1. OutlineWorkingwithResistanceandPeople BereavedbySuicide1.PowerandSuicide2.WhatisResistance?3.WhenDoesitOccur?4.Positive&NegativeEffects ChrisBowden5.WorkingThroughitLecturer,SchoolofEducationStudies,VictoriaUniversityofWellington. Chris.Bowden@vuw.ac.nz &6.Controllingvs.EmbracingResistance? CarolineColeCounsellor,Skylight,WellingtonSouth,Wellington. cs4@skylighttrust.org.nz Theimportanceofreframing,reflectivepractice,communication22Nov2007 SPINZ2007Symposium:BuildingtheJigsaw andcollaboration CollaboratingforSuicidePrevention PowerandSuicide Thebereavedareoftenleftfeelingpowerless followingsuicide. Professionalshavearesponsibilitytohelpthe ecnatsiser tuohtiw rewop on si erehT bereavedregaincontrolandexercisepower. Oftenthevalues,idealsandmethodsusedby Foucault(1990) professionalsservetoreinforcepowerlessness inthebereavedratherthanempowerthem. Whenthesupportthatisofferedtothose Bylookingatresistancewithinthebereavedwe bereavedbysuicidedoesnotmeettheirneeds,canbetterunderstandhowthebereavedview orwhenitisnotofferedinanappropriatewayorandmediatetheexerciseofpower. atanappropriatetimeresistancecanoccur.WhyDoPeopleResistGoingtoCounselling? Resistancesaredefinedaspracticeswhichexpressopposition 1. Negativeperceptionsofcounselling torulesandnormsinspecificcontexts,andwhichcontain (e.g.,forcertainpeople,forpeoplewith critiquesofsocialrelations,fromthelivedexperienceof marginalisation(Bottrell,2007,p.599).seriousmentalillness). Ourunderstandingofresistancemustgobeyondconceptualisations2. Confidentialityissues. ofoppostionalbehaviourandpersonaldeficittoincludean analysisofsocialrelations(Bottrell,2007). 3. Counsellingnotseenasthebest Indealingwithmarginalisation,difficultcircumstancesand remedy. competingdemands,thebereavedsresistancesmaybeseenas attemptstocounternegativeimagesandtocreatenewidentitiesfor themselves. Toexercisepower. 4. Preferenceforlifecoaching. Thebereavedhavetonegotiatetheirowninnerworldafterthedeath (Gyllenten,Palmer&Farrants,2005) (makesenseofsuicide)butalsohavetonegotiatesociocultural normsaboutgrief,lossandlifeaftersuicide.Formany,thisdoesnot occurinalinearwayandtheirgriefdoesnotfitthepatternoutlined instagestheoriesofgrief(Begley&Quayle,2007).1

2. WhyDoPeopleResistChangeWithinCounselling? AccordingtoWorrell(1997)resistancehasbeenacentral AccordingtoWorrell(1997): concerntomostmodelsofcounsellingandpsychotherapy. Resistancecanalsobeviewedasanintersubjective Resistancehasbeendefinedas:phenomenaoccuringbetweenpeople. Itcanbeinterpretedasexpressiveofpeoplesattempts Residingintheindividualandexpressiveofirrationaltopreserveasenseofselffromperceivedattack.beliefs(e.g.,Itstoohardtochange,Icantchange). Clientbehaviourthatisdefinedbythetherapistasanti Itrequiressupportprovidersto:therapeutic. connecttothebereaved, Defensiveoperationsandnoncompliancetospecific bewiththebereavedandfindouthowtheyarebeingtherapeuticgoals/tasksanddirectives.intheworld, Relatedtoshortcomingsinthetherapistandthe findouthowtheyaredefiningtheirselfinrelationtotherapistnothandlingaparticularpersonintherightway. others,and findoutwhatmaybethreateningthem.Why/WhenDoesResistanceOccur? Peoplebereavedbysuicidemaybeatvariouspointsintheir Garon(2006)arguesthatresistanceoccurswhen: adjustmenttolossandhavedifferentabilitiestocopewith theircircumstances(Mitchell,Wesner,Garand,Gale,Havill Peoplefeeltheylackpower. &Brownson,2007). Powerisabused. Whenpeopledonthaveavoice. Whenpeoplefeeltheyaretreatedunfairly,insensitivelyorwith Peoplemayshowresistancewhentheyareascribedan alackofrespect. identityandsocialposition.Peoplemaystrugglefor