Joann Peterson
Encyclopedia
Joann S. Peterson, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., Dip.C., Ph.D., (July 26, 1934 - January 9, 2007) was an American social worker, counsellor
, author
and lecturer
. She taught seminars internationally, and was the first Director of Education at the Haven Institute
.
(1956), M.S.W. at University of Washington
(1958), Dip.C. from the Haven Institute
(1990) and Ph.D. from the Open International University (2000). She did some of the pioneering work in the field of child sex abuse in San Diego, CA. Later, she was a key figure in the development of mental health
services in Bellingham, Washington. She left private clinical practice to assume the position of Director of Education at the Haven Institute
on Gabriola Island, B.C. Canada in 1990, and held this position until her death in early 2007. Peterson developed and led a wide variety of groups for The Haven. She collaborated with Bennet Wong
and Jock McKeen
for over thirty years. She facilitated personal and professional development seminars throughout North America and Southeast Asia . Her last book was translated into Chinese in Taiwan.
, emotional or sexual
abuse. She wrote about her experiences, and contributed much to the field in this domain. She taught seminars for individuals and couples in the area of human sexuality
.
and social work
for over 40 years. She authored numerous articles, and wrote many research grants in the field of child abuse
prevention.
, and to relationships, of the non-violent, boundaried expression of anger.
with each other, overcoming the distances created by objectification
. She wrote and taught about separation and loss, mirroring
, boundaries and depression. She designed an experiential workshop entitled "Disengaging Depression" which was based on her staunch belief that people can overcome psychological and physical difficulties through courage and personal responsibility.
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Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselor is a licensure for mental health professionals. The exact title varies by state, but the other most frequently used title is licensed mental health counselor . Several U.S. states, including Illinois, Maine, and Tennessee, have implemented a two-tier system whereby...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
. She taught seminars internationally, and was the first Director of Education at the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
.
Personal and Professional Development
Born premature and abandoned at birth, she struggled with physical developmental challenges as a child; she experienced chronic, unrelenting pain every day of her adult life. Rather than succumb to a passive life of victimhood, she worked with her challenges, and excelled academically. Her own experiences of suffering gave her particular insight and empathy for others with difficulties, and she was known as a caring, empathetic counsellor and teacher. But she was also disciplined and rigorous, and expected her students to embrace personal responsibility without complaint, as she had done.Career
Peterson earned a B.A. at Willamette UniversityWillamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
(1956), M.S.W. at University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(1958), Dip.C. from the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
(1990) and Ph.D. from the Open International University (2000). She did some of the pioneering work in the field of child sex abuse in San Diego, CA. Later, she was a key figure in the development of mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
services in Bellingham, Washington. She left private clinical practice to assume the position of Director of Education at the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
on Gabriola Island, B.C. Canada in 1990, and held this position until her death in early 2007. Peterson developed and led a wide variety of groups for The Haven. She collaborated with Bennet Wong
Bennet Wong
Bennet Randall Wong , is a Canadian psychiatrist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute, a residential experiential learning centre on the west coast of Canada, with Jock McKeen. He has written on mental illness, group psychotherapy, humanistic psychology and personal growth.-...
and Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen , is a Canadian physician,acupuncturist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute with Bennet Wong. He has written on East-West medicine, alternative medicine, holistic health, Asian studies and personal growth.-Education:McKeen received his M.D...
for over thirty years. She facilitated personal and professional development seminars throughout North America and Southeast Asia . Her last book was translated into Chinese in Taiwan.
Child Sex Abuse
Abused in her adoptive family, she had a special affection and ability with youngsters who were undergoing physicalPhysical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
, emotional or sexual
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
abuse. She wrote about her experiences, and contributed much to the field in this domain. She taught seminars for individuals and couples in the area of human sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
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Family Therapy
Her clinical work focused on families in crisis. She served as a consultant for agencies and trained professionals in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
for over 40 years. She authored numerous articles, and wrote many research grants in the field of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
prevention.
Responsible Anger
Peterson authored two two books and a DVD about responsible anger expression. Based on the Anger, Boundaries and Safety workshop she developed and led over 15 years, her writing on anger emphasizes the benefits to physical and mental healthMental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
, and to relationships, of the non-violent, boundaried expression of anger.
Human Dialogue
In her work, she was always focussed on helping individuals and families to come into human dialogueDialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
with each other, overcoming the distances created by objectification
Objectification
Objectification is the process by which an abstract concept is made as objective as possible in the purest sense of the term. It is also treated as if it is a concrete thing or physical object...
. She wrote and taught about separation and loss, mirroring
Mirroring (psychology)
Mirroring is the behaviour in which one person copies another person usually while in social interaction with them. It may include miming gestures, movements, body language, muscle tensions, expressions, tones, eye movements, breathing, tempo, accent, attitude, choice of words/metaphors and other...
, boundaries and depression. She designed an experiential workshop entitled "Disengaging Depression" which was based on her staunch belief that people can overcome psychological and physical difficulties through courage and personal responsibility.
Publications
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- Peterson, Joann. "Parent Aide Programs: The Reparenting Process", Proceedings of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 1981.
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- Peterson, Joann. "Management of the Abusive Family", San Diego, CA: Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital,Parent Aide Program, 1981.
- Peterson, Joann. "Child Development",San Diego,CA:Child Protection Center,Children’s Hospital,Training Cassettes,1981.
- Peterson, Joann. "Intervention Programs", San Diego, CA: Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital,Training Cassettes, 1981.
- Peterson, Joann. "Sexual Abuse Identification", San Diego, CA: Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital,Training Cassettes, 1981.
- Peterson, Joann. "Identification of High Risk Families", San Diego, CA: Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital and Sharp Hospital,Premature Nursery Project, 1982..
- Peterson, Joann. "Sexual Abuse: Issues of Body and Boundary", Cortes Island, BC: Heartwood, Issue #9, Fall 1984.
- Peterson, Joann. "Intervention With Abusive Families", San Diego, CA: Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital,Parent Aide Program, 1990.
- Peterson, Joann. "Choosing Anger", Gabriola Island, BC: Shen, Issue #5, Spring 1990..
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