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Workshop content

Facilitating Groups and Leading Teams

An holistic model of group facilitation

In this workshop we will:

  • Explore Gestalt models that illuminate group processes and their management

  • Provide opportunity for you to profile your own leadership style

  • Work in-depth with conscious and unconscious group process and the group dynamic

  • Provide opportunity for experiencing group facilitation in the Gestalt inspired model

Learning process

You will be encouraged to explore numerous models of facilitation, to profile your own leadership style and its address of physical, social, creative and spiritual intelligence, and ability to communicate and relate to the whole group field.

You will also be invited to assess your strengths and weaknesses in facilitating groups and to increase your repertoire of options and skills through practical engagement.

An in-depth experience of group process and its facilitation will be provided, where the task will be secondary to what experientially unfolds, and where participants will explore ‘the group’ as it happens - experimentation will therefore be a central feature.

Participant profile

This workshop is for all those who wish to refine their appreciation of group dynamics and to enhance the effectiveness of their leadership and facilitation style.

Key concepts

  • Leadership

  • Facilitation

  • Group dynamics

 

Gestalt Coaching and Counselling

An emergent model of coaching

This workshop will:

  • Provide a one-to-one experiential intervention skills-building opportunity

  • Enable participants to develop congruence between their coaching intentions, one-to-one facilitation skills, and interventions

  • Encourage participants to assess their strengths against various models and criteria so as to extend their skills repertoire and their coaching/counselling style.

Learning Process

Though focusing on the Gestalt model, this workshop will review the contributions of psychodynamic, humanistic and transpersonal approaches, with a view to illuminating what is unique and common within each.

You will experience these models live, before being invited to work in pairs or to experiment with coaching and with being coached yourself, after which you will have opportunity to receive quality feedback.

You will be given the opportunity to practise skills and awareness-building interactions and will receive feedback on your ability to recognise and to work with verbal, non-verbal, emotional, attitudinal and behavioural agendas.

You may choose to work especially with negative and positive transference, challenge, or to experiment with facilitative and authoritative coaching styles, depending on your unique needs.

Participant profile

For all professionals who facilitate one-to one development in an educational, training, management, supervisory, caring, coaching or a counselling capacity.

Key concepts

  • Counselling

  • One-to-one development

  • Coaching

 

Inquiring in the Gestalt Way

An holistic inquiry into group facilitation and self development

This workshop will provide:

  • Theory

  • Experiential exercises to raise awareness

  • Opportunity to integrate insights from field theory and Gestalt therapy

  • Development of your own organisational consultancy and group facilitation style

Learning process

Gestalt raises awareness to the energy patterns that both facilitate and interrupt mindfulness.  We appreciate from Gestalt how to ‘be’ more and to ‘do’ less and how to inquire into our perceptions and phenomenological reality.

Attending to what is organically evolving in the present, and trusting to the wisdom of uncertainty, this workshop will explore the energetic nature of the learning group.  It will demonstrate how field theory and other modes of holistic inquiry may be used to inquire into individuals and teams, with a view to illuminating their deeper dynamics and needs so that organisations may become better homes for the human spirit.

The group will be run along the lines of a Gestalt informed peer-learning and inquiring community, and make use of case study plus live examples.

Participant profile

This workshop is for those interested in exploring methods of quality inquiry such as field theory, to illuminate the shadow-side of individuals and groups, and is suitable for trainers, consultants, teachers and students.

Key concepts

  • Inquiry

  • Field theory

  • Shadow-consultancy

 

Resolving Conflict and Healing Communities

A Gestalt approach to facilitating conflict resolution in organisations

This workshop provides an opportunity to:

  • Understand and experience processes of conflict resolution in one-to-one, group, team and community settings

  • Experience and practise a wide range of Gestalt informed consulting techniques through case study and live enactment

  • Assess and develop your strengths in consultancy while identifying areas for your further professional development as an organisational consultant

  • Receive shadow consultancy focused upon your consulting strategies, intentions, values, interventions and conflict resolution style

Learning process

Input will include orientation to a developmental model that accounts for physical, social and emotional engagement, plus the management of orientation, identification, exploration and resolution phases of the client-consultant relationship.

Within this workshop you will explore through case study and practical simulation how to illuminate an understanding of organisational processes, inclusive of the conscious and unconscious dynamics that cause distress.

The learning group will itself be approached as a mini-organisation and live conflict resolution will be enacted when issues arise that block forward movement and/or threaten the workshop’s peer-learning and community health.

