accountability, and the inferred expertise may or may not be properly can put behind their names.
few original theories will be created: Most approaches will fall under a best proffered after they have been established for a substantial amount of time, and after the approaches have been tested with hundreds of clients, not just a few.
I also remain convinced that
our peers are quite generous in their receptivity of original and creative work, and they are quite willing to applaud those whose notoriety is well-earned and deserved.
A few years back, I read an article on “branding,” and the author rightfully encouraged therapists to become more business-minded. Mental health programs do not typically offer courses on how to run private practices and/or how to market ourselves in our communities. Yet, my observation is that social media has created opportunities for some to simply flood the air space with self-promotion, and this is very unbecoming in those who have not yet earned the right to promote themselves so aggressively. When I see posts not-so-cleverly designed to promote something personal, like a product of some kind, I notice how turned upside-down marketing and promotion has become. In the past, people set out to help others and, sometimes, if they were believable, credible, and had something worthy to say, others took notice of their work and inquired about it. Now, it seems, tooting one’s own horn creates enough noise so that the real questions are not asked: • Is your primary goal to be of service to others? • Are you giving yourself enough time to test your hypotheses and approaches with a substantial number of clients?
• Although many of us are not in academic settings where we can do formal research, is there some way that you collect data about how people progress as a result of receiving your services?
And, I guess I just have to ask: Whatever happened to humility? Whatever happened to earning your right to be heard? Where is this “rush to fame” coming from? And can we reverse these trends before it becomes intolerable? These trends range from off-putting to downright dangerous, and I hope we can all pause and consider the basic question of why we do what we do!
A Cautionary Account Play therapists whose major motivation is to become a presence in the writing books in the hopes that they are widely cited, may have mistaken goals in striving for this popularity. I have seen literally thousands of caveat that all children are unique and what works for one child or family may not work with others. I hold myself to a high ethical standard: I will not give speeches on a topic I have not worked directly on for a minimum substantive experience in the topic area.
Many people have asked me how I got where I am today, and this question feels uncomfortable to me when it seems to come from a place of vertical striving, or trying to get ahead for the sake of personal acquired knowledge with others so that the whole profession advances as a result of the conversation. This question, and the concern I have over the recent trends I have noticed, inspired me to write this piece as a cautionary account.
Personally, I just wanted to help children and their parents. That’s all I set out to do. The rest just followed. I was really lucky in that I enjoyed talking kids, and that remains my goal to this day.
I realize that some people may be offended by something I have said here. Although it is not my intent to offend, condemn, or pass judgment on anyone, it is simply my goal to encourage reflection on these topics, and to share my discomfort with the individualized trend of shifting towards can I offer others to help them?” I originally titled this “Musings from a Cranky Old Lady,” but in re-reading it, I felt that I needed to document legitimate concerns I have about the profession I love and value greatly.
I also remain convinced that our peers are quite generous in their receptivity of original and creative work, and they are quite willing to applaud those whose notoriety is well-earned and deserved. They are most eager to praise, applaud, and elevate their peers. Maybe trusting that recognition will happen rather than trying to create it, would be a more simple and earnest goal to which to aspire. I hope that the legacy each of us leaves is one of pride in what we do for others instead of pride in our individual accomplishments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eliana Gil, therapist, and a recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a pioneer in Family Play Therapy and treatment of abused/traumatized children.
emgil@earthlink.net
www.a4pt.org | September 2019 | PLAYTHERAPY | 51
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