Whenpeoplearenotinvolvedindecisionmaking. chosenidentitiesandagainstunchosensocialidentitiesand whenprocessesreinscribemarginalisedindividualsalso DentandGoldberg(1999)reportthatresistancecanalsooccur consitutefurthermarginalisation(Bottrell,2007)(e.g., when:labellingthebereavedatriskofsuicide). Peoplearenotclearaboutthewho,what,why,when,and Whenchangeisimposed,comesatthewrongtime,when whereofthechange. theyhavelittesayinthenatureorthedirectionofthe Changethreatenssomeonesstatus. change(Dent&Goldberg,1999). Thechangecanisolatesomeone. Andwhenpeoplearealreadyoverburdened. Whenpeoplefearchangeorfuturefailure(Worrell,1997).PositiveorNegative? Worrell(1997)discusseshow:Powerful Powerless Expertknowledge Layknowledge ResistanceisoftenseenbyprofessionalsandInneed Provider counsellors/therapistsasnegative. UnderstandsStuck Thefocusisoftenontheindividualwhoisseenas resistanttochangeandnotmuchattentionisgivento changethatis Difficultyvoicing required concerns therelationshipandwayofbeing. Professionals Bereaved Garon(2006)arguesthatresistancecan: Beseenasawaythatthelesspowerfulspeakup. Requirescourage. OftenwefocusonCONTENTofsupport Leadtochangeparticularlywhenlesspowerfulareandprogrammesratherthanonsocial givenanopportunitytospeakup. discourseandpowerrelations.2 3. ActsofResistanceQUESTION1 Takingastand. Expressingconcerns. Protesting. Whatactsof Failingtocooperate,stopping,goslows.resistancehaveyou Whistleblowing. Confrontingandquestioning. experiencedwhensupportingsomeone Occurwithinrelationships.whohasbeen Therecanbeindividualandcollectiveactsof bereaved?resistance. Canbeexpressedincreativewaysareformsofcommunicatingprivatediscourseorhiddentranscriptshttp://www.artintime.com/images/Original%20PaintingsGene%20Gould/grief.jpg(Scott,1990citedinGaron,2006).ExamplesfromaBereavedbySuicideQUESTION2 SupportGroup Resistancebetweenthebereaved&facilitators: Whydidtheseactsofresistanceoccur? Whenassessmentisinvolvedthatlabels,focusesonclinicaldiagnoses,orproblemsinthebereaved(ratherthananeedsassessment). Whenpracticeorsupportdoesntmeetneeds. Timingandreadiness.Whentasksofgriefareemphasisedandbereavednotatthatstage,feeltheyarenotreadyforinformation. Whatcircumstancesledtothem? Resistancebetweengroupmembers: Whenjudgmentsaremadeandprogresscompared. Languageused(gender,culturalattitudes,personalbeliefs). Strategiesofferednotperceivedasappropriateorrelevant. Notparticipatingsilent. NeedtolookatindividualANDgroupprocesses,safety,structureandfacilitation. NeedtocreateSPACESforpeopletohaveavoiceexpresshowtheyarebeingintheworld,wheretheyareatintheirjourney.NegativeViewsandEffectsofPositiveViews&EffectsofResistanceResistance Positiveview Negativeview Bereavedexercisingpower,communicatingconcerns, Seenasdisobedient,disrespectful,challenging,aperson ethicalsafetyvalve,timetostopandreflect. attack. Negativereactionretaliation,puttingdowntherebellion, Positivereactioncollaboration.ignoring. Positiveeffects Negativeeffects BereavedgivenavoiceandrealisetheyhavePOWER Bereavedareoftensilenced,labelledtroublemakers,excluded, andcontrol.chastised,andasaresultdisengage. Sharedunderstandings. Professional/supportpersonfailstocorrectpowerimbalanceorlearnfromindividualorgroupnochanceforchange. Findawayforwardproblemsolve. WhatoftenholdspeoplebackfromspeakingupFEAR. Learnfromoneanother,increasedselfknowledge, Littlechanceoffutureopportunitiesforresistanceandcollaboration. growth. Changedroles,newpoliciesandstandardsofpractice. 