Well, March Madness is here! Yes, the basketball frenzy is in full swing, but given the fluctuating temperatures and recent snowfall, the weather accounts for the madness as well. Noticing the growing buds, leaves, and fully blooming flowers on a walk today I wondered about their resilience to the extreme weather. Thinking about which ones will make it and have a full season, and why. It made me think about a few special resilient people in my life, and the many challenges we all face due to our external environment.
Considering my complete absorption with school, and the focus of multiple assignments on Horticultural Therapy it's no wonder I find myself constantly associating everything with plants and nature. Critical Thinking? Maybe, but also a result of my beginning to develop an HT curriculum as the end product of my independent study. I met with the wonderfully hip and intelligent Associate Dean of the School of Social Work today to continue my research on the use of HT as a social work intervention. His practice expertise is broad, but he has a breadth of clinical experience in working with survivors of CSA. CSA in this context meaning childhood sexual abuse, not to be confused with community supported agriculture...(survivors of a bad growing season?)
The four overarching themes and patterns commonly seen in survivors of CSA include: stigma, powerlessness, betrayal, and challenges with normal psycho-sexual development. Stigma, the idea of feeling disapproval from others, damaged, or to blame. Powerlessness; whether a violent crime or not, an abuse of power is what CSA is really all about. Betrayal; a violation of intimacy and and the victim's loss of trust--also feelings of betrayal in the parent (self-blame for "failure" to protect). Psycho-sexual difficulties; meaning that any type of intimacy becomes sexualized, and the ability for appropriate boundaries are weakened. Certainly some heavy stuff here, but a social issue requiring continued research in to therapies that can facilitate the healing process.
The use of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) is known to be an effective intervention in correcting distorted beliefs and cognitive processes that have been negatively shaped by the perpetrator. Group therapy settings are also known to be highly effective (dependent on the stage of treatment); allowing for validation and de-stigmatization for survivors. The use of a garden as the focus of a group for survivors could serve as a tool, or means to achieving treatment goals. Or in the context of a support group, the use of HT could be a way of providing treatment in a more implicit manner. In addressing issues of powerlessness, giving an individual control of a garden plot which they would design, care for, and oversee may increase their sense of control and self-esteem. If plants don't succeed, lessons on acceptance and coping may provide therapeutic progress. Establishing boundaries could occur both literally and figuratively in a garden; consider the use of fencing and a correlating discussion on personal boundaries and self-protection. Lessons on the life cycle of plants hold strong implications for encouraging positive psycho-sexual development. Restructuring distorted beliefs about sexuality and intimacy may require a discussion regarding the purpose of reproductive organs and sexual acts; and then, tangibly exemplified by the examination of the reproductive parts of plants.
And now on the other end of the spectrum; working with sexual offenders. Research and public opinion vary in regard of the ability of a sex offender to recover. Even in the field of social work, filled with "agents of social change", there are mixed views on whether sex offenders can every be rehabilitated. The treatment focus tends to emphasize risk management, and controlling the desire to offend--rather than recovery. Williams, et al (2005) discusses the benefits of treatment modalities that are outlined to build self-confidence and a pro-social attitude. Versus the more commonly used, negatively outlined treatment plan: elimination of negative attitudes, avoidance of certain places or "risk situations", extinction of deviant instincts. While these are in fact, a desired outcome of treatment if they are presented in a way that is less punitive, offenders may be more receptive to the treatment. Treatment should not be punishment.
The use of HT interventions are in and of themselves, positive--and may hold implications for use with the offender population. The four themes commonly seen in CSA survivors are also the pattern for offenders; which isn't surprising as research suggests that many perpetrators are also CSA victims. The most foundational idea, that work in a garden has potential to be engaging and consuming, may serve as a method of both building skills and distracting deviant behavior. Perhaps a developed interest in a personally meaningful activity has the capacity to add a positive outlet in which potentially negative behaviors could be "worked out", and risk situations avoided. A developed reverence and respect for living things, learned through nurturing plants may increase the development of empathy; which a lack of, is a primary indicator for anti-social behaviors. The pattern for offenders to "groom" victims preceding the abuse is a distorted and harmful interaction. Replacing it with a positive interaction with plants may be a tool and reinforcement for cognitive and behavioral change.
I am coming to see more and more how HT interventions can be applied to many populations. What are your thoughts on this as a use for work with these populations? Any other themes or "lessons" that may be useful?
Despite your position on some of theses issues (I still don't know mine), it's pretty cool to have everyday reminders from nature about human experiences--and to look forward to the full development of all those tiny buds growing!
Marshall, W., Ward, T., Mann, R., Moulden, H., Fernandez, Y., Serran, G., & Marshall, L. (2005). Working positively with sexual offenders: maximizing the effectiveness of treatment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(9), 1096-1114
