The Urban Confessional Project Give People a Chance to Be Heard
Katherine Pendrill — May 12, 2016 — Lifestyle
References: urbanconfessional.org & fastcoexist
The Urban Confessional project is a new initiative that aims to break down barriers between strangers and give people an opportunity to get their problems off their chest.
The Urban Confessional project was founded by Benjamin Mathes who wanted to give people a platform to express their feelings without the need to visit a priest or a counselor. Instead, Mathes enlisted a group of strangers to head out onto the streets of Los Angeles with signs reading "Free Listening." While the volunteers offer empathetic responses, they do not offer advice and they never record any of the conversations shared with them.
The project aims to foster connections between strangers and give people a way to freely express whatever they are feeling. As Mathes explains, "People are walking around with a whole lot of crap on their shoulders, and they don't always express that. We don't always know what journey everybody's going through."
The Urban Confessional project was founded by Benjamin Mathes who wanted to give people a platform to express their feelings without the need to visit a priest or a counselor. Instead, Mathes enlisted a group of strangers to head out onto the streets of Los Angeles with signs reading "Free Listening." While the volunteers offer empathetic responses, they do not offer advice and they never record any of the conversations shared with them.
The project aims to foster connections between strangers and give people a way to freely express whatever they are feeling. As Mathes explains, "People are walking around with a whole lot of crap on their shoulders, and they don't always express that. We don't always know what journey everybody's going through."
Trend Themes
1. The Power of Listening - The Urban Confessional project highlights the trend of creating spaces for individuals to be heard and listened to without judgment or advice, providing opportunities for emotional release and connection.
2. Breaking Down Barriers - The Urban Confessional project showcases the trend of breaking down social barriers by creating platforms for strangers to connect and share their feelings, promoting empathy and understanding.
3. Alternative Mental Health Support - The Urban Confessional project represents the trend of seeking alternative forms of mental health support by offering individuals an outlet for emotional expression and catharsis through face-to-face interactions with trained volunteers.
Industry Implications
1. Mental Health and Counseling - The Urban Confessional project presents an opportunity for the mental health and counseling industry to explore new approaches to emotional support services and address the growing need for platforms that prioritize active listening and empathy.
2. Community Building - The Urban Confessional project offers the community building industry a disruptive innovation opportunity to create spaces and experiences that foster connections between strangers, encourage vulnerability, and promote emotional well-being.
3. Nonprofit and Social Services - The Urban Confessional project opens up possibilities for the nonprofit and social services sector to develop programs and initiatives that focus on emotional support, mental health, and community outreach through unconventional methods such as free listening and sharing.
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