Weaving fairy tale with current life events, Power Abused, Power Healed reveals teachings about misuse and abuse of power and the vast healing that is possible, individually and globally.
With The Emperor’s New Clothes as a basis for her stories, psychotherapist and storyteller Judith Barr reveals multiple abuses of authority by showing us a different ending to the fairy tale in each chapter. The reader meets the grown-up counterparts to the children emotionally wounded by the vain Emperor, as they suffer similar abuses from those in the “healing professions” -- therapists, workshop leaders, spiritual teachers – and even from a governor, before reaching a breakthrough, growth, and healing.
To help deepen the reader’s healing experience, Judith includes a section called “Here and Now,” full of soul-searching questions designed to help the reader examine the roots of his or her own relationship with power, and take steps in the journey towards his or her own inner healing.
Power Abused, Power Healed is intended for anyone willing to explore his or her relationship with power: how it was formed; how it was wounded; how it is used, misused and abused; how it impacts our world; and how it can be healed. This most obviously includes individuals, parents, families; and therapists, counselors, group leaders. Since the same dynamics of power abuse and its healing apply to every arena where people live and work, it also includes those in religious, educational, corporate, political, and governmental institutions.
Brief Workshop Description:
Misuse and abuse of power is commonplace in our world. It occurs in homes, schools, churches, government. And sadly, in therapist’s practices and healing workshops. Any position of power carries with it the temptation to abuse that power. Typically disguising itself as something noble, the root of power abuse is woundedness … woundedness calling to be healed! As therapists, we need to answer that call in behalf of ourselves, our clients, and our world.
As therapists we are in positions of power. It is our responsibility to learn how people form their relationship with power, how power is misused and abused in our work , and how we can help to heal the relationship with power in ourselves, our clients and our world.
Judith Barr will utilize her book Power Abused, Power Healed, to help participants begin exploring the theme of misuse and abuse of power in the healing professions. Through the stories in her book, and other ways of teaching, participants will start to recognize experiences from colleaguial conversations, client reports, and their own life encounters – both professional and personal. They will also begin to comprehend the impact on others and on themselves when power is misused and abused … especially in places where we believe we are safe.
This workshop is intended to inspire participants to meet, face, and heal themselves when they are tempted to misuse or abuse their power. To be a call and guide to the right use of power in their practices and in their lives! And to help their clients heal their own relationships with power!
