Judy Rankin

About Judy

How does one begin to write about oneself?

After 35 years of walking an ever winding professional path how does one answer the questions: Who am I, What have I done, what do I do and what do I hope to do, with you, the reader of this cyber space document.
My path has been a rich tapestry and at 60, I feel the excitement about the rich colours, textures and threads which are still to be woven. I know that there is a strong frame which holds and guides all my work to connect, to create and collaborate. This work includes teaching, private practice work, individual therapy, couple therapy, family therapy and community interventions.
While the context and activities for me as the professional will change, the basic philosophical position remain the same across all contexts. But, in saying this it is important to note that I have a passion and an energy for this work and this position, but please bear in mind the following wisdom:

I live in a small coastal village Sunrise on Sea, on the East Cape Coast. I have just settled down to the computer after eating hot waffles and maple syrup in our kitchen while watching whales playing in the ocean. The sea is a strong place of healing for me and every morning we walk with our Golden Retrievers, and Jack Russell on our wild and wonderful beach on the southern tip of the Transkei wild coast. We are 20 mins drive from the small city East London.

For those who like more structural details, you can refer to my CV and list of publications. This more disciplined list will show that I am Psychologist who spent more than15 years teaching within academic institutions culminating in the design, implementation and teaching and supervision of a masters training programme on the East London Campus of Rhodes University (now Fort Hare). I left full time employment from the University but continued with work in the rural Transkei which involved the training and mentoring of counselors within various community contexts including teachers, nurses, social workers, Aids counselors, peer counselors and home based care workers.

My other areas of work include Continuing Professional Development Training (Social workers and psychologists), Organizational Process; Supervision ; International Training and Teaching; Individual, family and couple therapy. A more recent development is working with narrative art therapy groups from the Albatross Art Studio at our home where I join with my artist partner Jeff .

I do not call my self a Narrative Therapist. I know that I have been influenced and embraced many of the wisdoms. We all have many stories about our lives and relationships, occurring simultaneously. The way we have developed these stories is determined by how we have linked certain events together in a sequence and by the meaning we have attributed to them. The ways in which we understand our lives are influenced by the broader stories of the culture in which we live.

I have been equally influenced by the focus on language and dialogue from the teachings of Tom Andersen. Central to this is viewing knowledge and language as relational and generative which is best captured by his words : "We do not know what we think until we speak." Language is the primary vehicle through which we construct and make sense of our world. We relate to people, not directly, but through our expressions with them.( ... talking, dancing, writing, painting etc. ) Meaning is in the expression.

The focus on language has become extended into non-verbal dialogue and the powerful use of metaphor in the therapeutic conversation. This becomes central to my work within all contexts. I have discovered the power and joy of various forms of creative non verbal activities in all the various contexts of my work. The creative activities include body sculpting, creative art forms including sculpture, painting, mobile making, beading, mixed media collage. These activities are followed by a reflective therapeutic conversation, where a new dialogue, a different voice is evoked. We often get stuck in the spoken dialogue but working with the metaphors created, together we find new rich narratives and other possibilities for meaning making. This is especially useful working in contexts where the participants do not speak English fluently .

 

Follow the advice of the masters, but do something different...

The footprints in my life of those with whom I have taught, worked and played are many, but I wish to acknowledge a few important mentors and friends who have personally enriched my life and work.

Estelle Hudson (South Africa), Michael White (Australia), Tom Andersen (Norway), Kaethe Weingarten (USA), Yvonne Sliep (South Africa), Harlene Anderson (USA), Per Kristian Roghell (Norway ) Jan Bout (Netherlands) Alice Klaas (South Africa). Estelle with her family therapy training where I began to celebrate the work of Bateson and systemic understandings, Michael White who navigated me through his development of narrative ideas and practice and often needing a GPS system rather than the maps.

Tom Andersen who invited me into a world of listening and "Hearing what they say"... and so many other rich ways of being in connection. He personally supported my work in Africa with generosity. Per Kristian Roghell another wise (but more crazy man from Norway) who was my mentor and friend and partner in a 6 year project in the Maluti Mountains of South Africa.

I shared many dialogues with Jan Bout, a psychotherapist in the Netherlands about couples therapy, anger, relationships and their mystery and monsters. Alice Klaas , living in the foothills of Lesotho joined with me as a black women with a white woman and together we shared and the journey of love forgiveness and reconciliation. Her humbleness and commitment to community and selflessness remains an inspiration.

 

My ideas and experience around training?

The empowering of people through the identification of their own skills, competencies, beliefs, values, and abilities. The aim is to provide a forum for the coming together of two knowledge systems, the trainers and the trainees, within a climate of mutual respect and joint participatory learning. In this way one creates an atmosphere of participation and collaboration. The focus is on experiential activities to create relaxed and respectful spaces for people to share their stories, fears, challenges and hopes. The workshops involve drama, art, music, dance, small group discussion and plenary discussion.

Please take the time to view these videos

Working with Hiv and AIDS

The outcome for the development and implementation of many training programmes has been to equip the trainees with interpersonal, group and community skills to address sexual health issues and the social practices, which relate to HIV\AIDS.

The aim of the workshops was to create an understanding of mental health issues at a community level with an emphasis on relational practices with HIV\ AIDS.

The Maluti Peer Counselling Project, which involved work with learners and teachers was a moving from a focus on the virus, to a focus upon relationships. The focus on the virus, which encourages doom and gloom in the lives of young people, has been shifted to opening up spaces to talk about relationships sex and sexuality. This “talk” is done through language, dance drama, touch and a celebration

of life and relationships.

 

Individual, couple and family therapy

The people who consult me in private practice tell stories about their dilemmas, challenges, a history of hurt and often feel paralysed by identity conclusions which trap them in a position of failure within their own lives and relationships. Re-authoring conversations invite people to continue to develop and tell stories about their lives but also help people to discover and include the neglected but significant events in their lives. The therapeutic conversation in the phrase of Michael White thus encourages a move from “what is known and familiar” toward what might be possible for them to know and do.