The Wisdom of the Elder
At times, part of my professional responsibility and joy is to provide clinical supervision for my peers or for those in the process of applying to become a licensed professional counselor or a certified addiction counselor. This morning I was completing some paperwork for a young woman who is an exceptionally talented, compassionate counselor. She works at a treatment center for those in the process of reclaiming their lives after being hijacked by drug addictions.
This led me to thinking about my role both as a counselor and as a clinical supervisor. The word that came to mind was elder. Elder is a word which Merriam-Webster defines as:
1. One living in an earlier period
2. One who is older…an aged person.
3. One having authority by virtue of age and experience –the village elders.
4. Any of various officers of religious groups.
The young woman I have been most recently clinically supervising has earned the title elder. One of the qualities I admire about this particular elder is that she is constantly opening herself to learning from others regardless of their age or other labels. Whether a person is young, old, a client, a homeless person, or a person in a position of authority she can draw out the elder in them.
We are all, after all, both teachers and students. The old adage – the student is the teacher and the teacher is the student –is one which rings true for me on a daily basis.
The person officially labeled the student or the client may not yet be aware that they have something to teach. Often, clients in the early stages of healing/recovery, may present themselves as merely serving the role of bad example or what not to do. Yet, often, in the humility of their attempt to reclaim themselves they often see with the freshness of a young child. They are not burdened with the responsibility of elder. They “merely” have to share their relative innocence. It is in the context of this innocence that they are free to offer a critical view of the counselor, therapist, other staff member or other person in their circle of “we.”
A counselor or therapist who has been awarded the title, but who is unable to hear a critical viewpoint without retreating to their assumed role of elder will often miss the opportunity to model what they are teaching - to learn from this innocent, critical viewpoint.
As is true for all professionals, those coming to the counselor role with a master’s degree or PhD are not necessarily elders or teachers. They may, no matter how chronologically old, yet have matured enough to be able to be comfortable being the student. They may feel as if they have been students in an academic setting for a long time and now have earned the right to be seen as elders. Yet, it is precisely those who have no need to be seen as teachers or elders who are the true elders. Children and those who are feeling particularly vulnerable because of a mental illness or a disease such an addiction will be quick to identify the faux elder.
Once again, I am reminded of the paradox of being wise. It is from not needing to be seen as wise and knowing one has a lot to learn that wisdom emerges and blossoms. It is not the title of elder which reveals the elder.
Written July 18, 2017
At times, part of my professional responsibility and joy is to provide clinical supervision for my peers or for those in the process of applying to become a licensed professional counselor or a certified addiction counselor. This morning I was completing some paperwork for a young woman who is an exceptionally talented, compassionate counselor. She works at a treatment center for those in the process of reclaiming their lives after being hijacked by drug addictions.
This led me to thinking about my role both as a counselor and as a clinical supervisor. The word that came to mind was elder. Elder is a word which Merriam-Webster defines as:
1. One living in an earlier period
2. One who is older…an aged person.
3. One having authority by virtue of age and experience –the village elders.
4. Any of various officers of religious groups.
The young woman I have been most recently clinically supervising has earned the title elder. One of the qualities I admire about this particular elder is that she is constantly opening herself to learning from others regardless of their age or other labels. Whether a person is young, old, a client, a homeless person, or a person in a position of authority she can draw out the elder in them.
We are all, after all, both teachers and students. The old adage – the student is the teacher and the teacher is the student –is one which rings true for me on a daily basis.
The person officially labeled the student or the client may not yet be aware that they have something to teach. Often, clients in the early stages of healing/recovery, may present themselves as merely serving the role of bad example or what not to do. Yet, often, in the humility of their attempt to reclaim themselves they often see with the freshness of a young child. They are not burdened with the responsibility of elder. They “merely” have to share their relative innocence. It is in the context of this innocence that they are free to offer a critical view of the counselor, therapist, other staff member or other person in their circle of “we.”
A counselor or therapist who has been awarded the title, but who is unable to hear a critical viewpoint without retreating to their assumed role of elder will often miss the opportunity to model what they are teaching - to learn from this innocent, critical viewpoint.
As is true for all professionals, those coming to the counselor role with a master’s degree or PhD are not necessarily elders or teachers. They may, no matter how chronologically old, yet have matured enough to be able to be comfortable being the student. They may feel as if they have been students in an academic setting for a long time and now have earned the right to be seen as elders. Yet, it is precisely those who have no need to be seen as teachers or elders who are the true elders. Children and those who are feeling particularly vulnerable because of a mental illness or a disease such an addiction will be quick to identify the faux elder.
Once again, I am reminded of the paradox of being wise. It is from not needing to be seen as wise and knowing one has a lot to learn that wisdom emerges and blossoms. It is not the title of elder which reveals the elder.
Written July 18, 2017
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