"What we teach/learn in this field - how to be-with an Other shouldn't be isolated, and siphoned off into the rarified atmosphere of the consulting room, but we hope will extend into how we express our humanity in all facets of our lives...."
Cradling the Chrysalis p 175
What is a good life for the 21st century? It’s about living reflectively; attentively; intentionally; responsively; ethically. It’s about being in right relation with partners, friends, children, and work colleagues.
After more than twenty years in the field, we realize that the skills acquired through psychotherapy really ought to be applied to everyday living both at home and in the workplace. 'The Art of Reflective Living' workshops provide an opportunity for participants to acquire simple but powerful interpersonal skills:- Be aware of the importance of ‘a safe space’ and boundaries of self-restraint;
- Capture the breadth and significance of what people say at deeper levels;
- understand what it means to really feel ‘heard’;
- attend to the subtle nuances of rhythm in human communication;
- be fully ‘present’, alert and attuned;
- confront challenging areas with honesty and openness.
We are practitioners, and teachers of psychotherapy and counselling and we’ve been impressed and delighted by the transformative power of this teaching. We know that this is about careful management and teaching style – facilitative and challenging. We want to share the skills of psychotherapy with people who feel something missing, who want to enhance their communication and interactions with others, and bring new energy and meaning to relationships, who want to live ethically with others and have a sense of themselves in the world.
Many people find this learning exciting - life-changing, enhancing their quality of living, working and relating. We find that we learn as much from this work as we teach!