motivational interviewing scaffolded offender's journey - a.j.bencosme

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Motivational Interview-Scaffolded Offender’s Transformational Journey:

Mindfully Constructing Myhogenic Scripts for the Future

Arturo J. Bencosme, PhDwww.epic-spirit.com

Arturo J. Bencosme, PhD 2

CONTENTS

A Mythogenic, Transformational Script for the Future Holds the Key to Successful Reentry and Beyond.How Could Creating A Personal Transformational Script of FutureBe Scaffolded Via Motivational Interviewing ? The Offender’s Script of the Journey of TransformationOperates a Deep Levels of Personal Change.

The Offender’s Script for a Successful Reentry JourneyCan Be Constructed as a Heroic Journey in Campbellian Terms.Patterning the Offender’s Heroic Journey.

Scaffolding the Offenders Journey via Motivational InterviewingDepends Heavily on the Quality of Interpersonal Connection.

Becoming Mindful of the Hero and the Journey Within.


A Mythogenic, Transformational Script for the FutureHolds the Key to Successful Reentry and Beyond

It has been found that a condemnation script often underlies recidivism

“I characterize the narrative of persistent offendersas a condemnation script.

The condemned person is the narrator (although he or she reserves plenty of blame for society as well).

Active offenders… largely saw their life scriptsas having been written for them a long time ago”

Maruna, S. (2002), Making Good: How Ex-Convicts Reform and Rebuild their Lives


Opposite to a condemnation script is the redemption script.

“… most consistent characteristics of reformed ex-offender self-narratives

include a tendency to find some meaning in one’s experiences of crime and

imprisonment, a desire to give something back (especially to the next generation of young people in trouble),

and a sense of hope and control over one’s future.”

Maruna, S., et al (2006) Why God Is Often Found Behind Bars:Prison Conversions and the Crisis of Self-Narrative

RESEARCH IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, 3(2&3), 161–184


(Cont.)


Beyond redemption, which highlights repairing the harm done,

a more powerful script for the future would be about heroic self-transformation,

unleashing the offender’s potential and in which the role of a hero is undertaken

as a human being in service to mankind.

Thus the name: “Mythogenic Transformational Script”.


(Cont.)

Motivational Interviewing can be defined as:

A collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person’s own motivation and commitment to change.

A person-centered counseling style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change.

A collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.

Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S., (2013) Motivational Interviewing – Helping People Change.

How Could Creating a Mythogenic,Transformational Script for the FutureBe Scaffolded Via Motivational Interviewing?


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Traditionally, the aim of motivational interviewing’sfour processes has been on guiding the offender through the five conventional stages of change.

How Could Creating a Mythogenic Transformational Script for the FutureBe Scaffolded Via Motivational Interviewing?

(Cont.)

“Like the commission of a crime, the reintegration of the former outcast back into society represents a challenge to the moral order, a delicate transition fraught with danger and possibility. However, unlike punishment, reintegration is not a process characterized by well-orchestrated and familiar rituals. This lack might explain the failings of prisoner reentry in contemporary society. “

Maruna, S. (2011) Reentry as a Rite of PassagePunishment & Society 13(1) 3-28

When the aim of Motivational Interviewinggoes beyond the conventional stages of changeinto a narrative of the Journey of Change, a starting point for constructing a personal script for the future becomes available. This could help fill the current lack of rites of reentry.


How Could Creating a Mythogenic Transformational Script for the FutureBe Scaffolded Via Motivational Interviewing?

(Cont.)


The Offender’s Script for the Journey of TransformationOperates at Deep Levels of Personal Change

A citizen that has been convicted of a crime goes into prison. Eventually this citizen undergoes experiences and utilizes help to open a portal to follow a re-entry path into society and become a useful member of it.

Going past such a portal involves healing and transformation. That, in turn, occurs through the purification and tempering from crucibles such as going past a number of challenges.

And, as a part of returning to society, the offender shares his insights and helps others in their own journeys. In this manner, a contribution is made to society through the healing that has been lived and thus the offender has fulfilled something greater than self.


Healing, transformation & reentry is a process that can take years to complete by the offender. Or it might occur through a relatively short period of time. What is important is that at its center is the purposeful transformation of the offender.

This being an inner transformation, involves a shift in self-perception and in the worldview been held within which encompasses the offender’s participation in society. Naturally, that will only happen as a result of the offender’s choice and commitment.

The Offender’s Script of the Journey of TransformationOperates a Deep Levels of Personal Change

(Cont.)


The Offender’s Successful Reentry Journey Script Can Be Composed as a Heroic Journey in Campbellian Terms

A offender’s purposeful transformational journey coincides with Joseph Campbell´s monomyth - The Hero´s Journey:

A hero is anyone who leaves the world of everyday life to undergo a journey to a special world where challenges and fears are overcome to secure a reward which is then shared with others in the community.

