working with

‘Working with’ is a special form of ‘being with’. To engage with another’s thoughts and feelings, and to attend to our own, we have to be in a certain frame of mind. We have to be open to what is being said, to listen for meaning. To work with others is, in essence, to engage in a conversation with them.

‘Working with’ can also be seen as an exercise in moral philosophy. Essentially, the teachers and workers we are focusing on are helping people to answer fundamental questions about themselves and the situations they face. At root these are concerned with how people should live their lives.

Working with people can often be ‘a confusing, complex and demanding experience, both mentally and emotionally’ (Crosby 2001: 60). It is frequently the case, as a result, that many retreat from it.