Live supervision and coaching will also be made available.

Participant profile

Open to all interested in advancing their conflict resolution, assertion and consultancy skills. This offering is appropriate to those who work in the private or voluntary sector, and who wish to explore the demands and delights of internal or external consultancy.

Key concepts

  • Conflict resolution

  • Assertion

  • Consultancy skills

 

Gestalt Exploration of Spirituality

A collaborative inquiry into the transpersonal

This workshop will:

  • Stimulate reflection on the nature of the spirit and soul, and engage you in experiential exercises designed to help expand awareness and mindfulness

  • Examine Zen, Taoist and Shamanistic approaches to the development of spiritual consciousness

  • Encourage participants to craft for themselves an approach to the cultivation of mindfulness which best serves their own personal preferences, needs and style

Learning Process

We will engage with various styles of reflective inner-facing methods of inquiry, inclusive of the more traditional approaches to contemplation and meditation, which invite a focus upon the breath, an external object, a symbol or text.

We will be led by transpersonal aspects of the group process as a representative of the fertile void and the unknowable.

After each experiential exercise we will pool together the fruits of our inquiry and evaluate its unique qualities and usefulness.  In this way we will conduct an ongoing and organically unfolding collaborative inquiry into the spirit.

Participant profile

This workshop is for anyone who wishes to explore the territory of their intuition, the unknown and unknowable, and the place of the transpersonal in their everyday life.

Key concepts

  • Meditation

  • Mindfulness

  • The nature of soul

 

Creativity is Gestalt

An experiential exploration of creativeness

This workshop provides an opportunity to:

  • Understand and experience how creativity can be used in Gestalt work

  • Create and co-create tools for exploring and learning

  • Experience own creative processes and growing edges

  • Explore how creativity can be used in day-to-day work

Learning Process

You will explore individually, and within the group, the use of different creative medium as part of our learning process.

The workshop will provide opportunities for individual exploration, working in pairs and working as a whole group.

Time will be given to discuss how creative approaches can be used to extend and enhance our work.

Participant profile

Open to all those interested in advancing their practice, experimenting with different approaches, and sharing their creative practices such as art, music, sculpture, drama, martial arts and so on.  Particularly applicable for those who are interested in extending their range and pushing their development boundaries.

Key concepts

  • Creativity

  • Co-creativity

  • Exploration and learning

Weekend Workshops
Time: 10am - 5pm, Saturday & Sunday
Fee: £200 (lunch included)
Facilitator: Paul Barber

For more information or to reserve a place, please e-mail gestaltinaction@msn.com or use the form on the 'Contact us' page.

Non-residential weekend workshops are scheduled to take place in Redhill on the dates shown below.
Gestalt Coaching and Counselling
February 18-19, 2012
Resolving Conflict and Healing Communities
April 21-22, 2012
Inquiring in the Gestalt Way
June 23-24, 2012
Facilitating Groups and Leading Teams
July 28-29, 2012
Gestalt Exploration of Spirituality
September 8-9, 2012
Gestalt Coaching and Counselling
November 3-4, 2012
Gestalt in Action
Gestalt in Action
7 Ridgeway Road, Redhill, Surrey
Read what others have said!
Below are just a few of the comments received from those who have attended.
Committing the time to attend the weekend workshops has paid off handsomely...
"Working with Paul serves two equally important purposes for me. Firstly, to deepen and strengthen the way I facilitate groups (this is a large part of my job). More specifically, this means to expand my capacity to facilitate at multiple levels: intuitive, physical, social, imaginative as well as intellectual and emotional. The second purpose was desire to explore my inner self and develop my awareness. On both counts, committing the time to attend the weekend workshops has paid off handsomely.

