- Carlington Wilmot/Freelance photographer
McGill
Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
FAMILY THERAPIST Sydney McGill may like to lose himself every day in puzzles, some more philosophical than others, but fortunately for his clients, he comes down to earth frequently enough to solve their problems.
He loves reading. "I get orgasms when reading" he grins, listing his chief books in the fields of theology, philosophy, and psychology -- "ideas and thoughts".
Today, his puzzle is prosaic. Is he more of a theologian than he is a psychologist? Or is he just a music lover with horses taking second place?
You will soon see how important these questions are.
All his life, McGill has applied his mind to finding ways to incorporate the things he loves into his working life. This has been for the benefit of his clients, too.
This year, he may actually see one of these dreams come true, as he will be implementing an equine-assisted therapy programme, using horses to help clients diagnose their emotional problems.
It may seem strange, but it is quite within the realm of the possible.
His interest in psychology began, he said, when he met a 17-year-old boy whose personality had split, as a result of his attempt to deal with his homosexuality.
Doctorate in theology
McGill wanted to help people like this and so pursued the masters in counselling psychology, later specialising in the issue of sex and family systems analysis. His doctorate is in theology, a field he says that enhances his practice as a psychologist, came last.
He chose to specialise in sex, he said, because most Christian psychologists were shying away from this area.
He admits, he has never been shy about an area in which so many men and women need help.
"There were no Christian sexologists. I am a Christian and I thought this would be ideal. The problems in this area are numerous," and are often emotional, he said.
Many women have a problem with sexual desire.
On the other hand, there are many men who claim to be unable to choose between two or more women. "They have learnt to make women feel so good about themselves that several women have attached themselves to them," points out McGill.
These problems of men and women are not unrelated, he hints.
"Too many men treat women as sexual objects, so those who do treat them well are in high demand."
He has also met men who subconsciously withhold their ejaculation because of problems related to their mother and their childhood.
"At the moment of ejaculation he is vulnerable. He is not going to be vulnerable with any woman."
In his work in family systems, the clinician focuses on the emotional processes that are at work in the relationship or the family.
"It is the weakest person in the relationship who expresses symptoms." Counselling for the family as a whole will bring this unit back into balance and emotional health for all its members. This holistic approach is based on the fact that individuals are isolated neither from their environment nor from their families, in managing their emotions.
Meanwhile, although there is a great need for family therapy there are obstacles, culturally driven, that the counsellor reveals.
"Some women feel that to seek a family therapists is to admit that they are failing at this point in their lives.
"But once we are able to educate persons to realise that this is indeed the best action to take, then, I think we are going to need many more practitioners in the field," he said.
He said that there might also be less fracturing in the family systems in Jamaica if "men who are underemployed and otherwise marginalised spend less time licking their wounds and instead tackle the role of being a good father and a good mate.
'Licking wounds'
"Because men are so taken up with licking their wounds, they treat women as mere objects to satisfy their desire for sex."
Women should also take responsibility for training their sons in a different way than they have hitherto done.
McGill, who was born in Montego Bay, was first schooled in the area of agriculture, but soon decided that this area was not for him.
It started with his love of animals, he said, but a career in agriculture locally was frustrating.
He also studied classical piano for years, and this particular pursuit was more fulfilling, as he still plays and has done a lot of work with church choirs.
But, it was his wife, medical doctor Arlene, who suggested that he seriously pursue psychology. Now he has her to thank for a career that he finds truly fulfilling.
The family settled in St. Ann, where he was founder of the Family Counselling Centre of Jamaica, which offers confidential counselling for individuals and families.
Soon the centre will offer equine-assisted psychotherapy "using horses to identify people's fears, and engaging them in other activity to assist them in goal setting."
He is rather excited about it.
"Horses have a way of mirroring your own fears/emotions. The horse responds to what it senses is happening to you."
The St. Ann centre, which has a community development focus, is also a part of the Sea Salt project, which is a coalition for the support of adolescent leadership training.
"I realise that if we are going to tackle the problem of violence, we will have to put resources and time into prevention.
"Most violence is committed by males. Prevention is best pursued among young males."
Sidney and Arlene Mcgill are parents of teenagers themselves daughters Stephanie and Taraisa. They have one son, six-year-old Jared.
McGill will be the first to admit that, having followed his heart and stuck to his Christian principles he has found a career and lifestyle that are quite fulfilling.
He has resolved the tension between Christianity and psychology he said, as he recognises that for every individual who sits in his couch, he is dealing with the total man and psychology adds to his counselling skills. "I have seen so many pastors do a bad job of counselling.
"I aim to be scientific, but at the same time I submit to the word of God," he explains.
