Opdragelse på trods

Om opdragerrollens gennembrud i arbejdet som konsulent

Abstract

The article deals with certain borderline cases in consultation, in which a breakdown of contract between consultant and client system takes place: The consultant openly expresses criticism or gives authoritative instructions for action, thus acting as parent. These situations occur when the client system is (1) regressing, i.e. behaving childishly in destructive ways, (2) »coming close to the abyss«, i.e., not realizing that the welfare of the system is threatened, or (3) trespassing moral boundaries. The unreserved ascription of autonomy (»adulthood«) to the client system is one basic prerequisite in doing consultation work. This autonomy is disputed when the parent role breaks through. The consultant experiences that the break-through is wrong, though at the same time justified - something he cannot evade without losing part of his own humaneness. Various professional and ethical traps and dilemmas, that can result from the parent's breakthrough in consultation work, are discussed.