Adapted from Campbell, J. (1973),The Hero with a Thousand Faces

… “The hero, therefore, is the man or woman who has been able to battle past his personal and local historical limitations to the generally valid, normally human forms”.

Campbell, J. (1973),The Hero with a Thousand Faces


(Cont.)


The Hero’s Journey is a universal pattern, an archetype as conceptualized by Carl G. Jung:

A recurring pattern of images, situations, or symbols found in the mythology, religion, art, and dreams of cultures around the world.

Carl Jung


(Cont.)


PREPARATIO

N

PASSAGE

RETURN

Joseph Campbell utilized Jung’s idea of the archetypeto establish the Hero’s Journey pattern of transformation.

The Hero’s Journey archetypical cycle goes through three parts:

• Departure/Preparation, • Initiation/Passage/Transformation and,• Return/Celebration.

Joseph Campbell


(Cont.)



Patterning the Offender’s Heroic Journey Script

The Hero’s Journey can provide a template for the offenders’ script for the future. Multiple variations to each part of the Hero’s Journey cycle are possible. A usable template for the offender’s heroic journey can be set as follows:

The World as Usual

The Call to Adventure

The Journey• Departure/Preparation

‐ Departure‐ The Gate Keeper

• Initiation/Passage/Transformation

‐ Endurance Trials‐ Abyss – Supreme Challenge‐ Claiming the Treasure‐ Convergence with the True Self

• Return/Celebration.‐ Preparing to Return‐ Arrival & Celebration

The Expanded World as Usual


THE WORLD

AS USUAL

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE

• Becoming aware of the potential within: Awakening to the possibility of materializing the true self in spite of any past history.

• Visualizing a positive future for self. • Hanna’s precursors to change are present:

₋ Mindsets: sense of necessity, readiness to experience anxiety or difficulty, hope.

₋ Meta-cognitions: Awareness, confronting the problem, effort or will toward change.

₋ Broad, Confiding Social Support

THE WORLD AS USUAL

• This is the mental place where things that are known dwell, including self image, reputation, skills, habits and so forth.

• It is also not being aware, not believing in the possibility or not having the intention to change, to self-transform.

• Locus of control is likely external, accompanied by a reactive attitude product of a belief of a destiny-defined future.

Patterning the Offender’s Heroic Journey Script (Cont.)

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DEPARTURE: • Committing to self-transformation. • Envisaging a positive purpose in life. • Searching for guidance & advice. • Identifying probable challenges to overcome. • The strongest aide would come from self knowledge; the worse

opponent emerges from the inner “shadow”. KEY: Know Thyself.`

Preparation

THE GATE KEEPER: • Clarifying the personal vision & recommitting to materialize it. • Dealing with fears and facing concerns & doubts.• Understanding and acceptance of those concerns.• Identifying keys for the journey ahead. KEY: Only those who dream can create realities.

1ST THRESHOLD: Leaving the world as usual - Entering the extraordinary world of healing & transformation.



ENDURANCE TRIALS:• Knowing that at some level, every obstacle is FOR the best in self. • Resolving to utilize everything to learn, grow & advance toward healing. • Developing pro-social values & attitude. • Going past inner blockades and external difficulties.

• Key: “The event is not important, the response to the event

is everything.” (From the I Ching)

Passage

ABYSS – SUPREME CHALLENGE: • Overcoming the Greatest Fear: Death and Rebirth. • Acknowledging that "Our deepest fear is not that we are

Inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

Williamson, M. (1992) A Return to Love

• KEY: You have being preparing yourself for this all along.



Passage (Cont.)

CLAIMING THE TREASURE: • Thriving in discovery & fulfillment. • Experiencing the true self and thus realizing that all rewards that come

with the healing and transformation are just its reflections. KEY: Inner rich & abundance is a consciousness, not a material scorecard.

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF: • Building a consciousness of Inner Alignment. • Attaining balances between pairs of opposites: Inner - Outer, Material

– Spiritual, Temporal-Eternal. • Treading the pathway to at-onement: Acceptance, cooperation,

understanding and enthusiasm.

KEY: Manifesting the true self.

2nd THRESHOLD: Leaving the extraordinary world of healing & transformation and proceeding to reenter society.



Return

PREPARING TO RETURN: • Owning the healing & pursuing further transformation. • Being grateful for the journey undertaken. • Visualizing the reentry steps & challenges to overcome. • Re-Assessing the original journey motives. KEY: Self Acknowledge and Reconnect to Society.

ARRIVAL & CELEBRATION: • Enjoying being free from Fear, Letting Love Lead Life. • Being aware of having become a Master of Two Worlds: the ordinary

and the extraordinary. • Sharing the learning and contributing to societal wellbeing.KEY: It is time to reciprocate.



