TAKING CHARGE: TAKING CHARGE: STAN WOODY, MS, LMHCSTAN WOODY, MS, LMHC

An Interview by Leo PeralesAn Interview by Leo Perales

Stan WoodyStan Woody

Mr. Woody received his Master of Science Mr. Woody received his Master of Science Degree in Applied Psychology in 1994 Degree in Applied Psychology in 1994 from Eastern Washington University. from Eastern Washington University.

Since attaining his degree, he has Since attaining his degree, he has practiced as a Mental Health and practiced as a Mental Health and relationship counselor and works out of his relationship counselor and works out of his own office in Richland, Wa. own office in Richland, Wa.

ServicesServices

Mr. Woody’s office offers many services and Mr. Woody’s office offers many services and they include: they include:

Domestic violence counselingDomestic violence counseling Major DepressionMajor Depression ADHDADHD Couples and Family CounselingCouples and Family Counseling Anger ManagementAnger Management Men’s GroupsMen’s Groups Individual SessionsIndividual Sessions

Typical DayTypical Day He noted that he is semi He noted that he is semi

retired and majority of his day retired and majority of his day consists of handling domestic consists of handling domestic violence cases which are all violence cases which are all court ordered. court ordered.

Deals with individuals who Deals with individuals who have “chips on their shoulders”have “chips on their shoulders”

His program he cites is a His program he cites is a Psycho-educational program Psycho-educational program and he helps the individual and he helps the individual figure out the “I” in figure out the “I” in responsibility which is Wood’s responsibility which is Wood’s motto. motto.

Likes vs.. Dislikes of the JobLikes vs.. Dislikes of the Job

LikesLikes Woody was once a farmer and Woody was once a farmer and

then decided to put the shovel then decided to put the shovel down and do what he loved: down and do what he loved: helping individualshelping individuals

He relishes the fact that he can He relishes the fact that he can open doors of possibilities and open doors of possibilities and present the tool’s to develop present the tool’s to develop skills to figure out how to work skills to figure out how to work out their problems and seek out their problems and seek the “I” in their own the “I” in their own responsibility. responsibility.

He “helps” them, and teaches He “helps” them, and teaches them the skills and has them them the skills and has them put them to practice. put them to practice.

DislikesDislikes Woody proclaimed that he Woody proclaimed that he

adamantly loves his job and adamantly loves his job and the only thing he dislikes is the the only thing he dislikes is the pay! (We laughed at this)pay! (We laughed at this)

The other attribute he disliked The other attribute he disliked was organizations and how was organizations and how domineering they were, such domineering they were, such as the community of mental as the community of mental health and doctors. health and doctors.

Also the courts. He dislikes Also the courts. He dislikes how they try to be surrogates how they try to be surrogates parents for family’s as they parents for family’s as they tear families apart, it’s a tear families apart, it’s a tragedy he exclaimed. tragedy he exclaimed.

Changes?Changes?

When I asked Mr. Woody what he would When I asked Mr. Woody what he would change about his job, he noted the pay change about his job, he noted the pay again laughingly. But on a serious note, he again laughingly. But on a serious note, he said he would have liked to have done said he would have liked to have done something else perhaps, but he’s content something else perhaps, but he’s content with the job he has and what he gets to with the job he has and what he gets to do. Helping individuals is extremely do. Helping individuals is extremely gratifying. gratifying.

Causes of child abuse and neglect, Causes of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence and or elder domestic violence and or elder

abuse?abuse? Roots: Mr. Woody contends that child abuse, Roots: Mr. Woody contends that child abuse, domestic violence and etc. extends from family domestic violence and etc. extends from family roots and habits from past generations. He roots and habits from past generations. He believes that these generations have not been believes that these generations have not been given the tools to alleviate stress and anger and given the tools to alleviate stress and anger and use violence to battle with the emotions. This use violence to battle with the emotions. This adds to the fact of lack of prevention for this type adds to the fact of lack of prevention for this type of behavior. Woody also claims that religion of behavior. Woody also claims that religion plays a huge role as it is pro-abuse. Many plays a huge role as it is pro-abuse. Many religions believe in corporal punishment which religions believe in corporal punishment which he believes is the tip of the ice berg of domestic he believes is the tip of the ice berg of domestic violence. It’s an epidemic Woody noted. violence. It’s an epidemic Woody noted.

