An introduction to facilitating ‘The Work That Reconnects’ for Clinical and Counselling Psychologists.

Details:
With increasing awareness that climate change and ecological degradation is a catastrophic threat within our lifetimes, many clinical practitioners are asking how they can apply their skills to support people with their emotional responses to this unprecedented situation and to make a positive contribution towards a ‘great turning’ towards a regenerative society.

Clinical and counselling psychology has, as a profession, been late to turn its attention towards these issues. However in the field of ecophilosophy, a very well developed and powerful methodology has been elaborated over the last 40 years by Joanna Macy and associates. This methodology, variously called ‘deep ecology workshops’, ‘grief and empowerment workshops’ and now ‘The Work That Reconnects’, whilst not backed by the standard empirically based outcome research, is rooted in a sound and coherent theoretical framework consistent with psychological theory and practice. It has also been experienced by many thousands of participants over the years who contest to its power in releasing stuck grief, moving people and from panic or despair to empowerment, and introducing powerful new perspectives to people’s lives.

This training will provide an introduction to The Work That Reconnects. During the two days participants will experience the 4 stages of the spiral. This will be interspersed with teaching and discussion of facilitation skills and issues. We will particularly focus on questions and issues relevant for Psychologist facilitators, potentially including:

Mapping TWTR onto psychological models
Getting out of the clinic: Appropriate settings for TWTR
Self-disclosing in groups (being a participant facilitator)
Getting comfortable with strong emotional releasing
Letting go of pathologising, fixing, and status (even when we think we have already!)

Requirements:

Participants should read ‘Active Hope’ or ‘Coming Back to Life’ prior to attending the workshop.
Participants are recommended to have experienced a workshop in TWTR or similar grief space prior to attending.

The next training in October 2023 is fully booked. Follow dandelion.Earth for details of future training, or sign up for our newsletter here (link missing)