Back to the Community - The Expanded World as Usual

THE EXPANDED WORLD AS USUAL

• The experience of going through the journey of transformation, healing and re-entry results in an expanded comfort zone.

• Having mastered the ordinary and the extraordinary worlds makes the ex-offender a person with an unusual potential for contributing to society.

• Such potential empowers the returning citizen to pursue further journeys and thus creating a myth about self, a hero´s myth.



THE WORLD AS

USUAL

THE WORLD AS

USUAL

CALL TO ADVENTURE Awakening, Awareness, Envisioning, Readiness.

DEPARTURE: Commitment , sense of purpose in life, guidance & advice, aides & opponents, and

challenges to overcome

THE GATE KEEPER: Dealing with fears & concerns. Re-commitment to the vision.

ENDURANCE TRIALS: Utilizing everything to learn, grow & advance.

Pro-social values & attitude.

ABYSS – SUPREME CHALLENGE: Death & Rebirth. Overcoming the greatest fear:

Acknowledging that what most frightens us is our inner light.”

CLAIMING THE TREASURE: Thriving in discovery & fulfillment. Experiencing the true self reflecting in the rewards from healing and transformation.

CONVERGENCE WITH THE TRUE SELF: Inner Alignment & Balance. At-onement: Acceptance, cooperation, understanding and enthusiasm.

PREPARING TO RETURN: Owning the journey. Gratefulness: Giving & receiving. Preparing for reentry. Recovering from inner wounds.

ARRIVAL & CELEBRATION: Freedom from Fear, Letting Love Lead Life. Master of Two Worlds. Sharing the learning and contributing to society.

1st THRESHOLDLeaving the world as usual - Entering the

extraordinary world of healing & transformation.

2nd THRESHOLDLeaving the extraordinary world

& Proceeding to reentry society.

Template SummaryPatterning the Offender’s Heroic Journey Script

(Cont.)


The Heroic ArchetypesC. S. Pearson, Awakening the Heroes Within (1991)

•The Innocent•The Orphan•The Warrior•The Altruist

•The Explorer•The Destroyer

•The Lover•The Creator

PREPARATIO

N

PASSAGE

RETURN

•The Ruler•The Magician•The Sage•The Jester

THE WORLD AS

USUAL

THE WORLD AS

USUAL

Several specific heroic archetypes (Established by Carol S. Pearson) are at play along the hero’s journey. As they become awake, they can bring support as favorable “aides”.



C. S. Pearson, Awakening the Heroes Within (1991)

Pearson’s archetypes informs inner companions and aides for the script for the journey, promoting attitudes and keys to go past the challenges at each stage.

Major Parts in The Hero’s Journey

Heroic Archetypes& Their Behavior

Departure / Preparation

Sense of self-confidence. Innocent: spontaneity and trust - optimism to take the journey. Orphan: Informs that everyone matters. Teaches empathy. Warrior: Sets and achieves goals. Teaches fearlessness. Altruist: Drives to help others. Teaches compassion.

Initiation / Passage / Transformation

Transformational momentum. Seeker: Self-inquiries leading to insights. Brings courage. Destroyer: Supports in detaching. Brings renewal. Lover: Creates relationships & enthusiasm. Teaches passion. Creator: Manifests beauty and innovates. Impels expression.

Return / Celebration

Awareness of self-renewal and of making a difference in the world. Ruler: Strives for inner alignment. Teaches purpose. Magician: Transforms obstacles into opportunities. Teaches wonder. Sage: Cultivates wisdom, brings freedom. Fosters learning. Jester: Prompts enjoyment and fun. Brings lightness.



They are measurable:• Heroic Myth Index (HMI)

C. S. Pearson, Awakening the Heroes Within (1991)

• Pearson-Marr Archetype Index (PMAI) C. S. Pearson, Ph.D. and H. K. Marr Ph.D.

(2011) Introduction to Archetypes & PMAI™

And they can serve as the basis for evidence based practices

The Heroic Archetypes are observable psychological patterns:



Becoming Mindful of the Hero and the Journey Within

Self-enquiring the journey to be taken allows for self-appropriating and energizing it.

Developing mindfulness sets a stage for self-enquiring the hero and the journey within.

Using motivational interviewing in tandem with mindfulness to scaffold the offender’s heroic journey will likely result in building a successful transformational script for the offender.

Mindfulness is deliberately and non-judgmentally heeding attention either to one's emotions, thoughts and sensations presently occurring or to external objects.


Meditation is needed in developing mental qualities. The mind is definitely something that can be transformed, and meditation is a means to transform it.

Meditation is the activity of familiarizing your mind with something new. Basically, it means getting used to the object on which you are meditating.

