Tomorrow, after a leave of absence for a few weeks, I’m due for group supervision at the mental health charity I’ve been involved with for the past year.
I think it’s fair to say I’ve got a lively tale to spin about my last client.
The charity runs a project which aims to promote social inclusiveness for individuals with mental health difficulties. Over a fourteen-week period, an allocated volunteer from the project attempts to support them through a social activity of their choosing, with the ultimate objective that they’ll continue with the activity when the volunteer finishes working with them.
The guy I last worked with wanted to start jogging and lose weight.
In week 1 he was jogging (rather slowly) round Finsbury Park.
By week 12 he was getting high on crack (though, thankfully, not totin’ a machine gun).
So maybe it’s for the best if I don’t apply for jobs in drugs services.
The first guy I worked with wanted to expand his social repertoire and his knowledge of London hotspots.
Since we finished our sessions he’s been forcibly detained in a psychiatric instituion for most of that time.
Another raging triumph.
With this 100% ‘success’ rate, some individuals may be considering alternative career options.
Not I!
In a week’s time I meet client no. 3.
So if you hear on the news about a psychotic samurai-sword wielding madman causing havoc in London town, it’s a safe bet to assume I’ve been working with him as well.

2008-04-22 @ 15:31