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Given the choice between a therapist and a classic movie... |
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Written by Leslie Karsner
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More info... (http://video.google.com/url?docid=1746964808435924885&esrc=rss_searchfeed&ev=v&len=93&q=family+therapy&srcurl=http%3A%2F%2Funcutvideo.aol.com%2Fvideos%2F8dbaa9781ed36b8759b937dd80c11e30&vidurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D1746964808435924885%26q%3Dfamily%2Btherapy&usg=AL29H20rTx6VMkPu_2hZlPWJ5Ruj-3Jmpg)Given the choice between a therapist and a classic movie...2 min - May 25, 2007Give me Laurel and Hardy any day! Growing up, my family used classic movies as family therapy. That should have been a sign that I would become a ravenous movie fan when I grew up. My friends and colleagues are well acquainted with my mania and I regularly use film in my work as a campus minister. When someone asks, "What's your favorite movie?" I just laugh. As if I could narrow it down to just one. - submitted by AOL Video Uploads user syzygy121b
The Art of Mending, by Elizabeth Berg. This is a bit of a girl’s book, but a wonderful study of family dynamics. One of the highlights is how it dealt with a family secret in a balanced manner that allowed us to see the roles and perspectives of all the roles in the family. There was no single “bad guy” in the family, just a system at work. This is how it often is in families. There might be one person who seems to have “the problem” but everyone in the system contributes in
his or her own way.
During the holiday break, there are many opportunities to read, one of my favorite hobbies. One of the books I chose was Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. Joan writes of the year after her husband’s sudden death when she is also dealing with the serious illness of her only daughter. In addition to the topic of grief, Didion handles the lack of control we feel about the events that occur in our lives; made all the more potent in the illusion that at some point we did have control. Her description of the grieving process beautifully captures its non-linear, non-predictable nature. Ms. Didion is a highly educated published writer yet the denial and pain of the grief is illustrated by her unwillingness to give away John’s shoes after his death, “ in case he needs them.” Reading this account of grief, brings to mind all of the other things we grieve in our lives. Grief in this case is the loss of a mate through death but the feelings of grief may also occur with the loss of a relationship, such as a divorce or break up. It might also occur when we lose the idea of a relationship that we thought should have been a certain way but wasn’t, like a relationship with a parent or a sibling. The grief that occurs when we process these types of losses may not come on as suddenly as that of a death but may be processed in a similar manner.Didion gives a personal voice to the process and her book is as much a love story and tribute to her relationship with her husband as it is a study of her process. There is much to be heard in this book at many levels.
In the 35 years I have worked with clients, I've learned that our lives can change instantly. Sudden death, life threatening diagnosis, accidents, job loss, marriage, or divorce can shake us at our inner core. I also know that conflicts in relationships can be devastating and confusing. I strive to provide a safe, caring, compassionate and professional environment for you to work and find solutions. Feel free to call for a brief telephone consultation (no charge) to determine if I'm the right person to help you with your concerns. Membership: Indiana Oncology Social Workers; National Association of Social Workers.
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