Upon arriving in Ecuador, I was asked to be a part of the ‘Equipo Tecnico” or the ‘Technical Team’, which is comprised of myself, a social worker and Jenny, who also studies psychology. Essentially, we’re in charge of the psychological, social and legal care of the teens. As proper documentation has been lacking for some time now, I’ve been going through old archives and making a database of all the kids and teenagers we’ve cared for. Additionally, I was asked to assume responsibility for the psychological care of not just the Internas (my teen girls) but of the entire Santuario. It’s quite the daunting task, but the previous psychologist had done some intakes with the teen boys, so that gives me something to work from. As of now, I’m continuing to conduct some basic intakes to evaluate which cases are more severe and require subsequent sessions.
One of the teenage girls doing a journaling activity in my office. They really love the pink walls and checkered curtains! ;)
I’ve found that group therapy works particularly well as an introductory session for those who haven’t come to the office yet. In this way the teens aren’t so intimidated to come to the office and they have a pleasant first experience of therapy, surrounded by the comfort of their friends. I’ve also been utilizing art therapy, and have found this to be highly effective in bridging cultural/language gaps. The art truly serves as an avenue for the teens to tangibly express what they’re feeling before they have to put it into words. Most importantly, it helps build the trust that is so important between client and therapist.
An art project the girls did to express their emotions. They journaled about the 5 emotions they had felt most profoundly in their lives. They then chose colors to represent each emotion...making a colorful collage as a final result.
My other favorite ‘tool’ for cross-cultural therapy: a little bundle of fur named Cappuchino! A while back I was doing some shopping in Libertad and ran across a man selling rabbits. He quickly conned me into buying one, putting it in no more than a gift bag and off I went with a new pet. The girls absolutely love Cappuchino, and I often bring him with me to the office when I’m doing therapy. I’ve found that being able to hold/pet Cappuchino helps the girls to relax and open up more easily. Cappuchino has already grown quite large, but stuns us every day with his intelligence. He knows where the food is kept, comes when he is ‘called’, and runs circles around our feet when he’s excited to see us. I never thought I’d end up having a pet rabbit in Ecuador, but then again, every day presents me with surprises!
Fafi, Cappuchino and I
Speaking of the surprises of each day, I ran across a quote recently that has remained on my heart,
“Perfection of life is the perfection of love. For love is the life of the
soul.” St Francis de Sales.
While for right now the Lord has called me to serve Him in Ecuador, it doesn’t make the work I do here any more important than the missions that God has given each of you in the States. We all have been entrusted the same mission: to strive for the perfection of life which can only be achieved through selfless love. When our every action is motivated by love, we find a fulfillment that truly does breathe life into our veins. When we carry our tasks with love, no burden can be too great…and even the most tedious task can surprisingly bring us joy and make us feel ‘alive’…whether it be washing dishes, writing a paper, changing a diaper or attending a meeting. May we be united in this mission of seeking perfection in love, that we may encounter the abundant life that Christ has promised us. You all remain in the heart of my prayers…please keep me in yours. Until next time…
