Ethics as Right Use of Power - for Counselors, Educators, Therapists, Psychologists, Bodyworkers, and Personal Development & More

Right use of power is one of the most crucial needs of our time and one of the greatest challenges we face in leadership and in personal development. We have the capacity for wisdom, skillfulness, and service in the use of our power.  Yet we’ve all been wounded by misuses and abuses of power by those we trust, and we’ve also inevitably misused or under-used our own power.

Power is simply the ability to have an effect, or to have influence, but the right use of this influence is profound and complex. Personally and in positions of trust, the right use of power is the use of power to prevent, heal, and repair harm, and to promote well-being for all.  Far from being an automatic result of good intentions, right use of power must be learned and practiced.  The ability to act sensitively, creatively, and effectively on behalf of others and oneself requires attention, skill, wisdom, and a lifetime interest in the impact of your uses of power.

Personal and relational ethics for those in the helping professions

Ethical use of power is a meld of personal integrity and role responsibility.  The Right Use of Power approach brings heart and soul to the study of ethics, first by honoring the good intentions of helping professionals for wanting the best for their clients and, next, by bringing compassion to our mistakes as healers and as persons.  So often we think we must choose between between being powerful and compassionate.  In fact, using power well requires kindness and wisdom.  Personally, we learn to use our power to express compassion, to empower others and ourselves, and to manifest our purpose and gifts.  Relationally, we gain skillfulness and sensitivity in using power to heal, protect, and collaborate with those we serve.