Citizen Therapists

In the late ’90s, the Citizen Therapist concept was simultaneously developed in Connecticut within the Community Family Therapy concept and in Minnesota by the Families and Democracy project (Rojano, 1997), (Doherty and Carrol, 2003).
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CFT recognizes several stages in the process of becoming a Citizen Therapist:
 

1) Awareness: The therapist is aware that some citizens are actively working on one of more civic projects;

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2) Familiarity: Requires detailed knowledge of specific information about the facts, issues, and other reasons that led to the development of a civic campaign, struggle or project;

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3) Engagement: A minimum level of connection with individuals and groups who are actively working on a particular civic project; and

 

4)Activism: The therapist is an active volunteer in one or more civic project(s).