Resilience in PracticeResilience in PracticeInterventionsInterventions

Ger PhillipsGer PhillipsGerard.Phillips@mailp.hse.ieGerard.Phillips@mailp.hse.ie

Who is Resilient?Who is Resilient?Normally seen in the child, the family orNormally seen in the child, the family orthe communitythe community

Thereby keeping attention outside ofThereby keeping attention outside ofpractitionerpractitioner

Practitioners are resilientPractitioners are resilient

Defining ResilienceDefining ResilienceGood outcomes in spite of serious threatsGood outcomes in spite of serious threatsto adaptation or developmentto adaptation or development MastenMasten(2001)(2001)TwoTwo Judgments have to be presentJudgments have to be presentFirstFirst——has to be significant threat orhas to be significant threat orhazardhazard–– past or presentpast or present-- DemonstrableDemonstrableRiskRiskSecondSecond ––has to be Good or Good Enoughhas to be Good or Good Enoughadaptationadaptation——highly complexhighly complex——hard tohard tomeasuremeasure

Defining ResilienceDefining Resilience-- ContinuedContinued

Humility and respect (Garbarino 2005)Humility and respect (Garbarino 2005)

Practice interventions need to considerPractice interventions need to considerculture and context when studying orculture and context when studying ortheorizing resilience in at risk populationstheorizing resilience in at risk populations(Ungar 2005)(Ungar 2005)

Ordinary MagicOrdinary Magic--Everyday PracticeEveryday PracticeEarly understanding of resilienceEarly understanding of resilienceconcentrated on extraordinary orconcentrated on extraordinary orremarkableremarkable--’’the invulnerablesthe invulnerables’’Great Surprise is the ordinariness of theGreat Surprise is the ordinariness of thephenomenaphenomena-- Masten (2001)Masten (2001)Connected to the ordinariness of everydayConnected to the ordinariness of everydaypracticepractice-- consistentconsistent-- relationship buildingrelationship building--

’’Good enoughGood enough’’

Factors that influence ResilienceFactors that influence ResilienceMasten (2001)Masten (2001)

Connection to competent, caringConnection to competent, caringadultsadultsFamily and community belongingFamily and community belongingCognitive and self regulation skillsCognitive and self regulation skillsPositive views of selfPositive views of selfMotivation to be effective in theMotivation to be effective in theenvironmentsenvironments

Where do we find ResilienceWhere do we find ResilienceSelf acceptance and valuing ourselves asSelf acceptance and valuing ourselves asPractionersPractionersIn the practice sites where we workIn the practice sites where we work

In the lives lived well despite adversity ofIn the lives lived well despite adversity ofthose we work withthose we work with

provide example and inspirationprovide example and inspiration--GardenGarden

Where do I fail to find Resilience?Where do I fail to find Resilience?

In not giving myself enough protectedIn not giving myself enough protectedtime to reflect and digest my own livedtime to reflect and digest my own livedexperience in work settingsexperience in work settings

In not staying connected enough to myIn not staying connected enough to myown sources of supportown sources of support ––family, teamfamily, team--communitycommunity--colleague or peer supportcolleague or peer support

When is Resilience present orWhen is Resilience present ortriggered in the Practitionertriggered in the Practitioner

When reacting to adversity in theWhen reacting to adversity in theworkplaceworkplace

When we are not supported by the workWhen we are not supported by the workenvironment and structuresenvironment and structures

When ourWhen our-- PersonalPersonal--Professional andProfessional andAcademic/LearningAcademic/Learning-- backgrounds arebackgrounds areactivatedactivated

When do I fail to be resilient?When do I fail to be resilient?

When I am not attending to the build upWhen I am not attending to the build upof stress in my own lifeof stress in my own life

By not bringing awarenessBy not bringing awareness--not slowingnot slowingdowndown-- observing my own pace and theobserving my own pace and thepace of otherspace of others

StillnessStillness--Practical examplePractical example

When do I fail to be Resilient?When do I fail to be Resilient?When I do not take proper account orWhen I do not take proper account ormake adequate provision for the effects ofmake adequate provision for the effects ofPovertyPovertyThe impact of poverty and marginalizationThe impact of poverty and marginalizationunderpin all interventions (Prilleltenskyunderpin all interventions (Prilleltenskyand Prilleltensky 2005)and Prilleltensky 2005)Interventions such as parent training canInterventions such as parent training canbe rendered ineffective when families arebe rendered ineffective when families areoverwhelmed by poverty( Friesen andoverwhelmed by poverty( Friesen andBrennan 2005)Brennan 2005)

Why is Resilience important to theWhy is Resilience important to thePractitioner?Practitioner?

Can teach and reCan teach and re--connect us asconnect us aspractitioners with ordinary values andpractitioners with ordinary values andqualitiesqualitiesIt challenges the dominant discourse ofIt challenges the dominant discourse ofRisk in children'sRisk in children's’’ lives which Ungarlives which Ungar(2005) states can be said to be world wide(2005) states can be said to be world wide““A quieter less articulated version ofA quieter less articulated version ofchildrenchildren’’s lives speaks of resilience. It is as lives speaks of resilience. It is amuch more hopeful visionmuch more hopeful vision”” ( Ungar et al( Ungar et al2005 xvi)2005 xvi)Instillation and maintenance of Hope is aInstillation and maintenance of Hope is afundamental therapeutic factor. Yalomfundamental therapeutic factor. Yalom

Why do I fail at Resilience?Why do I fail at Resilience?Is it just me?Is it just me?Because I minimize or negateBecause I minimize or negateBecause I donBecause I don’’t give enough value to thet give enough value to thework I dowork I doBecause I fail to keep contact with myBecause I fail to keep contact with mysources of support peers, team, friendssources of support peers, team, friendsBecause I do not take enough time forBecause I do not take enough time forReflectionReflection-- Protected research timeProtected research timetranslating values to practicetranslating values to practice

How is Resilience facilitated inHow is Resilience facilitated inPractice?Practice?

