Читать книгу Counseling the Contemporary Woman - Suzanne Degges-White - Страница 25

Brown (2018, p. 41) described four realms in which individuals function and hold power: (1) somatic, (2) intrapersonal/intrapsychic, (3) interpersonal/social-contextual, and (4) spiritual/existential. Somatic power is related to the body and is marked by feelings of being “safe” within one’s own skin; satisfied with the body’s size and shape; appreciative of the body in whatever form it takes, regardless of abilities; and experiencing compassion toward one’s physical form. Intrapersonal/intrapsychic power is marked by knowing what one thinks and the presence of flexibility, rather than rigidity, in thoughts and feelings; being able to trust one’s own intuition and to believe in the messages sent by one’s feelings; and being able to be present in the moment, experience powerful emotions, and not fall into “numbness” as a way to cope. Interpersonal and social-contextual power is effected by being able to establish and maintain healthy relationships with others and being able to maintain a healthy balance between independence and dependence. Spiritual and existential power includes the ability to make meaning of life, understand the way one fits into the larger scheme of things, feel that one’s life has purpose, and be able to engage in creativity and fantasy while maintaining a strong grounding in reality.

Feminist therapists are able to facilitate clients’ awareness of these various realms while helping them to recognize the ways they hold and can enact power in each realm. Most clients seek counseling as a “last resort” when they have exhausted all other possible solutions to their concerns. Clients often feel powerless at this point, and rather than being cast as the “source” of a client’s solution, feminist counselors help their clients recognize the ways they can use their own power to find their solutions. It is important to consider not just empowerment but other practices common to the theory.