Power Abused-Power Healed A Conversation with Judith Barr

Abuse of power is an all too common problem.  From everyday abuses to horrible human rights violations, abuse of power seems to surround us.  What causes people to abuse their power?  What can we do to advise and help leaders be wise and compassionate rather than abusive.  What can we look at in choosing leaders?  My guest on the October30, 2008 The Doug Noll Show is an expert on power and on helping people deal with power abuse.

Judith Barr has been a depth psychotherapist in private practice since 1975. She is passionate about helping to heal and transform the planet and is committed to making a difference one-by-one and on a global scale.

Judith has earned an M.S. in Counseling and licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Florida, New York, and Connecticut and has published a life-changing book, Power Abused, Power Healed, as well as an audio series, The Spoken Word on Behalf of the Feminine, and more than three dozen articles for both professionals and the general public. She offers her healing expertise in an array of formats, including working with individuals, groups, workshops, and consultations. In addition to this she offers training and supervision programs for healing arts professionals.

I ask Judith how power abuse develops.  Judith explains that the tendency to abuse power really starts with deep wounds formed in childhood that are never healed.  These wounds are unconscious and drive people to gain power, then abuse it out of a misguided attempt to protect themselves.

Judith distinguishes between “here and now” feelings and ancient feelings.  The “here and now” feelings are immediate reactions to what’s going on around us.  Ancient feelings, on the other hand, are those that arise from the depths of unconscious.  Ancient feelings tend to be powerful and often stronger than the situation calls for.

I ask Judith what advice she would give to the next president if he asked the question, “I’m about to have more power than I’ve ever had, but I do not want to abuse it.  What do I do?”  Judith says that the first step in learning about power is the willingness to explore one’s inner world.  This exploration, or inner work, develops wisdom, understanding, compassion, and humility as a leader confronts the dark side of his or her nature.  Power abuse arises in leaders who are unwilling to venture inside themselves.  As a result, their reactions are unconscious and often unbalanced.

Judith and I also talk about Judith’s book, Power Abused, Power Healed, which is based on the ancient fable The Emperor Has No Clothes.  Judith believes that truth is the antidote to power abuse.  That is, people must be willing to call power abuse for what it is and hold leaders and people in power accountable to themselves and their followers.  If accountability meant no more than preventing spin, plausible denial, or lying, much abuse of power could be minimized or prevented.