Workshops-Seminars-Retreats
Anger Management | Being a Whole Person | Body Focus | Sacred Space | Parenting | Retreats | Self-care | Sexuality in relationships | Spritiuality | Supervision | Working with Emotions
When I was a fulltime senior lecturer in counselling, I had the pleasure of teaching subjects which covered a broad range of topics (Theories and Practice, Family, Marriage and Relationship Counselling, Supervision, among others). Along with my experience in schools, at camps, in parishes, community forums, and tertiary settings, as a chaplain, counsellor, tutor and community presenter, this has allowed me to develop a range of topics which can be offered in workshop, seminar or retreat form. These topics, with brief descriptions are listed below (and from here on I use the term workshops as a generic term for workshops, seminars and retreats).
All workshops can be tailored to suit needs of particular groups:
- counsellors
- ministers
- teachers
- social workers
- people helpers of various kinds
- and other interested people.
They can be offered for shorter or longer periods of time: ranging from an introductory workshop of one and a half to two hours, through to single or multiple days or weekends, or weekly sessions.
All include a selection of the following:
- lecture style
- discussion
- practice
- theory
- use of powerpoint
- handouts
- Q & A time
- humour
Email for further details about any of the workshops
Anger Management
Originally written as a 6 week (2 hourly) course for community teaching and presentation, it has been refined and taught at academic level, in community settings in Adelaide and South Australian country areas, and as once off educational experiences. It covers topics such as what is anger; tips for managing anger, dealing with anger constructively, the anger game, forgiveness, irrational thinking, responding to someone else’s anger, and includes many practical exercises. What is covered is governed by the length of the course offered. To read an introductory article,click here
Being a Whole Person
So often we are fragmented as we go about our daily living. At different times we are expected to be mum/dad, boss/employee, brother/sister, rational/emotional, buyer/seller, consumer/saver and so the fragmentations go on. Wouldn’t it be nice to just be you? But who are you? This workshop helps you to begin to explore the whole you, to recognise the whole is more than the sum of the parts; it considers different writers’ understandings of wholeness, and helps you to express your wholeness in a variety of creative ways.
Body Focus
In a rational thinking dominated society, we tend to ignore our bodies until something gives! Yet our bodies are a vital part of who each of us is. And our bodies give us messages. You may have heard the term psychosomatic, which refers to the connection of mind and body, the fact that sometimes a physical illness is caused by a mental concern (eg you are more susceptible to getting a cold when under undue stress). Body Focus counselling is much more than that, but it does acknowledge and work with the emotional messages our bodies are giving us. This workshop is very practical, making use of exercises to help us become more aware of our bodies and their vital role in our emotional health.
Creating Sacred Space Within The Profanity (busyness) Of Life
(presented at the 2007 PACFA national conference as a two hour workshop)
For anyone interested in looking after themselves in a more healthy way
This workshop introduces self-care quadrants to explore where you are as far as looking after yourself. It then explores the concepts of Sacred Space and Profane Space, (refined by Richard Rohr), encouraging and inviting attendees to seek and share their own sacred spaces. It also looks at the temptations we face in modern society to deny ourselves these opportunities, and to consider ways of overcoming these. Time permitting various kinds of stopping, and Skovholt’s thoughts on maintaining the professional and personal self are explored.
The second part of the workshop is experiential, making use of music, drawing and visuals to enable a brief experience of sacred space within this presentation.
Designed primarily for parents of high school teenagers – two sessions of two hours
Having survived, and enjoyed, having four teenagers in the house at one time, and now having four adult children (and their partners), and five grandchildren (with more on the way), I’ve had plenty of experience as a parent. Throw in the long term, and continuing, involvement with teenagers through schools, camps, and youth meetings. Add a touch of wisdom from experts in the field, and you receive some sound advice, opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions, and will be reassured about your role as a parent in today’s world.
For individuals or groups – designed to suit you or your group
Virtually any topic can be covered. Click here to read more detail.
Self-Care
In 2003, I wrote a term-length course called “Counsellor Self- Care”, using ideas from Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and Tan’s “Rest” as the basis, with numerous other resources adding to the content. Since that time I have changed and refined the original, as well as developing other ideas, presenting these concepts in three day trainings (to rehab. counsellors) in Tasmania, and both 1 & 2 day retreats to schools in SA, as well as using the outline as a basis for a speaking engagement at a five-day camp. I have recently developed self-care quadrants, which are used as the introduction to this workshop, and which I am hoping to use as the basis for a major article for counsellors.
Sexuality in relationships
The lectures on sexuality in relationships I presented were always looked forward to. Upfront, informative, and real, they challenged students to consider this important dimension of life. We live in a world where sex is in our face everywhere, particularly through advertising, but what do we know about sexuality? This workshop explores its relationship to sensuality, the physical and psychological influences on your sexuality (did you know that the hormone, oxytocin is known as the cuddle chemical? This is because oxytocin levels in the bloodstream increase in both men and women when touched by another in a positive way), differentiation in a relationship, integrity, and provides resources and practical exercises to have fun in your relationship, and in so doing to honour your own (and your partner’s) sexuality and make it a valuable part of your life.
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Spirituality
What is spirituality? What place if any does it have in your life? Is it just mumbo-jumbo? Can I be spiritual without being religious? Can I not? I come from a Christian perspective on spirituality, but I am well aware there is a great search for meaning in life in our society, and spirituality is most often part of that. So this workshop explores questions like: is there a God? If so, how does this God relate to me? How do I get to know God? What is the meaning of life? How do I discover purpose? Is there a place for meditation in my busy schedule? And other questions and topics you may wish to explore.
Supervision
The following areas can be developed: What is supervision? Will it help me in my work? How do I find the best supervisor? Theories of supervision; different methods and models of providing supervision; contracts; individual or group are all explored. Practical exercises in being a supervisor and/or supervisee are included. To read a definition of supervision, and my experience and training in this area, as well as more information on this topic, click here.
Working with Emotions
Some of us are emotional; some of us are not; so goes common wisdom. I would beg to differ. I reckon we’re all emotional; we just have different ways of expressing our emotions (or not expressing them). Common wisdom also says there are positive and negative emotions. Again I beg to differ. The experience of emotions (what we feel) is neutral; what we do with them (how we express them) may be constructive or destructive. In this workshop you will learn what happens physically when you get emotional, how to monitor emotions, how to express them in creative, fun and constructive ways. We’ll almost certainly play The Emotions Game, and it quite likely some writing and/or drawing will occur. At the end of it, you will have a better understanding and be better able to express your emotions.
To read two articles on emotions, click here
To find out about The Emotions Game, click here