Class 3 - Reactions to Bromfield "Teens in Therapy"

Class 3 - Reactions to Bromfield "Teens in Therapy"

by Melissa DiJulio -
Number of replies: 1

Hi everyone,

I really enjoyed reading these chapters on "Teens in Therapy" by Bromfield. Bromfield is a gifted writer who blends discussion and short storytelling very well. If anything, my critique is that Bromfield seems to offer a statement or an example of a success in a way that seems almost mystifyingly insightful to me. An example of this was early on in the chapters where Bromfield showcased an amazing ability to see past the bluster and the spoken words of the clients to zero in on the heart of what matters to that teen. Robbie on p. 7 was a good example of this. However, after reading something like that--as inspiring and interesting as it was--I really don't have a good grasp on the theory behind it or the mechanics in a way that I could soundly repeat that performance.

It makes me wonder about the practice of learning from others' therapeutic successes. If therapy is so often individualized and unique to the moment, how do these kinds of stories really serve us as emerging social workers, beyond perhaps showing us what is or could be possible? There is absolutely merit in that alone! AND, I also sometimes feel that putting on a couple of lenses (person-in-environment, feminist, social justice), learning the names of several modalities, diving in, and making a ton of mistakes is the only way I'm actually going to become an accomplished therapist. Yet, I want more hand holds! I want to learn the rules before I break the rules. I'm not sure that I'm getting that feel of learning "the rules" of working with teens from Bromfield's work here, even as I'm enjoying it. I'd love others' thoughts on this too!

Oh, and there was also a question I had from the discussion of the client Polly on p. 17. She was talking a lot about "wanting" to hurt her mother and Bromfield seemed to say that it didn't merit any worry in a way that read like a gut reaction to me. I was very much wondering how one knows where the line is between needing to vent and have space held for that, and when someone is telling the truth about their intentions and needs to talk that through more or be actively stopped. Any thoughts on that would be welcome! 

Best,

Melissa

In reply to Melissa DiJulio

Re: Class 3 - Reactions to Bromfield "Teens in Therapy"

by Victoria Valadao Napier -
Melissa,
About that section with Polly. I think of how dysregulated Polly is and how Bromfield holds her. He is aware of not showing fear in his face because he does think there is some danger. He knows though the best think he can do is let her burn off her violent feelings. Releasing words are better than releasing physical acts, so he is helping to teach her to do this. The mother sounds frighteningly cold and cut off. Polly could easily turn it inward. Because Polly was so receptive to therapy shows to me that her desire to be listened to was greater than her desire to hurt her mother. Mother hurt is one of the biggest pains in the whole world, and she wanted to put an end to that pain. Working in a drug rehab I've seen countless women who self soothe with hard drugs in order to escape the pain of "mother hurt". I think Polly was enormously lucky to have Bromfield. To me that office did hold her large hurt and violent feelings and maybe planted a seed for not having to escape with drugs or alcohol in the future.