“we appreciate and admire those who choose to be helpers. Henri Nouwen wrote, “anyone who enters into the pain of a stranger is a truly a remarkable person.” A life of service to others is a profound gift…a desire to give back, to manifest the love of God, or to make a positive difference difference in the lives of others and in the world.”

Ironically, the same motives can be lead to an overuse of a directing style in an ineffective way or counterproductive way when the task is helping the person to change. Helpers want to change, to set things right to get the person on the road to wellness by telling them what to do. This is called the righting reflex. We forget that within each person there are strengths resources that well help them to get where they need to go; i.e. respecting their autonomy. Be careful of the Righting Reflex!