H.H. Dalai Lama, (2000) The Meaning of Life Wisdom Publications

Meditation is a widely practiced contemplative discipline that provides an avenue to mindfulness.

Becoming Mindful of the Hero and the Journey Within (Cont.)


Meditation is of two types-analytical and stabilizing. First, an object is analyzed, after which the mind is set one-pointedly on the same object in stabilizing meditation. Within analytical meditation, there are also two types:

1. Something, such as impermanence, is taken as the object of the mind and is meditated upon;

2. A mental attitude is cultivated through meditation, as in cultivating love, in which case the mind becomes of the nature of that mental attitude.

H.H. Dalai Lama, (2000) The Meaning of Life Wisdom Publications

H.H. Dalai Lama describes two types of meditation



Motivational Interviewing and Meditational Practices Can Support Each Other Working Together to Impel Transformation


Motivational Interviewing Processes

Mindfulness Outcomes

Engaging: Connecting, Surfacing Dilemmas, Exploring Values & Goals

Developing Calmness

Being Self-Aware

Observing Non-Judgmentally

Focusing: Seeking & Maintaining Direction, Visualizing Goals

Heeding Centered Attention

Heeding Open Attention

Being Contemplative

Evoking: Change Talking, Expanding Discrepancy, Developing Self-Efficacy, Readying for Change.

Self-Knowing Motivations

Participating

Developing Oneness

Planning: Strengthening Commitment, Developing a Change Plan.

Developing Values

Observing Future Life Path

Principled Actuating



Meditative practices can be directed to develop mindfulness about the transformational journey which in turn will bring into light its script as follows:1. The attention is concentrated on the hero and

the journey within.

2. An inner image of the hero and the journey within is enlivened through imagination as perceived and is made to become vividly lively.

3. The image is allowed to dissolve and the attention becomes wide, without any attachment. Inspiration and insight arise naturally.

4. Intuition arises spontaneously and intimacy the hero and the journey within develops.

Adapted from Zajonc, A. (2009), Meditation as Contemplative Inquiry - When Knowing Becomes Love

Lindisfarne Books

If adopted as a personal life pattern, the Hero’s Journey can serve as an guidance devicethat allows one to re-frame one’s life path into an epic perspective:

seeing where one is currently, where one has come from, where one is

headed, what challenges and rewards are involved, and the transcendental meaning of the path.

Such a device can be used to understand further the personal becoming, much as we use a navigational device when traveling.





Actually, the hero’s journey offers a subjective map to move ahead toward greatness along the whole life. In Joseph Campbell’s words:

“… A good life is one hero journey after another.

Over and over again, you are called into the realm of adventure, you are called to new horizons.

Each time, there is the same problem: Do I dare? And then if you do dare, the dangers are there, and the help also, and the fulfillment or the fiasco.

There is always the possibility of a fiasco. But there's also the possibility of bliss. “

Excerpt from Campbell, J. (2004) Pathways to Bliss

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Scaffolding the Offender’s Journey via Motivational Interviewing Depends Heavily on the Quality of

Interpersonal Connection

Expanding the interviewer’s capability includes:

Being mindful of the own heroic journey.

Being consciously aware of and cultivating an appropriate inner state through contemplative practices.

Becoming consciously aware and entrained with the offender’s journey.

The Motivational Interviewer’s state of mind & heart will affect the offender’s state and journey script.


Observing & coaching the unfolding of the offender’s transformational script allows for motivational interviewing synchronization with the offender’s journey.

Emphasis is placed on the hero’s journey’s milestones:

• Heeding to the call to adventure

• Going past the 1st threshold

• Going past the 2nd threshold

• Expansion of the world as usual

The Motivational Interviewing process will undertake at least a full cycle for attaining each of these milestones


The fundamental requirement is that the motivational interviewer(s) will come from a place of understanding, appreciation and compassion in order to enter and maintain a productive collaboration with, and guidance to the journeying offender.

Scaffolding the Offender’s Journey via Motivational Interviewing Depends Heavily on the Quality of

Interpersonal Connection(Cont.)



Directing motivational interviewing to scaffold the offender’s script for the mindful, heroic journey involved in the reentry:

Creates a space of interaction between the interviewer and the offender at a deep psychological level, that of the archetypical world of the hero.

Brings essential existential meaning to both the interviewer and the offender.

Establishes a more significant and far reaching connection with constructing societal wellbeing.

Brings to the offender a portal to becoming the hero in his own life.

H J

CONCLUSION

37Arturo J. Bencosme, PhD

The ultimate freedomlies in choosing to be the true being you

are,in wisdom, beauty and love,

and in that light,inspire others to choose likewise.

Arturo J. Bencosme


Questions Welcome !!!

motivational interviewing scaffolded offender's journey - a.j.bencosme

Health & Medicine

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