Profiles of Resistance

This book invites readers to challenge the common social and professional discourse that pathologizes children within the foster care system. The profound loss and other forms of adversity that exist when children are separated from their families and placed into a system of professional caregivers can be understood as responses and resistance to feelings of powerlessness and betrayal. The behavioural approach that is commonly applied to the resistant stance of a child becomes insufficient and potentially harmful in its denial of recognizing both the presence of grief and behaviours that can alternatively be viewed as understandable responses to deeply troubling circumstances. A response-based approach to these children is holistic in providing both young people, and those who care for them, with assistance to consider their responses as physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and relational resistance to adversity. This book introduces a philosophical orientation to youth in care while additionally providing an alternative to diagnostic and pathology-oriented practices.