AN OPPORTUNITY FORA FULL LIFE
AN INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIAL THERAPY
AN OPPORTUNITYFOR AFULLLIFE
AN INTRODUCTIONTOANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIAL THERAPY
InmemoryofJan Larsson
AN OPPORTUNITY FORA FULL LIFE
AN INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOSOPHICAL SOCIAL THERAPY
Sara SörgärdeSiegers
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Original title: Möjlighettillett rikt liv,
Translation andediting:Edeline LeFevre
Illustration: Sara SörgärdeSiegers
©2024 Sara Sörgärde Siegers
Publisher: BoD· Books on Demand, Stockholm, Sweden
Print: Libri PlureosGmbH, Hamburg, Germany
ISBN:978-91-8080-015-0
FOREWORD
This bookcameaboutbecause Iwas unable to have an overviewand introduction to anthroposophicalsocialtherapy.Muchofthe anthroposophical literature alreadyin existence, at leastinSweden, is writtenbased on work with childrenand adolescents, whichissomewhatdifferent from workingwith adults.Itisalsoquite difficulttoreadif you do not have priorknowledge.I misseda first, easier book to putintothe handsofan interested co-workerand say, "Here, startwith this!".
Theideaofthisbookisfor you to getanintroductiontosomeofthe most common social therapeuticand anthroposophicalconcepts. My hope is that youwillunderstandthe basics of anthroposophy andsocialtherapy andwillbecurious to find out more.Itwill allbepresented in simple language, as simple as possible.
Social therapyasbased on anthroposophy is complementarytoup-to-dateknowledge of adults with disabilities rather than beinganalternative forit. This meansthatwework with theories andmethods basedonmodernresearchand guidelines permeatedwith knowledgefromthe anthroposophical view of humanity.Socialtherapy is very much about how we relate to what we do.Asa social therapistyou need to developthe ability to seethe individualbut also to have theknowledge andskills to be able to meet each single person'sneeds.
"Socialtherapy is nota healingpedagogy. It aims to provideopportunities foradultswithdisabilitiestofindsocialcontextswhich supportbody,mind and spirit –throughadapted formsofhousing,adequate work opportunities, medicaltherapies,publiceducationand appropriateleisure activities." TommySydhagen,LäS 12/2009p23.
This book is asketchy andcomprehensive pictureofmyown interpretation of social therapy. It is basedonvarious writings,lecturesbyand conversations with experienced social therapists,aswellasonmyown experience.All eventual misconceptions aremy own.
Sara Sörgärde Siegers
ADDITIONAL FOREWORDSTOTHE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
When translatingthe book, Ihavecometorealise onething.Itisway harder than one maythink.Not only do thewords need to be translated,but thedifferent social settings need to be addressedsomehow as well.There area fewpeoplethathavehelpedmeduring work on thetranslation, andfor this Iamverygrateful. First, KarenRiemanthatworked hard on theGermantranslation andthereby made thetranslation into Englishmuch easier.Second,a bigthank you to EdelineLeFevre whotook on theworkoftranslation andediting of theEnglish version.
In theworkoftranslating this book we made some changestothe chapters in the background.Weremovedsomeparts that were only relevant forSwedish readersand addednew partsaboutthe internationalworktothe translated book.
SinceI wrotethe original book,I have made newrealisations andlearned alot more about Social Therapyand Anthroposophy.I have decidedtokeepthe translationclose to theoriginaland not fall into thetemptationofrewriting thewholebook. That mightbea projectfor thefuture.
SaraSörgärde Siegers
BACKGROUND
This is abasicbook on anthroposophical social therapyfor people who are completely new to social therapybut also by co- workers who want to be reminded of the basics. It is agreat book to use for a study groupand away to start aconversation with questionsfor reflection for each chapter.
Thebook addressesthe important foundations of anthroposophical perspectives such as threefoldness, thefourbodily principles, the pedagogical law, the twelvesenses,point andcircle,aswell as more practical areas relatedtosocial therapysuch as workinglife, caring for the sick, care for the environment, rhythms in everydaylife and more.
SaraSörgärde Siegers is asocial worker and social therapist with 20 years of experience in social therapy and curativeeducation. She lives in Sweden and in recent years is she working with leadership in the social therapeutic communityofEnsjöholm village. This book is her attempt to write in such away that "anyone"can understand it.