balanced womens blog
Sitting in reception waiting for clients(it was voluntary work and client or patient did not seem an appropriate name) however waiting for someone to arrive, when in came an attractive young women. Our receptionist approached me and said this lady would like to see you for help.
We went into the therapy room, a room with three chairs a lovely tall plant and soft healing colors. She looked nervous and shy. I will call her Agnes(name protected) and I asked her what could I do for her. She said she had suicidal thoughts and feelings. I then had to assess her whether to go to a Doctor or a Psychiatrist. She said she had been for medical help and they thought that anti depressants would be OK.
I asked what sort of thoughts bothered her. She said she came into the Church(St. Jame's Church Piccadilly, London. UK where the basement had been turned into a healing center offering all sorts of therapies) thinking that I was 'sky pilot' (priest) I said I was a therapist. She got up to go and I said its OK to stay and everything was confidential.
She said 'well I feel ashamed of what I do and frightened I will go to hell'(she pointed to the floor). Being in Forensics in the day time I felt she was a prostitute I had forensicated brothels and the like in the early days( I never mixed the two 'jobs'). She admitted she was a lady of the night and wanted to run out as it was in the church precincts.
I reminded her that Ladies of the Night washed Jesus's feet and that he regarded all as equals in the sight of God. She said are you sure you are not a sky pilot, I said no' I am not and somehow we both laughed, she had the smile of a lovely person.
She lived up North in a broken down council estate and had three children and an abusive partner who beat her up and was an alcoholic and long distance lorry driver, and she came to London twice a week to do 'business'.
We talked over several weeks and we did imagery of which she was excellent and sensitive to subtle nuisances of her inherent wisdom, she learned gradually to forgive herself and her husband and went to the police about his abuse, many women are frightened to go to the police or social services as they are threatened even more and also extended to the children.
With her new found confidence she went to day school and learned to be a seamstress. I was able to give her an address to a small performing arts company and she eventually made costumes for them and moved to the suburbs of London.
She came in a year later and bought me a bottle of wine and kissed me on the cheek and said I had helped save her children and her. I assured her it was a partnership and it was the real her she had discovered because she had the courage to go for it and had won herself back.
I never met her again and her courage helped me to see more of who I am. I am convinced all those who came through those doors to see my colleagues and I and all those in the workshops I presented were my therapists, they provided a mirror to see their dilemmas and saviors as parts of me----thank you Agnes and all who blessed me with the honor of listening to their stories which is mine in another way.
I asked what sort of thoughts bothered her. She said she came into the Church(St. Jame's Church Piccadilly, London. UK where the basement had been turned into a healing center offering all sorts of therapies) thinking that I was 'sky pilot' (priest) I said I was a therapist. She got up to go and I said its OK to stay and everything was confidential.
She said 'well I feel ashamed of what I do and frightened I will go to hell'(she pointed to the floor). Being in Forensics in the day time I felt she was a prostitute I had forensicated brothels and the like in the early days( I never mixed the two 'jobs'). She admitted she was a lady of the night and wanted to run out as it was in the church precincts.
I reminded her that Ladies of the Night washed Jesus's feet and that he regarded all as equals in the sight of God. She said are you sure you are not a sky pilot, I said no' I am not and somehow we both laughed, she had the smile of a lovely person.
She lived up North in a broken down council estate and had three children and an abusive partner who beat her up and was an alcoholic and long distance lorry driver, and she came to London twice a week to do 'business'.
We talked over several weeks and we did imagery of which she was excellent and sensitive to subtle nuisances of her inherent wisdom, she learned gradually to forgive herself and her husband and went to the police about his abuse, many women are frightened to go to the police or social services as they are threatened even more and also extended to the children.
With her new found confidence she went to day school and learned to be a seamstress. I was able to give her an address to a small performing arts company and she eventually made costumes for them and moved to the suburbs of London.
She came in a year later and bought me a bottle of wine and kissed me on the cheek and said I had helped save her children and her. I assured her it was a partnership and it was the real her she had discovered because she had the courage to go for it and had won herself back.
I never met her again and her courage helped me to see more of who I am. I am convinced all those who came through those doors to see my colleagues and I and all those in the workshops I presented were my therapists, they provided a mirror to see their dilemmas and saviors as parts of me----thank you Agnes and all who blessed me with the honor of listening to their stories which is mine in another way.
SHACK
For we teach that which we need to learn(Shack)
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