CD Therapy

Krysta Anderson, Gleaner Writer

Whether you wear your emotions on your sleeves or you keep them locked inside, it gets to a point where we all need help. But with our busy daily schedules, most persons do not have the time, energy or money to see a psychiatrist.

Lecturer and counselling psychologist Joan Pinkney has the solution. Pinkney has put psychological information and assistance at your fingertips with her three therapeutic CDs. With a career devoted to helping others, the CDs deal with general psychological issues facing many Jamaicans today. She has incorporated psychological and biblical contributions in the e-book titled Wounded. This delves into examining the haunting past of individuals who have been hurt by their caregivers and who are currently struggling with that hurt in their adult lives.

Most of this hurt, Pinkney explains, stems from abuse. "These individuals may include caregivers (step/biological parents) who have been knowingly or unknowingly abusive. Many children have also been robbed of their childhood (forced to assume parenting roles). These persons are uncomfortable in admitting the source of their pain because of respect for their caregivers and past relationships." The first CD seeks to help persons to get over their past by giving basic definitions of terms used and going through possible contributing factors (causes), examining appropriate or normal behaviour in the developmental years, concentrating on the management of recurring negative thoughts, and paying keen attention to forgiveness or unforgiveness. The CD then starts the therapeutic process.

With the increasing levels of violence in Jamaica, especially in our schools, Pinkney addresses these problems by associating them with low esteem of both children and parents. Her second e-book, Self-Esteem: My Child and Me, seeks to rectify these concerns by targeting problems in the schools and homes. According to Pinkney, "Some parents struggle with their own self-worth. They need help to cope, their (parents) lack of self-esteem, retards their ability to promote self-esteem in their children. Some parenting styles can be abusive while some parents are ignorant of what to do - or have just been modelling their parents." The CD looks at building the self-esteem of the parents and children by focusing on parents who need to confront their personal negative behaviour. The CD itemises the symptomatic manifestations of low self-esteem in children and parents as well as possible contributory factors (causes). It then progresses to the therapeutic process - a six-step plan focusing on the needs, temperament, bonding and developmental processes in patients.

Dorie Blackwood has used both of Pinkney's CDs and marvels at how beneficial they have been. "I use Wounded in my Sunday School classes, and I have recommended Self-Esteem: My Child and Me to parents. Forgiveness is a very hard thing, and what Wounded does is to really assist individuals in dealing with forgiveness and getting past the hurt and pain. Then rebuilding self-esteem by giving a step by step approach in sorting through this hurt and, most important, demonstrating how to go about effectively forgiving," she told Outlook. Blackwood notes that the CD format is very effective in that it is something you can listen to over and over again, so if you missed something, you can always go back to it.

Sexuality, Pinkney finds, is also an issue that many are uncomfortable with and reluctant to speak about publicly. This, she notes, is a result of all the stigmas attached to those who do not conform to societal norms.

Pinkney explains that these sexuality issues may originate from "General timidity towards addressing sexuality concerns in our culture, from the Church which often avoids addressing some of these concerns in depth, and many persons who are ignorant of the possible origins of sexual struggles." She notes that there are persons who are afraid to seek help with sexual issues out of fear of being labelled, condemned or ridiculed. She explains that understanding the causes of these issues could help individuals moving forward. This is addressed in the third CD, Sexuality Head-On. In this session, she lists some of the struggles persons have with their sexuality. She also gives a history of how we are socialised, based on our sexual orientation, as well as the possible contributory factors or causes for the struggles.

All three e-books are available at Jamaica Theological Seminary, as well as Bryan's Book store in Springs Plaza.

krysta.amderson@gleanerjm.com