What would you do?
In the past few months, I have enjoyed watching the show, “What would you do?” with John Quinones of ABC News. I have benefitted from watching Mr. Quinones approach to querying a host of ethical, moral, legal, and life questions. His show has reengaged many of my own questions on life, as well as, creating new questions for me to ponder. In this article, I will be using John Quinones line of questioning and theoretical approach, to asking the tough questions.
What Would You Do, if you were privy to the knowledge of a child being harmed?
In my practice, I have sadly received the egregious reports that a child has been intentionally harmed. I have received these reports directly from the lips of those being abused, as well as, through those who have either witnessed or been informed of the abuse. Unfortunately, the authorities will not pursue legal action against “all” types of abuse. As a therapist, this can drive you mad when you recognize how your client-patient is being negatively impacted by the abuse. Furthermore, as a therapist you want your client-patient to feel safe, secure, and capable of reaching out for help; but when the abuser is capable of winning through the legal authorities’ incompetencies, or through the restraints placed on the authority, you become like the mad hatter seeking ways to positively influence the authorities’ decisions.
How do we define abuse? What is abuse? Are not many forms of abuse subjective? Indeed, many forms of abuse are subjectively influenced, so how do we come to an agreeable definition, when the definition of abuse is in the eye of the beholder? The characteristics of abuse can be defined as maltreatment, neglect, repression, oppression, subjection, or any form of cruelty intentional or unintentional. Abuse does not stop with direct solicitation, it can be experienced on a vicarious level or through indirect experiences. Abuse can target an individual on a barrage of emotional, financial, sexual, physical, or psychological experiences.
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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA
Culturally, North America has become obsessed with the concept of body image. Children are bombarded by mixed messages describing the “right” physique and the “right” body type. These messages are broadcasted through television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers, billboards, the web and through a barrage of electronic gadgets (i.e. cell phones, tablet computers, personal computers). “Body image is a widespread preoccupation. In one study of college students, 74.4% of the normal-weight women stated that they thought about their weight or appearance ‘all the time’ or ‘frequently.’ But the women weren’t alone; the study also found that 46% of the normal-weight men surveyed responded the same way.” (Brown University, 2012, Online)
