"Hello," Tess said, "My name is Tess and I will be your individual and group consoler. Let me start by saying I am so happy to see you all here today. That means you took a step in the right direction. Now, some of you are here because you want to be here. Some of you are here because you have to be here. Some of you just want to enjoy the benefits of what we offer here. It doesn't matter any.
"Now today I want to start by all of you introducing yourself. We are all friends here. So I want you to tell me and each other why you are here, what you hope to get out of this and anything about yourself that you would personally like to share."
Glenn went first.
"My name is Glenn Alan Palmer," he said, "and I have been a drug addict since the seventh grade. I was going through a very hard time back than. The truth is I know I should have told someone but I was embarrassed and ashamed.
"I was a male. Males are supposed to be able to handle everything. We're supposed to be strong. I mean, that's why the males are always protecting the females and not the other way around. Drugs eased the pain. Things got out of control. I never wanted to admit I was an addict but I knew I was."
"Well welcome Mr. Palmer," Tess said, "and I don't know who fed you that line about men are supposed to be strong and deal with everything but it's about as rich in lies as the devil."
Everyone laughed. The rest of them introduced themselves too.
"Great," Tess said, "Now that we all know each other here let's get started. I want you to go get yourself unpacked and than we will meet in the pool area."
"I don't know how to swim," one girl said.
"Don't worry about it," Tess replied.