Dear Colleagues
This is a very interesting discussion indeed. I am curious about the
possible workings of relational trauma in attending/avoiding constellations
work/workshops. I wonder if those who do not come again or not at all to
our workshops, might sometimes be doing their 'best' to hold their
trauma(s) at bay (e.g. through avoidance). I tend to trust that those who
are ready to work always make it to the place where they can do it safely,
be it in a constellation field or elsewhere. Here, in addition to the
rather essential group facilitation skills, it may be useful to expand
competencies and evidence in:
- working with relational trauma (especially in trainings);
- relational pedagogy (where experiential methods are thought through
collectively = meaningful theorising instead of the illusion that theory is
impossible or only about defences or that it is cast in stone and cannot
evolve constantly);
- translating across social(=cultural) fields;
- articulating the method eloquently - in a variety of styles and
discourses.
This e-group as well as other CSW institutions contribute to most of the
above abundantly and eloquently via the multiple voices!
Happy New Year!
Dr Dimitrina Spencer
CCTP and Linacre College, University of Oxford
On Wed, Jan 2, 2013 at 9:20 PM, Stephen Campbell <coachuno@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
**
Dearest Colleagues,
May this year be one of great prosperity in all aspects of each of your
lives.
I have found this thread of much interest and like Sheila, with whom I
resonate, I would like to add my two centavos from the perspective of
bilingual and bicultural Facilitator here in Perú.
I was privileged to be part of the first Facilitator training ever held in
this country. Our training was ably managed and coordinated by Tiiu Bozeman
of the Centro Hellinger de Argentina. Our training spanned over 3.5 years
of bi-monthly trainings by members of the teaching staff as well as a
number of invited teachers such as Stephan Hausner and Anngwyn St Just. We
not only learned the theory of this work in a classroom setting, we read
extensively and each module included an entire day of workshop facilitated
by the visiting professor and open to the public at large. These workshops
were amply attended and we got to live and experience the Field and observe
and learn from true masters. I personally travelled to Argentina to see
Bert himself work and teach. Additionally, I travelled to Bernreid to be in
the presence of a wider array of true masters at this craft. All of
which contributed enormously to the Facilitator i have become. And, I
continue to evolve almost on a daily basis as I bring my other therapeutic
skills to this systemic solution.
Early on in my training, a fellow colleague and physician friend and I,
over lunch, came to the realization that in order to really become
competent at this craft we could not merely observe the work of others and
read everything we could get our hands on. We had to get in the pool and
dog paddle if necessary. My dear friend and colleague, who works as a
physician in the national health service, has a private clinic and because
of his professional exposure attracted 40-60 attendees to our weekly
workshops. For well over two years our Friday nights were dedicated to
learning and serving the patients who came to our workshops. He charged a
very modest stipend to each person who attended. We have reminisced that
our early work, way before we had been given "permission" to practice, was
not the most elegant but it was effective. People resolved life altering
issues both physical and emotional through our work. Word of mouth has
kept his clinic full as he continues. I, on the other hand, began offering
workshops at a Healing Center run by dear friends and addressing a whole
different strata of clients. In the early days it was weekly and it is now
twice to three times per month. Like Bill mentioned, I have had three
people show up and we did meaningful work; while discouraging I maintained
my consistency of being there every Thursday evening. This consistency has
paid huge dividends as now my workshops consistently have 15-30
participants. I have replicated this model in several other healing centers
and now do 6-8 workshops per month.The effectiveness of the work speaks for
itself and the word of mouth ( lip radio as it is know here) keeps my
practice vibrant and my workshops well attended.
As Dan mentioned, some people don't like their soiled family laundry to be
aired in public. This is particularly true of a certain socio-economic
strata in this country. So, they choose to come to my office for a private
session in which I use sheets of paper with the following large
inscription on each 0 ^ 0. This represents the individual\s eyes and nose
so the client can position them looking in a given direction. In the past,
each sheet had a name of the element I, as the facilitator, considered
important. Now, other than the sheet which represents the client
him/herself which has their name on it, all the others merely have a small
Roman numeral in the bottom right hand corner. This evolving covert
constellation is evolving and producing some astounding results. That is
subject of another future post or article.
About six months ago I had the privilege of working with two well known
psychiatrists and three psychologists each individually on issues in their
lives. The results of our work in each case were so fruitful that they have
put me on their respective referral lists and until just before the
holidays I had a waiting list of patients.
The purpose of this post is not to say, "Hey,look at me!" it is share that
it is possible to create a vibrant practice and well attended workshops. As
I look back, I see several factors which have contributed to my current
status. Consistency is the primary one. Not only did I hang in there for
the workshops where attendance was minimal and compensation
equally tenuous; but, for the time I worked at the above mentioned clinic,
where I occasionally received taxi fare, I also held workshops to deal with
macro issues relating to Peru as a country at no cost to participants. I
have travelled extensively throughout the country doing workshops organized
by others and this too has borne fruit in that I do private in person
sessions as well as through Skype. And in some cases people travel to Lima,
where I am based, to work with me.
I don't think language per se is the tipping point to well attended
workshops. I have written and let others write, with my oversight,
description of what this work is all about. I speak it of as being
"psychology of the soul" and that captivates many. When I speak of the
Field I relate to those times when we have had an intuition about something
and remark that we are then connected to the Field which is the Field of
all information since the beginning of time. I am sure that there are many,
perhaps including Dr. Sheldrake, but it works. This work I highlight is
about feeling not about thinking. For some this is HARD but even the
bulwarks cave in once in the Field. Dan, I know that you could have created
the success in the Massachusetts Prison System that you did and have
written about if language was the issue.
Word of this effective methodology has spread and colleagues of mine
throughout the country who were trained similarly are using this
methodology to help their patients resolve issues they present. And, it is
not all bright and sunny as we occasionally have to repair work done by
professionals who attended but did not complete the full training. So,
limited knowledge and experience can damage do.
So, in conclusion, I do believe that lengthy training and exposure is a
must. Experience in group dynamics is also a necessary skill to hone such
has been mentioned to provide a safe and loving environment where complete
strangers connect with one and other at such a deep level that they
willingly participate by representing or being the person who receives the
contributions of others. I have others organize my workshops and I
compensate them for their efforts. It is a win win for all. And word of
mouth is unbelievably powerful.
I trust that mis dos centavos (two cents) have value to you.
Abrazos to each of you from summery Peru
Stephen
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