I was interested to read that Diane Tillman, the primary author of the LVEP materials, worked for many years as a school psychologists and has a counseling background that includes influences from
Carl Rogers and
Virginia Satir. I don't know Satir's work but I have a very high regard for the client-centered approach of Carl Rogers. I deeply regret putting aside academic studies in his training during my "manic phase" as a Brahma Kumari follower at a time, when all other influences except for the channelled messages of BapDada were forbidden fruit and "Maya", there was "no benefit to be taken from other human beings" as Destruction (the End of the World) was about to come soon. This was back in the 1980s. New BKs beware.
Dianne in her history of the LVEP programmes goes on about "creating values-based atmosphere" ensuring individuals felt "Loved, Values, Respected, Understood and Safe" ... ha ha ha ... (cue:irony alert). For those who have no knowledge of
Client-Centered Therapy, here is a brief introduction, know the external influences the Brahma Kumaris are adopting on a whole scale level, one is able to act as a pathologist and "back-engineer" their development. Taken at random from the internet and edited.
What I take from this line of thought is that, without any doubt, there is goodness in individual BKs and Dianne's introduction of client centered values but that these are distinctly NOT the Brahma Kumaris' principles. Given that the Brahma Kumaris have in no way renounced their modus operandi, but apparently seem to have exaggerated it further in to unseen level of control, secrecy, centralisation and financial exploitation within the religious movement, it appears to me that the Brahma Kumaris modus operandi is contradictory to CCT and is, in fact, highly directive, e.g. "we give Shirmat, you follow it ... if any problems arise, follow it harder, longer and better". I use the word financial exploitation not necessarily to mean "exploitative" but to draw financial income with which to support their activities from others.
Although I accept certain spiritual practises and disciplines "loosen" and change mental states, I would argue that a Rogerian approach is far closer to a truly spiritual approach and that the degree of directive therapy, control and secrecy within the Brahma Kumaris is far more similar to a system of "thought reform" aka brainwashing. Whereas perhaps "thought reform" or brainwashing is a necessary tool for managing rudimentary or uneducated minds, I think it rankles the consciences of more enlightened thinkers and I wonder how the fit the two parts together?
In my opinion, the core of the Brahma Kumaris (key elements within the leadership and a large proportion of Indian followers) is actually still fairly rudimentary, and therefor exploitable, much to do with their long-term denial of the value of intellectual development. Yet, in their instinctual drive to survive and expand, they are willing to use the shop dressing of this goodness to attract individuals, especially their all important VIPs and "microphone souls". Its when I read stuff like this I wonder what people like Peter Senge, of the United Nations, all those other leaders that patronise and are used for promotionary purposes actually know about the heart of Brahma Kumaris?
Funnily enough, when I went to copy and paste a couple of sentences from the copyrighted, "Theoretical Background and Support for Living Values: An Educational Program" by author "Sister Diane", I discovered that it was password protected and did not allow me to do so meaning I had to type it out manually. Nice touch.
Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) was developed by Carl Rogers in the 40's and 50's. It is a non-directive approach to therapy. "Directive" means any therapist behavior that deliberately steers the client in some manner. Directive behaviors include asking questions, offering treatments, and making interpretations and diagnoses. Virtually all other forms of therapy are directive.
A non-directive approach is very appealing to many clients, because they get to keep control over the content and pace of the therapy. It is intended to serve them, after all. The therapist is not evaluating them in any way or trying to "figure them out".
The foundational belief of CCT is that people tend to move towards growth and healing, and have the capacity to find their own answers. This tendency is helped along by an accepting and understanding climate, which the CC therapist seeks to provide above all else.
Listen and try to understand how things are from the client's point of view.
Check that understanding with the client if unsure.
Treat the client with the utmost respect and regard.
There is also a mandate for the therapist to be "congruent", or "transparent" - which means being self-aware, self-accepting, and having no mask between oneself and the client. The therapist knows themselves and is willing to be known.
CCT may sound simple or limited, because there is no particular structure that the therapist is trying to apply. But watching CCT in action shows a very rich and complicated process where individuals unravel their own stuff, discover new things, take brave steps, and don't have to cope with a therapist who is doing things to them in the meantime. The therapist strives to understand and accept the client's stuff, which is no simple feat. Over time, the client increasingly seeks to understand and accept their stuff too.
That CCT is effective has been amply demonstrated by decades of research. Furthermore, recent research has shown that the most significant variables in the effectiveness of therapy are aspects of the relationship and the therapist's personal development - not the particular discipline they practise or techniques they employ. Client centered therapists focus more attention on these variables than therapists in any other discipline.
Remarkable as it may seem, research has never shown that it is more effective to address specific problems with specific therapy techniques. Without this result, there is no justification for a therapist to make diagnoses in the first place.
28 Aug 2006
