Panel Preaching - March 27, 2022
Understanding Shame with Dale Johns & Tim Donovan
* Tim Donovan is a valued member of ASBC, so some of you will know him in this setting. However, you may not be aware that Tim is also a registered mental health social worker and experienced practitioner with graduate qualifications in social work and narrative therapy. Tim is committed to person-centred practice in supporting individuals, families and groups who have experienced acts of oppression. * Tonight we also welcome via Zoom, Dale Johns. Dale is a survivor of childhood sexual violence who has devoted his life to Pastoral Care and Advocacy, working with the lonely, homeless and drug affected. Dale hopes his story brings freedom to other survivors through gaining a deeper understanding of shame, and teaching mental health professionals showing care and compassion is a vital component of effective counselling. By means of setting the scene, this interview tonight coincides with the launch of a book: Reclaiming lives from sexual violence: Understanding shame through innovative narrative therapy. This book presents an illustrative case study of the authors, Tim the therapist in consultation with Dale the client, who was sexually abused as a child by a clergy member. Tim worked with Dale in a therapeutic capacity for about three and a half years and over that time profound lessons emerged that speak to the process of healing, the importance of faith, and discovering a higher purpose that emerges from horrific circumstances.