Great job, John! I'm duly impressed! Where were you when I walked-away alone?
g
gina | 10.30.07 - 12:35 am | #

And John,
more importantly, my children were likewise raised by undiagnosed (cult) addicts. As you write, our behaviors and thinking style lasted for a number of years - to our children's detriment.
This is important work to bring forth.
Thank you!
g
gina | 10.31.07 - 1:53 am | #

John, it's kind of strange, earlier today I left a comment complimenting you on including the "strengths" of the "challenges" you list, which I've never seen done in any therapeutic context before.

But somehow the comment never got posted, or was removed. Let's see if this one stays put.
Judy Stein | 10.31.07 - 6:03 pm | #

Hi, Judy,

To my knowledge, your comment wasn't removed. Perhaps it was a hiccup with Haloscan? Anyway, thanks for the compliment. Working from a strengths perspective is important to me in my therapeutic work. I intend to try to include more of it in my postings here. I'm definitely a "work in progress"!

J.
John M. Knapp | Homepage | 10.31.07 - 6:34 pm | #

Working from a strengths perspective is important to me in my therapeutic work.

I really was struck by this because, at least in terms of what I've encountered (i.e., material dealing with any kind of psychotherapy), it's an entirely novel approach. Have I just missed it? Or am I right that it's unusual? And if so, why is it unusual?

It seems so obvious--now that I've seen it put forward--that it would be tremendously productive in just about any type of therapy.
Judy Stein | 11.01.07 - 12:34 pm | #

Judy,

The strengths-based approach was developed in the 90s, I believe. It came about in reaction to both psychoanalytical (Freudian) and medical models. Those models focused largely on pathology. The strengths-based approach assumes that clients already have strengths and resources that they can use to combat whatever challenges they face. When I went through grad school, starting in 2000, it was the approach most professors pushed. The Wikipedia weighs in on the subject at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ Str...l_Work_Practice .

J.
John M. Knapp | Homepage | 11.02.07 - 10:02 am | #

hi gina,

i've kicked the habit abound lately, and still find that my "whatever" yoga works best for me. by that i mean choosing whatever stretch or posture and relaxing slowly into it, resting for a moment, finding a sore muscle, organ... and a posture or exercise, whether from aikido or dance... it doesn't matter.

then, when i feel like it, i get back to working on my interest, most likely my very favourite trance addiction; improvisational guitar! whooot!

love ya,

joel
joel garnier | Homepage | 03.26.08 - 10:39 am | #