The thesis for my Masters in Psychotherapy was expected to be “ Treating Depression – Psychotherapy/Counselling versus Psychotherapy/Counselling and Herbal Medicine”. However, after a run-in with my professor and clinical placement, I changed my thesis to “ The Innocence, ignorance and arrogance of family violence”. Promptly after finishing my Degree I rolled a weely bin to my door and threw all my thesis material in it. In another set of circumstances, besides being in private clinical practice, I worked as a sessional facilitator of voluntary and court-mandated family violence group programs for over 10 years.
But deep down I have always been uncomfortable with the subject matter due to its complexity, and the pain of all parties; there are no winners. It is hard navigating the thin line between getting people to take responsibility and be accountable versus the levelling of shame and blame.
In March 2022, I dressed this post up in my blog as " Recognizing abusive relationships" because a lot of us including me a professional who has studied and worked in the family violence sector dislike the word " Family Violence".
But I think as individuals, then as a collective we need to face the facts and the devasting impact of family violence and rise to name it, label it and address it.
But deep down I have always been uncomfortable with the subject matter due to its complexity, and the pain of all parties; there are no winners. It is hard navigating the thin line between getting people to take responsibility and be accountable versus the levelling of shame and blame.
In March 2022, I dressed this post up in my blog as " Recognizing abusive relationships" because a lot of us including me a professional who has studied and worked in the family violence sector dislike the word " Family Violence".
But I think as individuals, then as a collective we need to face the facts and the devasting impact of family violence and rise to name it, label it and address it.
