It is exactly the same in all groups, or should be as that is what the consultants are told to do by their bosses.
It's called Image Therapy and part of the Image Therapy is going around and chatting to each individual person and allowing them a chance to vent if they need to, be pleased if they want to be pleased, or get something of their chest. I like this part now as my current consultant actually speaks to me properly. My last one kept skimming over me which really annoyed me as I wanted my little spot to vent or be happy about something like everyone else. It was so unsupportive, but it was the other people in my group that kept me there.
If you aren't keen on speaking out in front of the others, why don't you do like kaybird suggested, and ask your consultant to miss you out, or not ask too many questions? Maybe praise you on your losses, ask if there is anything you need help with, and then move on? You can always chat to your consultant separately from the others if you need to, say if you've got a problem or just need a little advice.
With regards to the game, it's just there to add a little fun to the group. I have to admit that we don't play it in our session, but that's purely because we essentially told our consultant we didn't like playing the game, so now we only play when her boss comes in
but as it was a majority vote, she can't force us! (I don't think there was anyone at all who wanted to play it
)
I've been at my group for years, and I went into it as a lone person, not knowing anyone, and after a few weeks, you kind of get chatting to people and then you've got this little group of friends and as you keep going, you get to know people more.
They were the main reason I kept going to group when I went through a really bad patch personally and ended up putting all my weight back on from being at target. I enjoy seeing them each week and it's nice to go up there.
I see a lot of people who don't stay to group, and it's not for everyone necessarily, but we've also got some people who stay every so often rather than every week.
It's whether you feel you benefit from those tips that others come up with in group, or new recipes, or those people who have an issue with something that you might have noticed too, but haven't asked anyone about. Even now, I'm still picking things up from other people, so I'm always learning something new
Oh dear! Sorry for the ramble!