Essential Elements of InterventionEssential Elements of Intervention

Woody believes the contemporary Woody believes the contemporary methods of intervention are unfair and methods of intervention are unfair and unjust. There is no compassion for the unjust. There is no compassion for the victims and perpetrators. The courts and victims and perpetrators. The courts and other state agencies abuse their power other state agencies abuse their power and help destroy families. His counseling and help destroy families. His counseling and own methods of help rather provide a and own methods of help rather provide a pathway to recovery and redemption. pathway to recovery and redemption.

Essential Elements of PreventionEssential Elements of Prevention

To Woody, education is the key to not To Woody, education is the key to not necessarily solving the epidemic of domestic necessarily solving the epidemic of domestic violence, abuse, neglect and etc. but decreasing violence, abuse, neglect and etc. but decreasing the rates. He also says that this alternative may the rates. He also says that this alternative may be cost effective and hard to measure but this is be cost effective and hard to measure but this is how he approaches this problem and he’s how he approaches this problem and he’s seeing amazing results. Offenders lack the seeing amazing results. Offenders lack the communication/social skills and practice of these communication/social skills and practice of these skills. They need motivation to act, “How to skills. They need motivation to act, “How to do…” and thus they can see the “I” in their do…” and thus they can see the “I” in their responsibility as a human to act accordingly. responsibility as a human to act accordingly.

What Woody thinks future social What Woody thinks future social workers should know…workers should know…

Woody states that future social workers and counselors should Woody states that future social workers and counselors should know the inside and outs of all the major mental disorders such as know the inside and outs of all the major mental disorders such as anger, emotional intelligence, depression, fear, communication, bi-anger, emotional intelligence, depression, fear, communication, bi-polar, and so forth. Information is key and many individuals display polar, and so forth. Information is key and many individuals display a combination of various disorders. ‘a combination of various disorders. ‘

He notes that such information should all be taught in high school He notes that such information should all be taught in high school where with time, one’s mind can expand and become more where with time, one’s mind can expand and become more knowledgeable on these problems and one can have practices for knowledgeable on these problems and one can have practices for individuals and all persons can be helped. individuals and all persons can be helped.

Also, all students should always be learning! They should feel like a Also, all students should always be learning! They should feel like a kid in a candy store, and if you stop learning, your dying! Woody kid in a candy store, and if you stop learning, your dying! Woody noted that he learns something new every day. noted that he learns something new every day.

Interesting FactInteresting Fact

Woody relayed much information with me Woody relayed much information with me during our one hour and a half interview. during our one hour and a half interview. One interesting fact that he told me about One interesting fact that he told me about domestic violence or family violence in domestic violence or family violence in general is how men get the short end of general is how men get the short end of the stick, but this doesn’t mention the real the stick, but this doesn’t mention the real fact that our own society condones a fact that our own society condones a misogynist belief that it’s okay for men to misogynist belief that it’s okay for men to hurt woman but also how men are always hurt woman but also how men are always the perpetrator. the perpetrator.

His View of Family Violence His View of Family Violence

Woody does believe entirely that our culture aids Woody does believe entirely that our culture aids to the ever increasing epidemic of family to the ever increasing epidemic of family violence. Religion, family dynamics, community violence. Religion, family dynamics, community standards and mass media all play a vital role in standards and mass media all play a vital role in the on going of family violence. the on going of family violence.

The Duluth Model which is explained in our The Duluth Model which is explained in our book, Woody claims is biased and aids to the book, Woody claims is biased and aids to the fact that men are always the perpetrators, but fact that men are always the perpetrators, but woman have a role in domestic and family woman have a role in domestic and family violence. violence.

ConclusionConclusion

I chose to do my interview with a police officer at first but I chose to do my interview with a police officer at first but changed because that would have been too cliché. This changed because that would have been too cliché. This was a far better experience and the facts and information was a far better experience and the facts and information learned were very valuable to me. His motto of “I” in learned were very valuable to me. His motto of “I” in responsibility made me think a lot about my own life and responsibility made me think a lot about my own life and how I am the one who shapes and can change it and it’s how I am the one who shapes and can change it and it’s I who posses the tools to a better way of life if I change I who posses the tools to a better way of life if I change myself, this in turn can change the world and people myself, this in turn can change the world and people around me, and this is why Stan Woody put his pitch fork around me, and this is why Stan Woody put his pitch fork down some thirty years ago and is doing what he loves: down some thirty years ago and is doing what he loves: helping persons help them selves and their relationships.helping persons help them selves and their relationships.