Continuing with the Exploring Emotions series, rather than focus on a specific emotion, I would like to share my thoughts and feelings about the symposium I attended. This is my second year attending the Zarrow Symposium. Keep in mind, each person views the world through ones own lens and this is my view.
Tag Archives: Equality
Independence Day
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The middle of the night brings the urge to write a bit. The holiday weekend is upon us and we celebrate our Independence. The Google search for independent definition yields two results “free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority” and “not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.”
What we celebrate is not depending on our parent across the pond. How we celebrate was said by John Adams, “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.” Fireworks went on sale weeks ago, and Monday night large portions of the country will light up the sky or watch as others do.
Some things to think about though…Who do we depend on for imports? Who do we depend on for cheap labor? It seems our once self-sufficient and abundant country is now inter-dependent on the rest of the world. I do not know if that is good or bad, it is just how it seems.
There are 89 other free countries in the world. Each has different laws, languages, religions, and cultures. Jim Jeffries said it well in his latest comedy special, “love beats hate.” Maybe not always, but it takes a lot of energy to hate and retaliate. We teach kids to walk away from bullies, don’t take it personally, and be the bigger person. I worry about the image sent to the next generation when their elders cannot seem to get along.
They say insanity is repeating the same thing over and over expecting different results. How many times have their been wars over religion? How many times have large portions of a population been imprisoned? How much longer do we have to keep repeating history?
Equality in Solution Focused Brief Therapy
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The way I speak on this blog, I allow my words to flow freely and may say things potentially offensive. This is okay because blogging and therapy are very different creatures. I think the coolest thing that could happen from writing this blog post is that others will begin dialogue in the comments section.
To be able to work with a diverse population and be effective in achieving treatment plan goals is something that many counselors desire. I feel like SFBT will increase my efficacy when working with various populations that have different backgrounds than me.
I have probably come across another single bisexual Hispanic female that was raised in poverty with a mentally ill mother and are now part of the middle class. While others may share my upbringing and lens of the world, the fact is that most people sitting across from me have an entirely different lens through which they see the world. The freedom that SFBT allows is for me to explore the world through each consumer’s lens and each individual’s experiences.
Some of the worst things a counselor can say in my opinion include “get over it,” “I understand,” and “it will get better with time.” Who the hell am I to say with any accuracy that the proverbial ‘it’ will always get better with the passing of time?! With good intentions, clinicians have the ability to enhance potentiation or do serious damage. The most appealing piece of SFBT is it has not been found to cause any harm.
Occasionally I speak before thinking, a good example of that is when I told a coworker that he did not strike me as a “male man,” at which time he informed me he was very much a manly man and did all sorts of manly things like working on cars and watching sports. Can you imagine if I put my foot that far in my mouth in a session with a consumer?! By allowing the consumer to set the language for the session, nothing said will be offensive because I can use their language. I can ask questions with curiosity without saying something potentially indelicate.
“Solutions need not be directly related to the problems they are meant to solve.” -Steve de Shazer