3 4. ControllingResistance EmbracingResistance Whenresistanceisviewedasnegativeandsomethingto Resistanceisalwayspresentwheretherearepowerrelationships. becontrolled: Tofindouttheinformationthatresistancebringsitisimportanttoseekitout. Ignoreit:andhopethatwhatevercauseditgoesaway too. Peoplewhoareresistanthavevaluableinformationthatothersdonothave. Usepower:Trytomakepeoplegoalong. Usereason:Explainwhychangemustoccuronceagain Theyseechangefromadifferentperspectiveandviewitas inmoredetail. problematic. Manipulate:Playonepersonagainstanotherand Needtoembraceandrespectthisviewandresistance. maybeyouwillgetsomeonetochange. UseRelationships:Callinfavoursthatyouareowed. Needstrongworkingrelationshipsthatarefoundedonrespect,honesty,giveandtake,andonachievingmutualgoals. MakeDeals:Compromiseanddilutethechange. Giveuptoosoon:Losemotivationandquit. Peoplewhoresistchangearevaluableassets,theycanbringenergyanddifferentviewtotheplanningandimplementationprocessofachievingchange.SomeSuggestions:WorkingThrough Question3:ManagingResistance Resistance 1.ACCESS/CONNECT&CLARIFYStartadialogue,findoutwhatisnotworking,whatarethepersonsconcerns,fearsaboutchange? 2.ANALYSE Howweretheactsofresistance Whatsnotworking?Whyhasthisoccurred?Whereisthispersoncomingfrom?Howaretheybeing? managed?Breakdowninteractions/relationship. 3.EVALUATEHowhavewebeencommunicating?Whatarethemostimportantconcerns?Howbestcanthisbeaddressed? 4.COMMUNICATEGivethebereavedavoice. WhatweretheoutcomesforyouandtheLISTENacknowledgewhatthepersonsays.Resistancecanbeaboutnotbeingheard. bereaved? Discussandagreeonhowyouwillworkthroughandfindasolution,howroleswillchange,stepsthatneedtobetakenandwhowilltakethemandhowyouwillmeasuresuccess. 5.CREATEChangeandaction,anewunderstandingorrelationship. CollaboratetoExamineForcesImportanceOfReframing Worktogethertoexamine Resistanceanddissentarenotpersonalattacksor whatKurtLewintermedcriticism. drivingforcesandRestraining restrainingforces. DrivingForces Forces Seethemasearlywarningsignsoftroubleahead.ForChange ResistingChange Forchangetooccur drivingforcesmustbe Openandcollaborativestylesofcommunicationare morepowerfulthanimportant.Authoritarianandunidirectionalstylescauseresistance(Bisese,1990). restrainingforces. External External SeeForceFieldAnalysis Silenceisharmfulwithholdinginfoaboutpotential Analyzingchangeproblemscanimpedechangeandcollaboration factors(12Manage, (participatorygovernancestructures). 2007).Internal Internal Seeactsofresistanceasmotivatedbyprinciplesanddesiretobeingaboutandbeapartofchange. 4 5. ImportanceofReflectivePractice LookatMotivesforChangeHultman(1998)outlines8reasonswhypeoplewillsupport ResistanceisInformation. change: Itisaboutsayingchangetheplan.CHANGE Mustlearntolistentoresistance. 1. Theybelievetheirneedsarenotbeingmet.2. Theybelievethechangewillmakeiteasierforthemto Focusonthereasonsbehindthe FORMOF meettheirneeds.RESISTANCEresistance,notyourassumptionsabout 3. Theybelievebenefitswilloutweightherisks(ofnotit.changing). Lookforcausesnotsymptoms.POSSIBLE 4. Theybelievethechangeisnecessarytoavoidorescape REASONaharmfulsituation. Lookatwhatchangethepersonisbeing5. Theybelievetheprocessisbeinghandledproperly.requiredtomake.6. Theybelievethechangewillwork. Whatformstheirresistancetakes.RESPONSE7. Thechangeisconsistentwiththeirvalues. Whatthereasonisfortheirresistance. 