Worked Up Selves by Elaine Swan

Author:Elaine Swan
Format: epub
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

As discussed at the start of this chapter, critics such as Rose are concerned about the power that therapeutic expertise gives practitioners over clients. Charisma is conceptualised in opposition to notions of expertise as defined by Rose in relation to therapeutic cultures. It is not seen to be simply about psychological authority, or scientific techniques. In some contexts, charisma may be seen as a dangerous form of power. It is sometimes seen to disempower, or overpower ‘convertees’ because of its irrational or magical nature and due to the devotion that is given to the charismatic individual in return. These examples from my interviews show that the use of charismatic power is seen not as something that leads to abuse but as something that has its place in bringing about equality. Charisma enables practitioners to present themselves as bringing benefits and special abilities to the relationship which empower the clients without them being seen as deliberately distant, superior or different, as might be the case with experts and expertise. In Jane Vincent’s case, charisma is in a form which can be dispersed from her body through to others in a purposeful, directed way. For Dennis Fournier and Jade Simon, their charisma brings special transformations to their clients which would not otherwise be available. In these examples, the charisma of being a good practitioner is not dispersed but instead the charisma of being better selves like the practitioners is. In Sally and Suzanne’s examples, the charismatic encounter elicits awe and adoration which are seen by Weber as typical responses to charismatic individuals, and for Sally and Suzanne, bring transformational effects in and of themselves, along with the techniques being used by the practitioners.

Although the practitioners discuss the achievement of equality in their clients through charisma, this does not mean that practitioners do not at the same time present themselves as having special powers, such as the power to convert and the power to heal. However, some practitioners refuse self-promotion and suggest that it is their clients who mark their power as special, not them. Charisma also enables a way for practitioners to talk about the non-rational in their work, getting around the difficulty of defining what they do and the effects it has, meaning that instantaneous, radical transformations can be explained. It alludes to their having access to things outside of rationality, almost unspeakable and transcendent aspects of life. To conclude, the mobilisation of charisma allows the practitioners to legitimatise their authority, marking them out as special in the eyes of others, but it also enables them to present their relations as equalising.

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