Good Risk assessment of what affects usGood Risk assessment of what affects usas practitioners.as practitioners.Good protective, supervision practices.Good protective, supervision practices.Clear Policies and ProceduresClear Policies and Procedures ––ProgramProgramFidelityFidelity-- Reflexive, team thinkReflexive, team think--tank daystank daysOutside consultationOutside consultation--Developing goodDeveloping goodcollaborative networks that do what iscollaborative networks that do what issays on the tinsays on the tinProtected Research timeProtected Research time

How do I fail at Resilience?How do I fail at Resilience?AttitudeAttitude-- WillWill --Resilience QualitiesResilience Qualities--Victor FranklVictor Frankl

When I lose some of theWhen I lose some of the willwill that got methat got meworking in this area in the first placeworking in this area in the first place

When I am overtly critical of myself myWhen I am overtly critical of myself myagency or those I work withagency or those I work with

When I donWhen I don’’t give enought give enough valuevalue to myselfto myselfor the concept ofor the concept of ‘‘lives lived welllives lived well’’’’

SummarySummaryTraditionally applied to child, here applied to theTraditionally applied to child, here applied to thePractitionerPractitionerWhat we seek in the other we neglect inWhat we seek in the other we neglect inourselvesourselvesOrdinary phenomenon applied to everydayOrdinary phenomenon applied to everydayPracticePracticeSelf acceptance leads to greater value of self andSelf acceptance leads to greater value of self andothersothers‘‘Good EnoughGood Enough’’ is the bestis the bestFailure is a friendFailure is a friend

TimeTime-- to inquire Timeto inquire Time-- Record TimeRecord Time--ReflectReflect

SummarySummaryOur practice Task is DifficultOur practice Task is DifficultAcknowledge itAcknowledge itResilience is rooted in the OrdinaryResilience is rooted in the OrdinaryRecognise itRecognise itResilience teaches us to valueResilience teaches us to valueourselves and othersourselves and othersBelieve itBelieve it

ReferencesReferencesFrankl, Viktor E., (1963)Frankl, Viktor E., (1963) Man's Search forMan's Search for MeaningMeaning, Washington, Washington SquareSquare Press,Press, SimonSimonand Schuster,and Schuster, New York,.New York,.Friesen,B.J.& Brennan,E. (2005),Friesen,B.J.& Brennan,E. (2005), Strengthening Families and Communities, SystemStrengthening Families and Communities, SystemBuilding for Resilience.Building for Resilience. In M. Ungar (Ed.)In M. Ungar (Ed.) Handbook for Working with Children andHandbook for Working with Children andYouth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and Contexts,Youth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and Contexts, Sage. CaliforniaSage. CaliforniaGarbarino, J. (2005)Garbarino, J. (2005) Foreword,Foreword, InIn M. Ungar (Ed.)M. Ungar (Ed.) Handbook for Working withHandbook for Working withChildren and Youth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and CoChildren and Youth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and Contexts,ntexts, Sage.Sage.CaliforniaCaliforniaMasten, A.S. (2001),Masten, A.S. (2001), Ordinary Magic Resilience Processes in Development,Ordinary Magic Resilience Processes in Development, AmericanAmericanPsychologist. Vol.56, No. 3, 227Psychologist. Vol.56, No. 3, 227--238238Prilleltensky,I. & Prilleltensky,O. (2005),Prilleltensky,I. & Prilleltensky,O. (2005), Beyond Resilience, Blending Wellness andBeyond Resilience, Blending Wellness andLiberation in the Helping Professions.Liberation in the Helping Professions. In M. Ungar (Ed.)In M. Ungar (Ed.) Handbook for Working withHandbook for Working withChildren and Youth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and CoChildren and Youth Pathways to Resilience across Cultures and Contexts,ntexts, Sage.Sage.CaliforniaCaliforniaUngar,M.(Ed.) 2005,Ungar,M.(Ed.) 2005, Handbook for Working with Children and Youth Pathways toHandbook for Working with Children and Youth Pathways toResilience across Cultures and Contexts,Resilience across Cultures and Contexts, Sage. CaliforniaSage. CaliforniaWinnicott,D.W. (1990),Winnicott,D.W. (1990), The Maturational Processes and the FacilitatingThe Maturational Processes and the FacilitatingEnvironment.Environment.London. Karnac.London. Karnac.Yalom,I. (1995),Yalom,I. (1995), The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy,The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 44thth EdEd..New York.New York.Basic Books.Basic Books.

Resiliency Health WarningsResiliency Health WarningsFour Cautions with regard to ResilienceFour Cautions with regard to Resilience1. Resiliency not absolute1. Resiliency not absolute----Every person has a breaking pointEvery person has a breaking point2. Apparent resiliency2. Apparent resiliency----success in the jobsuccess in the jobmarket may mask the hidden cost ofmarket may mask the hidden cost ofsocial successsocial success3.Cultural differences may affect resilience3.Cultural differences may affect resilience4. Resilient doesn't mean morally superior4. Resilient doesn't mean morally superiorFailure is relative (Garbarino 2005)Failure is relative (Garbarino 2005)

Factors Common to the EffectivenessFactors Common to the Effectivenessof All Therapeutic Interventionsof All Therapeutic Interventions

Client Characteristics & Social SupportClient Characteristics & Social Support40%40%WorkerWorker--Client Relationship 30%Client Relationship 30%Method of Intervention 15%Method of Intervention 15%Degree of hope expressed 15% McKeownDegree of hope expressed 15% McKeown(2002)(2002)