8. Theybelievethoseresponsibleforthechangecanbe Possibleresponsestotheresistanceintrusted.allparties(e.g.,changeplan,newplan).Strategies Establishpositiveclimatewhereresistanceiswelcomed Treatpeopleascompetentandhelpthemdevelopskillsand andexploredsafely. confidencetoengageinchange.Involvepeopleindecision making:helpthemfindTHEIRanswernotTHEanswer. Eliminatefearprovidebereavedwithopportunitiesto expresstheiropinionandviewonhowandwhenchange Usemotivationalinterviewing,structuredproblemsolvingthat canoccur. incorporatesanexaminationofthecostsandbenefitsof changing(ornotchanging)(McCutcheonetal.,2007). Takeacurious,nonintrusiveandrespectfulstance. Seekthepersonsopinion(McCutcheon,Chanen,Fraser, Usemetaphoricalexpressionstohelpthebereavedwork Drew&Brewer,2007).throughambivalenceandfearofchangebyindirectlyallowing themtoexpresscertainfeelingsthatifdealtwithdirectlymay engenderstrongresistance. Showpeoplethatovercomingresistancetochangecan helpthem. Metaphorscanprovideasafebridgetoexplorechange withoutresultinginrealchange(Lyddon,Clay&Sparks, 2001).ImportanceofCommunication ImportanceofCollaboration SHIFTthePOWERbacktothem. SHAREthePOWER. Acknowledgetheaffectchecktoseewhythepersonisangry,non cooperativeetcaskthepersonwhattheywantandestablishyourown needsandlimits(McCutcheonetal,2007). Shareideasaboutwhatmighthelp,butletthebereaved workoutwhatwillworkandhow. Talkthroughthingstheyhavelearntfromtheirresistanceandhow theyhavegrown. Bewiththemintheirresistancedontbeinahurry Talkthroughhowyouwillbothusetheknowledgetochange toshiftthemon,explorethisaspectoftheirbeinginthe practiceandrelationship. world. Empowerthebereavedtofindtheirvoice:Narrativesofresistance. Showthemhowseekinghelpisapositiveformof Usestorytellingeveryonehasastorytotell,providepeoplewith confidenceandplatformtosharethem.Createsafespaceforpersonalresistanceinitselfresistingisolationanddependence. andcollectivestorytelling(Horsley,2007) 5 6. ResistanceLeadstoChange References Resistancealwaysleadstochange. 12Manage(2007).ForceFieldAnalysis(Lewin).Available http://www.12manage.com/methods_lewin_force_field_analysis.html Accessed16 November2007. Withoutchangethereisnoprogress. Begley,M.&Quayle,E.(2007).Thelivedexperienceofadultsbereavedbysuicide:A phenomenologicalstudy.Crisis,28(1):2634. Bisese,V.S.(1990).Therapistspecificcommunicationstylesandpatientresistance:An Resistancecanbepositiveand/ornegative.analoguestudy.CounsellingPsychologyQuarterly,3(2):171182. Bottrell,D.(2007).Resistance,resilienceandsocialidentities:ReframingProblemYouth andtheproblemofschooling.JournalofYouthStudies,10(5):597616. Resistancecanleadtotransformationand changewithinthebereavedandthosewho Dent,E.B.&Goldberg,S.G.(1999).Challengingresistancetochange,TheJournalof AppliedBehaviouralScience,35(1):2541. supportthem. Foucault,M.(1990).Thehistoryofsexuality:Anintroduction.NewYork:VintagePress. Theoutcomesofresistancedependonhowwe Garon,M.(2006).Thepositivefaceofresistance:Nursesrelatetheirstories.TheJournal ofNursingAdministration,36(5):249258. viewresistanceandhowitismanaged. Gyllensten,K.,Plamer,S.&Farrants,J.(2005).Perceptionofstressinterventionsinfinance organizations:Overcomingresistancetowardscounselling.Counselling PsychologyQuarterly, 18(1):1929. Horsley,K.(2007).Storytelling,conflictanddiversity.CommunityDevelopmentJournal,42 (2):265269. Hultman,K.(1998).Makingchangeirresistible:Overcomingresistancetochangeinyour organization.PaloAlto,California:DaviesBlack. Lyddon,W.J.,Clay,A.L.&Sparks,C.L.(2001).Metaphorandchangeincounseling.Journal ofCounseling&Development,79(3):269274. McCutcheon,L.K.,Chanen,A.M.,Fraser,R.J.,Drew,L.&Brewer,W.(2007).Tipsand techniquesforengagingandmanagingthereluctant,resistantorhostileyoungperson.The MedicalJournalofAustralia,187(7):S64S67. Mitchell,A.M.,Wesner,S.,Garand,L.,Gale,D.D.,Havill,A.,&Brownson,L.(2007).A supportgroupinterventionforchildrenbereavedbyparentalsuicide.JournalofChildand AdolescentPsychiatricNursing,20(1):313. Worrell,M.(1997).Anexistentialphenomenologicalperspectiveontheconceptofresistance incounsellingandpsychotherapy.CounsellingPsychologyQuarterly,10(1):515. 6