetry Rivals that I had been selected and my work would be featured in the Poetry Rivals' Collection 2010 - The Passions of the Poet - a collection of poems for adult writers.

Therefore, how about taking responsibility?  Rather than finding a reason or an excuse to be FIRST?  A condition theory of psychotherapist Alfred Adler.

Superiority - Inferiority Syndrome
http://creativecounsellingtherapy.blogspot.com/2010/07/superiority-inferiority-syndrome.html

Life is a Struggle

http://creativecounsellingtherapy.blogspot.com/2011/04/life-is-struggle.html

I found a poetry book in the Ruislip Library earlier in the year and I was immediately drawn to this poem.  What happens if love ends?

The End of Love - Courtesy Sophie Hannah

http://creativecounsellingtherapy.blogspot.com/2011/02/ruslip-manor-farm-poetry-read-25th-feb.html

 

Having read Sophie's poem I found myself suddenly warding of defence mechanisms, before I got to bed, through humour, and that in itself highlited the agony, ain't it.

We started on the theme of mental health and how important it is for all family members and I wonder if there is something missing when we have a problem?

The way we manage it, and a bit of humour to overcome a situation from a different point of view? 

It’s all about perception, isn’t it and we know that our stories change a little every time we tell it and it can have a different meaning at different stages in our lives.

You’ve all been great and I have loved every minute of this recital for this event, please do enjoy your evening and come and speak to me if you want to know anything more about my private practice or Counselling and Creativity: An Approach to Individuation blog.

Have a great evening and enjoy your fabulous meal. "

I must confess, it was a pleasant and sobering evening for me and my son, the atmosphere relaxing and the food exquisite.  I found myself reflecting on the way home how far I have come in my personal and professional development in how I manage my own problems.

Yours

Editor