JAFARECAny de-violence program for perpetrators has a power structure built into it. And it’s not just perpetrator programs; it’s all forms of therapy. Those being treated, those treating, those being listened to, those listening, those listening, those being guided, those guiding… they are all troubled persons and the supporters trying to solve their problems… more or less made up of power structures.
Recently it has become known that there is a theory of helping people not bringing power structures into therapy, on the understanding that these power structures are detrimental to therapy. This makes sense, but no matter how much power structures are eliminated from the therapy setting, it is undeniable that the therapist and client are positioned by society. We each have that power structure in place by the time we enter the counseling room.
Men’s counseling stipulates that the problems involved are created by society and that it is the pathological society, not the client, that needs to be fixed. The problem ends when the pathology of that pathological society is investigated and the parties considered clients work together to free themselves from the pathology. Not only can the life story of the person involved be rewritten, but the therapist who co-authored the story can also learn and grow from the story by building up their lives together, with the person involved sharing their experiential knowledge and the therapist sharing their professional knowledge.
In men’s counseling, more than professional knowledge is required of the therapist, it is the humility to “stand under” to learn and understand the person involved. Every life has dignity and meaning of existence. The ability to have that respect for the person involved is strictly questioned in men’s counseling. In other words, the therapist’s position in life and the meaning of existence is questioned. It’s a shame that there are few professionals who can understand the severity of the situation. As proof, there are supporters who go to study with great authority and qualifications, but there is no supporter who comes to study men’s counseling for recovery with them among the persons with problems. For those supporters, the person with the problem is the object of treatment, guidance and education, but not the object of learning.
So…. a troubled person who recovered in men’s therapy, presenting his or her own recovery process to the person in the middle of the problem, and growing up together… men’s counseling is what allows the person with the problem to be on the side of helping as a therapist.
The certification workshop is a place for such people to get together and share their experiences and thoughts on support. This Sunday is the day of the workshop.
The certification workshop is supposed to be for regular members of the Men’s Counseling Association to bring their own support practices to the workshop. Non-members of the Association are not allowed to attend. Sorry….
Yes, today I planted some avocado seeds in a pot with roots that have finally sprouted in the last few months.
Growing plants is fun and interesting … and so are people.
Originally posted on September 17, 2020
English text translated with DeepL (Japanese to English) and checked by Mina.
