I am part of a support group that is run by a charity. They offer a broad range of activities, and I am in awe of what a great programme they have for us, although the main focus is the discussion/support group. Most of the staff employed by the charity are amazing: incredibly supportive, understanding, and give a lot to the job.
I've also met many lovely people who participate in the support group as service users.
The problem is that there are four people who completely monopolize the discussion. Two of them are service users but two of them are staff. They are very dominating and don't let anyone else speak - several times other participants, staff, or myself have tried to say something and have just been cut off. It's frustrating on two levels; first because part of the "therapy" is being able to speak and participate, which I feel I can't do, and second because I would like to hear from others in the group but it's always the same four people. They just seem to love the sound of their own voice, and a lot of what they say is repetitive, self-indulgent, and vacuous.
It's particularly painful to watch one of the lovely support workers trying to lead the discussion and add valuable points, only to be bulldozed by her more senior colleague who just wants to talk about herself. She can't even finish a sentence when this colleague is there. It not only lowers the quality of the support group, but it's just very rude. The other disruptive staff member is not as rude, just a bit of a chatterbox and not on site as often anyway, but it's still annoying and inappropriate imo.
I have a bit more sympathy for the overzealous group members as none of us have it easy, but surely someone from the organiser's side should make sure that everyone has a chance to speak. The staff members and service users in question all seem to have a bit of an alliance and egg each other on.
I end up leaving the group feeling frustrated and annoyed, and I'm at the point where I no longer want to attend. However, the programme itself is brilliant and I think I could benefit a lot from it; the problem is that these people are allowed to dominate rather than anything inherent to it.
Iif I were to bring it up I would feel ungrateful as it's a free service and I know everyone is just doing their best. I also don't know how to bring up the issue with the rude staff: my point of contact is the lovely woman who keeps getting bulldozed, so I don't know how to say, "hey, your manager is a bit of a dick isn't she?" Without putting her in a tough position. I feel like I could tell her about the group dynamic in general but am stuck on the senior staff issue.
Any advice greatly appreciated, thank you.