- - From Norma Kay Lord, Director of CAST
My personal philosophy, and that of CAST, is an eclectic blend of my own training and personal experience. Each day, with each new experience, I add to the collection, just like seashells swept on to the beach from the ocean of life. My family, my clients, and my students are my teachers in life and I, in turn, teach and leave behind a little of myself along the journey.
Moreno, the father of Psychodrama, espoused "living in the moment" which, when translated in regards to therapy means to be both physically and emotionally present for the client during their journey. It requires responding, not from a canned presentation, but in an individual manner, meeting their needs and aligning with their journey. As a therapist, you are both an observer and a participant in the journey with the client, ever mindful of your thoughts and feelings and how they interplay with those of the client. Because of my training in psychodrama, I am aware of the mirror that my client often brings through their own experience and because of this awareness it is possible to be emotionally available instead of either distant or projecting unconsciously.
Being in the moment also means meeting the client where they are instead of expecting the client to understand your conceptual world. It is the truest sense of connection in the present moment. For many people, the past, present and future have melded into one plane where they continue to repeat the same patterns over and over again. By entering the world of the client, I am able to help them transform their memories and patterns into more productive processes and teach him or her how to have control over his or her life choices.
Finally, change is the only constant, how and when becomes our challenge. As a young student of human relations I was challenged to be a social change agent in everything I did, including my work in the therapeutic field. I began to understand that no man was an island to change. If one avoids conflict, you will find yourself in the middle. Understanding the intervention that allows you to be a part of change rather than being blown away is the challenge and requires training just like any other skill. Personal growth through a therapeutic journey is one way to begin this skill development.
