Reclaiming Our Stories of Resistance
We can thank Catherine Richardson, Linda Coates, and Allan Wade for uncovering the story of resistance that runs parallel to every story of powerlessness.
Unfortunately, this story is all too often neglected, or missing entirely from the treatment of trauma. But, it is a key to understanding the natural ways people resist domination— and people always resist, no matter how small or unseen. By identifying the instinctive ways people navigate experiences of powerlessness, we maintain dignity, reinforce personal agency, and emphasize the intelligent ways people navigate towards safety within dangerous situations.
The research of these incredible scholars extends beyond stories of resistance. They have also helped us to understand that trauma is created by the social responses we receive about experience of powerlessness. It’s not just what happens to us that determines whether something is traumatic, it is the responses we receive from others that turn traumatic events into an imprint of personal distress.
Language constructs our understanding of these experiences, so in therapy at Emerge Rooted Counselling, we highlight the forces of domination occurring during those critical moments of powerlessness. This is an extremely important part of healing, as many people who experience traumatic events blame themselves for not identifying the threat or fear they must have navigated a dangerous situation incorrectly.
When we use language that locates the sources of domination, we identify problems of powerlessness more accurately and therefore our efforts to address these issues can be targeted wisely. Change can be redirected towards those who need to change: the people who are dominating others, not the people being dominated. Domination refers to tactics of force, threats, intimidation, and manipulation that people and systems use to entrap, control, restrict, or otherwise cause harm to others.
When we define problems of powerlessness correctly, our understanding of how to heal shifts dramatically. It is no longer adequate to offer skills for people to avoid situations of powerlessness, healing from domination means shifting our gaze towards those who are dominating and collectively challenging our cultural normalization of violence.
Embracing Resistance in Healing
At Emerge Rooted Counselling, we integrate Response-Based Practice to support clients in recognizing their inherent strength and resilience. By focusing on their responses to adversity, we help individuals:
Realize their innate genius
Shift away from self-blame
Acknowledge the safety they achieved through their resistance
Appreciate the ways they responded to domination
Realign with a narrative that views them as powerful
Direct change where it is necessary
Celebrate their victory within a tragic situation
If you're interested in exploring how Response-Based Practice can support your healing journey, get in touch with us at Emerge Rooted Counselling.