Paul creates a wonderful balance between experiencing Gestalt and giving input about how to bring the Gestalt experience to life. This point is best illustrated by my own experience on one of the workshops of facilitating an open space session with the group. Without going into details (to protect confidentiality), this challenge stretched me to my limits and beyond. Yet Paul’s support and feedback was constructive, clear, pertinent, backed by genuine concern and his characteristically appropriate dash of humour. I could easily cite half a dozen similar examples, all of which have helped me to grow, to increase my self-awareness and enhance my groupwork skills."
(Steven Hunt)
Got the chance to move on...
"Thanks for last weekend; it's always a pleasure to work with you even if at times the feeling around growth can be painful.  Therapeutic work carries that wonderful paradox: so you are in pain?  Well, come and experience it more and maybe one day you'll feel better.  Not exactly a great sales pitch but millions buy anyway, eh?  The call for me to return to real 'work' is stronger now and after the Gestalt In Action weekend I feel I have stronger ideas on how I can achieve more and maybe avoid some of the personal traps I set myself when working with people, or at least know when I set them.  Gestalt Literature bangs on a lot about the special-ness of groups; how disparate strangers create an atmosphere between them that offers space to 'move on' meaning (for me) to grow and deal with the 'stuff' that each of us carries.  Well, I guess I saw that, felt it and got the chance to move on.  Thank you."
Energised by being in such a group...
"Thanks for the workshop; I came to realise that I do not have nearly enough intellectual stimuli.  I felt very energised by being in such a group of people - which reconfirmed my need for more of that in my life again!"
Make contact with all that you know...
"I think my quote for your literature might be...'Go with an open mind and heart and be prepared to make contact with all that you know, not just what you think you know.  This connection will enable you to use your own intuitive power to fully benefit both yourself and others."
Had a huge impact...
"I just wanted to thank you for the excellent weekend course.  It has been working away on me, and occasionally surfaces.  For example, I am writing a children's book at the moment, and it has had a huge impact on how I write.  I realised that I was pontificating a lot, trying to put over a viewpoint, instead of just speaking about how the character feels.  It sounds obvious when put like that, but the gestalt approach showed me how to do it, so that is a big impact.  I am trying to attend more to the moment in my daily life though!  Also, another thing I took away with me - I am trying to remember to breathe!!  How crazy we human beings are, not knowing what we need!  Anyhow, I thought it was great."
Got such a lot out of it...
"In terms of the workshop I got such a lot out of it, I am making myself get better at accepting positive feedback.  I'd like to really thank you for your insight into my 'juvenileness' as you framed an issue that I've been feeling for a long time.  Now I know what it is, I start addressing it."
Incredibly valuable both professionally and personally...
"Thanks again for the w/e.  It has been remarkable learning in so many ways and has been incredibly valuable both professionally and personally.  I think it is fabulous how things can change so rapidly and dramatically - a simple matter of fact and also extraordinary at the same time!  I loved it all - I was going to say 'even the difficult bits', but I suppose it was especially thanks to the difficult bits and challenging myself; I found that the opportunity to check out some of my 'missed' communications with others was also especially helpful - that has made sense of what can happen in my family too.  I enjoyed watching you work, relishing your skill, loving your light touch and humour.  It was great to have lots of new ideas, thoughts and approaches to consider - and to have some of my own intuitions confirmed as, on occasions, you did what I would have wanted to do.  I feel lighter, brighter and more confident - so..........a BIG thank you!"
A great, restoring and enlivening weekend...
"Many thanks for a great, restoring and enlivening weekend.  Also I now have a much clearer agreement with PWC Director and the Chief Exec of my client re the client work I was discussing and feel hugely released.  Thanks a bunch I really enjoyed the weekend and also feel it will take a little while for me to process its impact on me."
Paul Barber
Paul Barber
I have a PhD in Group Facilitation from the University of Surrey, an MSc in Management and Education from Edinburgh University, a BA in Social Sciences and the Arts from the Open University, and an Honorary Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy.

I am registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and also accredited by the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT) and United Kingdom Association for Gestalt Practitioners (UKAGP).  

I teach Gestalt therapy and practice, group facilitation, clinical philosophy and research, counselling and organisational consultancy in university settings, and have researched and published widely on health, therapy and organisational change.  

As a psychotherapist in private practice, I see individuals and couples and facilitate Gestalt therapy groups.  In addition, I supervise Gestalt, humanistic and psychodynamic therapists, as well as coaches and consultants.    

I also offer a range of workshops suitable for trainee and qualified psychotherapists, counsellors, trainers, coaches and organisational consultants, and anyone interested in personal and professional development.
EAGLOD
Gestalt in Action is affiliated to the European Association for Gestalt in Leadership and Organisational Development (EAGLOD).  Attendance at four of our workshops plus an account of learning will lead to the award of a Certificate in Gestalt Practice.  The Diploma in Gestalt Practice may be gained after eight workshops and submission of a case study.
To book please click here
This will take you to the 'Contact us' page where you can e-mail gestaltinaction@msn.com to reserve a place.