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Am SO glad I found your blog - I guess further introductions are in order.
I discovered De Shazer's work 3 yrs ago, while taking a "capita selecta" integrative psychotherapy class. I was thoroughly impressed, but also amazed how none of the other students were when I included him in a presentation. Even the teacher, an experienced therapist of outstanding rep, failed to be impressed and gave me a low note. I guess I hadnt thought enough of catering to my audience - seems that the material being old didnt help either, though.
Back then, I had to go to the library and borrow a video, contacting the technical dept. to secure a VCR etc. to be able to see De Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at work.
What impressed me most about SFT is the paradigm shift; unlocking the problem space from the solution space. This has changed my view (and appreciation) of a lot of what's done in the wider world of academia - most of the work focuses on problem spaces. Leaving little room for creativity. Helps explain why university has always seemed like a stuffed mammoth to me - big, but dead.
Probably because of this possibly revolutionary nature, SFT and the paradigm shift I experienced, have failed to make their mark on the scientific world. Too much out of the box, too threatening. Of course, originating in the therapy corner doesn't help much either - there's nothing wrong with me, and I don't want people to think so, so I don't want to be associated with therapy.
Anyway, I have shifted my paradigm and carried knowledge of SFT with me ever since, like a secret treasure in a matchbox in my pocket.
I am just thrilled to see the spark in your work, too.
Again, happy to meet you.
I like the following widget thingamajigg you've installed on the page - I'll just have to find a good avatar (pic or comic) to represent me, then I'm in!
Hello Tess, Thanks for your comment. Glad you like the blog. Reading your comment, a quote by Robert Sternberg came to mind. I looked it up for you so I can quote him right: "When you have a creative new idea or program, don't expect people to come running to you. If they do, beware of the poison darts!" Insoo Kim Berg also refered to this once. She said: "I worked in a therapy practice, and I did well. I worked very hard, and I accepted cases the other therapists would rather not take. We introduced the one way screen. I did the therapy, and behind the screen was a team watching. And I used it to teach students about therapy. And they loved it. Finally, they had a chance to watch therapy sessions. But my colleagues did not like it at all. They were convinced we were doing things that were unethical. There was quite a lot of pressure. At a certain point, my colleagues even would look the other way when I met them in the hallway. I now know, I made the mistake of talking too much about what we were doing. That way it got too much attention. We should have just continued without talking much about it."
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Hi Coert!
Am SO glad I found your blog - I guess further introductions are in order.
I discovered De Shazer's work 3 yrs ago, while taking a "capita selecta" integrative psychotherapy class. I was thoroughly impressed, but also amazed how none of the other students were when I included him in a presentation. Even the teacher, an experienced therapist of outstanding rep, failed to be impressed and gave me a low note. I guess I hadnt thought enough of catering to my audience - seems that the material being old didnt help either, though.
Back then, I had to go to the library and borrow a video, contacting the technical dept. to secure a VCR etc. to be able to see De Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg at work.
What impressed me most about SFT is the paradigm shift; unlocking the problem space from the solution space. This has changed my view (and appreciation) of a lot of what's done in the wider world of academia - most of the work focuses on problem spaces. Leaving little room for creativity. Helps explain why university has always seemed like a stuffed mammoth to me - big, but dead.
Probably because of this possibly revolutionary nature, SFT and the paradigm shift I experienced, have failed to make their mark on the scientific world. Too much out of the box, too threatening. Of course, originating in the therapy corner doesn't help much either - there's nothing wrong with me, and I don't want people to think so, so I don't want to be associated with therapy.
Anyway, I have shifted my paradigm and carried knowledge of SFT with me ever since, like a secret treasure in a matchbox in my pocket.
I am just thrilled to see the spark in your work, too.
Again, happy to meet you.
I like the following widget thingamajigg you've installed on the page - I'll just have to find a good avatar (pic or comic) to represent me, then I'm in!
Looking forward to travelling together!
Best regards, Tess @ Tinkabell.
Hello Tess,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you like the blog. Reading your comment, a quote by Robert Sternberg came to mind. I looked it up for you so I can quote him right: "When you have a creative new idea or program, don't expect people to come running to you. If they do, beware of the poison darts!" Insoo Kim Berg also refered to this once. She said: "I worked in a therapy practice, and I did well. I worked very hard, and I accepted cases the other therapists would rather not take. We introduced the one way screen. I did the therapy, and behind the screen was a team watching. And I used it to teach students about therapy. And they loved it. Finally, they had a chance to watch therapy sessions. But my colleagues did not like it at all. They were convinced we were doing things that were unethical. There was quite a lot of pressure. At a certain point, my colleagues even would look the other way when I met them in the hallway. I now know, I made the mistake of talking too much about what we were doing. That way it got too much attention. We should have just continued without talking much about it."
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