and reach thousands of daily visitors
1 OCTOBER 2010
NO 1635
Invisible suffering
Many of our clients come from a history of childhood abuse, have been (or still are) dealing with addictions, have been (or still are) in abusive marriages, and may be abusive or neglectful toward their own children. As a result of this ongoing trauma, their world view is that the world is full of suffering. Indeed, their existence is the physical and concrete evidence that supports this world view. From this viewpoint they perceive that suffering is unending, arbitrary, universal, and unacknowledged by the rest of the world. Because many have suffered since childhood, their perception is that no one notices, no one cares. The world is a battleground and they can expect nothing better. Our task is to challenge this assumption and create experiences in which the client can leam new patterns of behaviour, new ways of thinking about themselves as worthy of happiness that lead to fulfilhnent and peace, rather than suffering. We do not mean to suggest that we can single-handedly eliminate suffering from our clients' lives; however, we can be instrumental in separating neurotic suffering from existential suffering by pointing out how thoughts, words, and deeds create and recreate experiences that have their beginnings in the past and can be continually recreated in the present. The introduction of a therapeutic relationship, in which someone demonstrates a caring and concerned attitude, may be the first experience of this kind to many clients. What was invisible is now for the first time being witnessed by another. To be seen, to be heard, to be validated is life changing. Additionally, as Callahan (1991) suggests: "If chronic neglect is primarily a matter of poverty, frequently the poverty of disadvantaged women, then it should be dealt with as a resource issue rather than a personal, individual problem" (p. 19). Unfortunately, in our experience, clients are held personally accountable by the very system that traps them in the cycle of poverty.
IRIS ELSDON AND SHARON PRIEST
Elsdon, I. and Priest, S. (2001). The same difference:
Themes and experiences in CYC practice. Journal of Child and Youth Care,
14, 3. pp. 19.
REFERENCES
Callahan, M. (1991). Feminist perspectives on child welfare work. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria.
