"Yet a time is coming
and has now come when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the
kind of worshipers the Father seeks." - John 4:23

My Heavenly Daddy is healing
me from the inside out.

Transparency is Real.
Many times painful.

Daddy let me be secure in You only!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

THE NATURE OF THERAPY


My prayer buddies (for some reason I want to say prayer bunnies, oh well) thank you each and everyone for your prayers of my previous post! Within a couple of hours the oppression lifted and I was able to think clearer! You all are ever so special!!

Had t. today. Still processing, but I know I am healing!!! The excerpt below is taken from Diane Mandt Langberg’s book “Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse.” She shares in this particular part what she views the ideal counselling relationship should be:


Dr. Langberg has been a licensed psychologist in private practice for twenty–five years and is the director a of group practice. Dr. Langberg writes the counselor column in Today's Christian Woman magazine and has also written Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Diane and her husband, Ron, live in Pennsylvania with their two sons, Joshua and Daniel.

“Voice is obviously a vital component of therapy; the expression of self by both therapists and clients is necessary if healing is to occur. As therapists speak their “self” out into the relationship, they not only share their self but also model for clients how to do the same. At the same time, therapists are helping both cognitively and emotionally to create a healing environment.

God gave us voice for the purpose of creating, governing, and articulating. To be shut up is to be less than God intended. Voice can be expressed in many ways. It is simply thoughts, words, and feelings articulated in some form. That expression can be spoken, written, painted, sung, or danced. It is some representation of the person who sits before us. In many ways, therapy is simply the voice of one person calling out to another, urging that person to give expression to her self.

Therapy is a relationship that continually draws out the voice of another. To have the capacity to draw out the voice of one who has been silenced for many years is to have a great deal of power. We might define power as an ability to produce certain desired effects. As the ones who can help unleash another’s voice and bring to the relationship components that foster healing, therapists have a great deal of power.

On the other hand, to have been silenced means to feel powerless. Client’s experiences of themselves as powerless have been deeply in-grained by the abuse. People who have continuously been acted upon in harmful ways often assume a vulnerable, receptive mode and thus are set up for others to abuse the power they have over them. Clients enter therapy looking for help. They see therapists as the ones who have the power to help. Clients seem themselves as those who have no choice and to whom things are done. Clients see therapists as the ones who determine the relationship, set boundaries, and have greater knowledge. It is a very short step from these components to an abuse of power. Obviously, the responsibility rests on therapists to use power only for clients’ good and for the purpose of helping clients find their own voice and exercise their God-given power.”

13 comments:

  1. JBR,
    Really like this excerpt. DR. T. did this for me. He helped me find my voice....

    I like that she says that it comes out in dance. Very interesting.

    Blessings,
    Tammy

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  2. My therapist has help me find my hidden self. The wounded child. She is a Godly woman that has been a life saver to me this year. I am glad you are feeling better JBR. I think of your strength and faith often. Thank you for your honesty and openness.

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  3. Great posting I'm sooo pleased that you are making huge strides,Finally Free said it best! Yes it is time to dance.I think that you will find my posting today a guild as well.

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  4. As I'm blog hopping now, I guess calling me a "prayer bunny" is okay. :)

    Glad to know that you are feeling better. You know I did ok at work, too when you guys prayed for me :) So, glory to God! Hope you're dancing at this moment. Blessings to you.

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  5. Hope it gets better as you grow stronger.
    A New Year awaits like new Hope..
    BM

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  6. Praising GOD for answered prayers!

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  7. So glad you're feeling better. It's an honor to be your prayer bunny.

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  8. Helps talking it out....get it out. Keep moving forward. God is good.

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  9. Interesting stuff about power and the therapist. Mine is definitely helping me find my voice. Sometimes I take her poems I've written, and she treats them very seriously. When you're able to connect with the therapist, it becomes a powerful relationship.

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  10. So glad you sound better today. And I'll be one of your "Prayer Rabbits"...something about "prayer bunnie" which just doesn't fit--like maybe a real tight shoe doesn't fit.

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  11. So happy that our prayers helped you and that you have a wonderful T....it is important to share your feelings....will continue praying for you my friend......:-) Hugs

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  12. Therapy helps, and it is one person calling for answers and getting some.


    Secretia

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  13. JBR,

    Always thankful that God has allowed you to begin to find your voice again through time and must love and trust.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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