Cultural Conversations in a Counselling Context
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CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS IN A COUNSELLING CONTEXT A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Counselling at University of Waikato by Jane Harkness The University of Waikato 2008 Abstract This research project focuses on counselling practice with Maori women who have engaged in counselling in relation to overcoming the effects of both historic and recent sexual abuse. The researcher / counsellor is pakeha. The counsellor / researcher, researches her practice and its possible effects through research interviews with three women. The project offers a reflection on her practice ethics and on what she learns from the women. In particular, she explores the intentions and effects of an orientation to counselling that includes offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She explores the effect of the counselling conversations where aspects of ethno-cultural identity have been included on the women‟s sense of identity. She explores what she draws on as a Pakeha counsellor when offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity. She also explores the effects of offering and taking up conversations about aspects of cultural identity for the work of counselling. The project shows the researcher‟s responses to the research meetings and the learning she takes to her ongoing counselling practice. 2 Acknowledgements I particularly thank, Huia, Mihi and Nikki for their generosity in joining me in this project. They have held the hope that this project might extend beyond these pages and touch the lives of other women who are engaged in counselling. Thank you to my supervisor, Kathie Crocket, who has held an enthusiasm for this project from its very tentative stages. I have been challenged by her rigorous inquiry of my ideas and her insistence on theorising my practice. I am grateful to the University of Waikato who awarded me a Masters Scholarship. Averill Waters has been a constant companion throughout this project. Her regular emails, txts of encouragement and lively contributions to our discussions were always welcomed. Jim Depree, a long time colleague and friend has had a steady faith in my work. Our supervision conversations have been a source of great delight and constant inspiration and learning to me. I thank too, the many people I have been privileged to meet in my professional life as a counsellor and social worker and who have graciously allowed me into their lives. Thank you to the students in my class on the Master of Counselling Programme. It has been a privilege to be part of such a wonderful community of learning. Thank you to my partner, Gavin, and children, Reuben and Jasper, who left me to write while they had many enjoyable summer adventures. Gavin, you have encouraged me in this project as if it was your own. 3 Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... 3 Chapter one: An orientation to this research project .............................................. 9 An overview of the project ........................................................................................ 9 The structure of this thesis ...................................................................................... 10 My interest in this research ..................................................................................... 11 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 11 Recent history...................................................................................................... 11 Opportunities my work has provided .................................................................. 12 Ethical responsibility ........................................................................................... 14 Early influences in the research .............................................................................. 16 Remembering a ballet performance – first example ........................................... 16 Recalling school reading – second example ....................................................... 16 The effects of these examples ............................................................................. 17 School values ...................................................................................................... 18 The rationale for this research ................................................................................. 19 Why do I accept referrals from Maori women? ...................................................... 20 This research asks three questions: ......................................................................... 22 A note about terminology: client, conversation and culture ................................... 23 Culture ................................................................................................................. 23 Conversation ....................................................................................................... 23 Client ................................................................................................................... 24 Theoretical concepts that inform my counselling practice and this research .............. 24 Social constructionism ............................................................................................ 24 Knowledge .......................................................................................................... 25 Language ............................................................................................................. 26 Power .................................................................................................................. 26 Discourse ............................................................................................................. 27 Positioning .......................................................................................................... 28 Identity ................................................................................................................ 29 The particularities of my narrative counselling practice ......................................... 30 Appreciating small details ................................................................................... 30 Externalising conversations ................................................................................ 31 Exploring the effects of the abuse ....................................................................... 31 Unique moments ................................................................................................. 32 Social and political contexts ............................................................................... 33 Not knowing I do not know ................................................................................ 34 A way to proceed ................................................................................................ 34 Tentative enquiry ................................................................................................ 35 Feminist thought ................................................................................................. 36 Autoethnography ................................................................................................. 37 A brief summary of my position ......................................................................... 37 Chapter two: Literature review ............................................................................... 39 Pakeha culture, Pakeha identity .............................................................................. 40 Visibility and the dominant culture ..................................................................... 40 Privilege .............................................................................................................. 41 Privilege and professional practice ..................................................................... 42 4 Pakeha identity in the 21st Century ..................................................................... 42 Changing Pakeha identity and counseling practice ............................................. 43 Central themes in the history of the development of a culturally sensitive counselling practice. ................................................................................................ 44 Biculturalism ......................................................................................................