Metaphor, empathy and non-judgementalism
Ek lê nog wakker en dink oor die laaste 2 jaar, 5 take en 2 mondelinge. Dit was moeilik, maar ongelooflik! Dankie vir wat julle met my gedeel het. Die ongelooflike metafore, empatie en ‘non-judgemental’ manier wat julle het.
T’s & C’s apply.
Two years ago I embarked on the most wonderful journey that enriched my life in ways I never dreamt of. I enrolled for a course in Narrative Therapy and it exceeded all my expectations. Over two years I have learnt a lot about myself and through 5 very long assignments I discovered why I reacted in certain ways when my own story developed. I am the result of not only my story but all the stories of those that crossed my patch.
I learnt from Dr. Andre Botha that God wants people to care for the well-being of man. He lured me into the rich world of Narrative Therapy, he taught me ways of interpreting the Bible that freed people from the discourses created by man and the church.
Dr. Marietjie van Loggerenberg taught me that every person, even the perpetrator carries God’s fingerprints. Never to judge but to care. It is okay to stop a person and cry with them, to love people unconditionally. I will never look at same sex relationships with a raised eyebrow as it hurts, unintentionally you judge and add to the pain that this person carries in their hearts. The gruesome world of sexual abuse, the hurt, pain, shame, guilt and the total destruction of a person by another person made me cry at night and I did not sleep much during those weeks as my heart was breaking not just for the victims but for the perpetrator. I still find it mind-boggling that victims forgive the person who has hurt them, but take my hat of to those who rose from the ashes and became bright stars.
Dr. Jo Viljoen Van Zyl you dragged me through the Maps of Michael White and introduced me to discourses that I did not realize I had. You had such patience with me and stupid virus on computer and walked the extra mile when you marked my assignment on new year’s eve. I learned about the shackles of addiction and the difficult road a person in the bondage of drugs/alcohol/sex/shopping/gambling and even sugar has to travel to break the bondage. It is like walking a tight rope. The drugs scare me and I would prefer to refer Alcohol to another therapist but I will be okay to have the first conversation.
Hanlie Boshoff you buried a lot of discourses regarding teenagers. I will never see them as hormonal beings with mood-swings, but as human beings that needs to explore, experience and find their feet in a world of insecurities, disappointments and hurt. Scary maths, hurtful friends, the plastic world of acceptance on looks or being the man when you drink, smoke etc. We have a massive job to right the wrongs in society and teach kids to be themselves, to accept themselves and to connect to themselves and accept themselves. You made Freedman and Combs practical and pulled all the theory into practise.
Dear Essie Raath you guided me through the trauma lectures with kindness and understanding and a gentleness that is so special. I experienced the trauma during the 6 weeks of my Dad’s demise and death and you were there and understood all the emotions, hurt and turmoil. I want to specialize in Trauma and if I can be half the therapist you are, I will be able to teach people that Trauma is not a life sentence.
Alex Clark you introduced me to relationship dynamics. The pitfalls that destruct relationships and hurt partners. Your empathy and calling to heal relationships and help couples to re-connect and change the path of their relationship by small things like ‘How was your day’ and getting attuned to your partner made me excited to step into this therapy but I don’t know if a couple will trust a therapist that is divorced.
Crazy busy two years. I bought 117 books [only three compulsory]! I read lots of articles, listened to videos and read more.
The best decision I made and most interesting and fulfilling experience.
Marelize Loftie-Eaton
