As I already said, much of this website is about how phenomena in the natural world are relevant in our efforts to ease the distress of children that suffer needlessly due to imprisonment and related factors.
But also, implicit in the writing – which will become obvious as it is read – is that better outcomes will be achieved through sharing power with people in families, some of whose members may have suffered trauma, and have experienced powerlessness in the sense that they may never have had a real say in their own destiny.
In fact, the substantial difference between this website and a lot of material, both historical and contemporary, written on and about supporting families in distress is that the theories, propositions etc. which are promoted are based on this fundamental principle, i.e. sharing power [1].
It will be mentioned from time to time because of its importance.
Now I am aware that sharing power is not for everyone – I believe that a practitioner whose life experience and education is predominantly mainstream needs to have a lot of openness to the process, be in a position to do it, have willingness to do it, have patience, and be prepared to support themselves through it.
Most of you will have heard of compassion fatigue (which is similar to, but also slightly different to burnout). There is also a fatigue that arises from continually walking in someone else’s shoes – in some senses, sharing their burden. This is where the support oneself through it bit comes in.
(Though I will offer a challenge to practitioners later on in respect of sharing burdens).
We can do enormous good in the world and give great help to very vulnerable people without sharing power, and (I believe anyway) it would be very wrong of those of us who enjoy sharing power to impose it on other very competent, compassionate and hardworking practitioners who don’t choose to do it. Or, perhaps, to put it another way, who passionately feel that their professional practice would be somehow or another diminished by sharing power – and fear that.
I have learned from experience that a kind of forced or coercive sharing power can put people off and ultimately lead to burnout.
As I said, I do it firstly because I like it, and also I believe it enables the joy of discovery.
On a final note on sharing power, if you are not open to it then this website may be far less useful to you, and make far less sense than if you are – but I invite you to read some of it anyway …………………. and offer your views.
That’s because diverse views always enrich learning!
[1]. In my experience true sharing of power is rare, despite many recommendations of good practice that promote the desirability of including people in distress in the decisions that will determine their and their families’ future.