Conversations with the Inspiring Dr. Cedar Barstow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cedar Barstow.

Dr. Barstow, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Issues of power and goodness are personally trailblazing for me because I grew up as a shy, obedient girl/young woman who actively sought ways not to have or be powerful because I was so afraid of causing harm. There was so much hurt, violence, exploitation and force in the world around me and I didn’t want the power to have any part of it.  So I minimized my personal power.  I know I let myself get pushed around and taken advantage of.  I didn’t want conflict.

After college, I began studying to be a psychotherapist because I wanted to help people and because I thought as a helper, I wouldn’t have power.  Was I wrong!  Psychotherapists have a lot of augmented power.  As do all people in authority roles–like  supervisor, employer, clergy, parent, teacher, committee chair.  I began learning that NOT owning my power was another form of misuse of power.  In my therapist role, I had responsibility first in earning my client’s trust, and secondly in acting in trustworthy ways.

Since power is defined as “the ability to have an effect or to have influence,” then the power of the role increases the amount of influence for good or for ill.  Having sloppy boundaries, succumbing to being idealized, not taking charge when needed, betraying confidentiality, being romantic, using my role to meet inappropriate needs…all are misuses of power.  I made most of my mistakes by under-using or denying my role power.  Alas.

To make a longer story shorter, I dived into the study of ethics and power. Ethics is NOT about

memorizing a list of behaviors that could be harmful.  Currently, our newscasts of all kinds describe multitudes of disturbing misuses and abuses of power. Ethics in its broadest and deepest container, I believe, is the right use power.  We have the capacity to use the power we have with wisdom, empathy, and skill.

Good intentions are essential but not sufficient. Power is a complex topic. We need skills and theory to understand the nature of power. We need to navigate the dynamics of power. We need to avoid the perils  mediate the shadow aspects of power.

We have grown into a non-profit organization called the Right Use of Power Institute. Our vision is a world in which people use power with wisdom, compassion, and skill. Our mission is to foster shared well-being through programs, tools, and resources that guide people in understanding and using their power with integrity.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ah, struggles, yes. In a way, it’s easy to have a good idea. Giving its form is the journey. Struggles with the enormous time needed to develop good written materials and good workshop formats. Struggles with how much time is volunteered. Struggles with figuring out a business structure that will support the growth of the Institute. It’s hard to have all the skills that are needed to run a business. Marketing skill is my biggest personal limitation.

Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
Power surely is a challenging theme, especially for women. We have been taught to follow, not lead. We get criticized when we lead with power and strength. We get criticized for being too soft and empathic. Double jeopardy for us. The MeToo movement is helping us to come out of shame and be willing, not just to speak the truth, but to be self-empowered. We can and need to support each other. My concept of the right use of power is the ability to use power with both strength and heart–not feeling the need to choose one or the other. I’m promoting a socially responsible model of power that puts people and our shared well-being before profits.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am the Founder and Director of Right Use of Power Institute. I’m also a Hakomi psychotherapy Trainer and psychotherapist.

I spend my days practicing psychotherapy, developing RUPI, teaching RUP programs, coaching and consulting with people and groups about power issues.

It’s become clear to me that as much as we need and benefit from the amazing developments of science and technology, we need a revolution in ethics to guide our use of these tools, not just for maximum profit, but for our shared well-being.  Understanding the nature and dynamics of power is of critical importance.  And yet there is so little teaching about power.

In our Right Use of Power programs, I am teaching ethics and power-intelligence from the inside out through self-reflective and relational practices.  We are proud of the now 300 people we have trained to teach Right Use of Power to others. We are proud of our outreach resource program–Be Power Positive, or BePoP.   We are also proud of our excellent and engaging teaching designs, our books, and our experiential and innovative designs in a much-needed area. Power issues get lots of “press” but very little in the way of education.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Yes, I think women can be real trailblazers in demonstrating the power of using their power with both strength and compassion. Standing in your power while staying in your heart. There are endless studies that show that leaders lead best when they stay relational and resolve and repair. And when leaders lead well, companies thrive. Women are especially well-suited to trailblaze power with heart.

Pricing:

• Books: $24, $15,
• Programs: core training $350, teacher training $1200
• BePowerPositive resources: free
• Online CE courses: $15/ce hour
• Consulting and Coaching:  $120/session

Contact Info:

• Address: 1485 Sumac Ave.
• Website: www.rightuseofpower.org; www.bepowerpositive.org
• Phone: 7204801342
• Email: cedar@rightuseofpower.org
• Instagram: bepowerpositive
• Facebook: rightuseofpower, bepowerpositive
• Twitter: bepowerpositive

Image Credit:
Reynold Feldman, freeware image, freeware image, Sallie Ingle

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.