Dr. Ged Smith Dr. Ged Smith is a Consultant Systemic Psychotherapist Liverpool, UK
MAIN FIELD OF WORK
Dr. Ged Smith is a family therapist of more than 20 years and currently works in both CAMHS and Adult Services with two NHS Trusts in the North West. He has been teaching, supervising and consulting all over the world in this time, and has many articles published in academic journals and Context, of which he is a regular contributor and deputy editor. His special interests concern power and gender, particularly masculinity and working with men, which was the subject of his Doctoral study.
ABSTRACT
Language, Risks and Relationships in Systemic Therapy and Supervision. On Becoming a Therapist
This presentation concerns the use of language in both therapy and supervision, and how it contributes to the necessary risk-taking that will be a part of therapists’ and supervisors’ repertoires. The focus will be on my own examples in both roles, and will refer to both successes and failures, while questioning the usefulness of either concept. Within a postmodern paradigm, and influenced by thinkers including Foucault and Bakhtin as well as systemic clinicians, I will examine the use of language (including in cross-cultural settings where risks can sometimes be amplified) and of humour and self while exploring the meanings of identity. I contend that all relationships contain some element of risk and the ways in which we create a safe enough context, through the uses of language as well as non-linguistic means, are the crucial elements in our endeavours as supervisors and therapists. I favour the idea that therapy is more of an art than a science and that this is most exemplified in the graceful use of language by which we strive to engage rather than alienate people. The workshop may be considered by some as containing useful pointers, and by others as a risk too far; such is the controversial nature of language, which highlights the importance of relationships and context.