Stories of belonging: from the national to the personal. Based on the workshop drawing ourselves, drawing our country: from Greek specificities to a globalizing Dialogue (PCE 2018 Conference, Vienna, 8-12 July 2018)

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the 21st century, the push and pull between localism and globalization define competing discourses. Social and political identities serve as external supports to a ‘symbolic universe’, a sense of belonging. Yet, today, social representations of an imagined homogeneous national entity are being challenged by mass immigration, refugee crisis and competing models of a global village. Within Person-Centered community discussions on diversity and identity, centering on both the client and the therapist is not uncommon. In our workshops and seminars about the representations of national identities of therapists and more precisely of Greek therapists, we have noted that there is an intense need for therapists to be aware of their own national identities in relation to discourses, stories as emotional narratives and hope for new national identities. As Greek and Person-Centered therapists, in becoming aware of and examining our own personal national narratives, we hope to begin to be active agents through the discussion of a global ethical community, a global politeia.