Research done with both self-identified feminists and self-identified Fundamentalist Christians who are seeking counseling indicates that members of both groups would rather work with a counselor who shares that self-identification. Why?

Shared values:

1.Secular counseling believes itself to be value-free, but this is not so. There are definite values about process (i.e. openness, power-sharing, autonomy), although the typical secular counselor will be neutral as to outcomes. One could understand the "critical counseling dimensions" to be professional values.

2.Fortunately, the process values associated with secular counseling are completely compatible with Wiccan/Pagan religious values, so at least that presents no problem. e.g. "respect" = find what you seek within.

3.When working with a counselor who shares our religious values or lifestyle orientation, we can also assume some common beliefs about outcomes. This can make the decision making phase of the counseling process more efficient.

4.Imagine: a man comes to you with the complaint that his wife is refusing to accept his natural role as head of the household, and undermining his authority.

5.Also, specifically for Wiccans/Pagans, there are two other issues:

a) Some secular therapists still believe that "magical thinking" is by definition crazy or that anybody who "thinks they are a Witch" belongs in a nice, safe place. Conversely, we need to know that not everybody who hears voices is hearing the voices of the Gods.

b) Sometimes the problems being worked on involve initiatory material, which cannot be discussed even with an unprejudiced cowan therapist.

Shared vocabularies

1.Much of what will be discussed involves feelings rather than objective data. These are very subjective, subtle, hard to define. But in many cases, the client will not need you to help them analyse the objective aspects of their situation nearly as much as to help them consciously understand just how they feel about it. Few of our people are dumb or disadvantaged.

2.Within the Craft, we share several sets of metaphors (e.g. myths, tarot trumps, elemental attributions) that allow clients to describe the vague and mushy, but very important, stuff by analogy.

3.Also, we have two "large" symbol complexes that provide extremely useful models for
understanding life, the universe and all that in the light of Wiccan/Pagan values.

a) The Wheel of the Year, or the three-phase Lunar cycle both are models for the
cycles and changes of life. Helpful for understanding phases and processes within
relationships, projects, careers or adjusting to life passages.

b) The quartered Circle is a model of balance and integration of different modes of
human psychological function. [cf. the Jungian quaternity: intellect, passion, intuition + sensation.] In the information gathering phase, a reminder to include data from all four aspects.

Also consider as a diagnostic system:

1.) East: irrational beliefs or expectations (cf. Beck, Ellis)
2.) South: bottled up or displaced feelings (cf. Freud)
3.) West: archtypal problems and/or problems accessing intuitive wisdom (cf.
Jung)
4.) North: behavioral difficulties (cf. Skinner); issues encoded in body (Lowen)
5.) Center: problems related to the family or group context (cf. Adler)

Wiccan techniques of intervention

Here are some ways of working with problems that are our own and will be particularly
comfortable to both client and counselor.

1.Divination:

a) useful in the information gathering and decision making phases of the counseling
process.

b) purpose (in a counseling context) is to access the client's own intuition and wisdom (which includes subliminal observations and unconscious integrations, as well as anything psychic). Also a Wiccan querent is likely to be familiar with the traditional meanings of the cards, hexagrams, whatever. So, when divination is used for the purpose of counseling, encourage the querent to do as much of the talking as is possible.

c) When divination is in service of empowerment, as the values of both Wicca and secular counseling mandate, it is to increase choices and enable better choices, never to take away choice. Therefore, any statements to clients that indicate a fixed future are inappropriate.

d) Also consider other receptive magic (tuning in) techniques, such as dream incubation and interpretation, meditation, trance art and play techniques, etc.

2.Magic:

a) "Magic is the art of changing consciousness / causing change in accordance with will." Whichever definition you prefer, magic will work well to enable an individual to make desired changes in him or her self.

b) For the action/implementation phase, consider rituals to help program the unconscious mind to make the desired changes. E.g. visualizations, affirmations, candle magic, making & charging talismans -- in short, the entire gamut of active/projective magical workings.

c) The very familiarity of these techniques will in itself invoke the placebo effect, and amplify their natural effectiveness.

Problem: the dual-role relationship

How can client be fully open about certain kinds of problems to the person who is also judging them as to their continued membership and advancement in the community? And yet, as coven leaders, we have a responsibility to the rest of the community for quality control, particularly before allowing an individual to hive off.

Possible mitigation: remove all extrinsic rewards that possibly can be removed, so there is less reason for a person to hang on if they really lack the talent or motivation. (Yes, another reason why money and Craft don't mix!) And yet, there are other extrinsic rewards, such as social and ego rewards, that are inherent in the community situation and cannot be removed.

Copyright © 1996 by Judith Harrow.