Reflecting on the training delivered by Citizen Coaching, by Matthew Shrine.
Training: Creative Experimentations in Gestalt Therapy delivered by David Mann
When I arrived at the iconic Custard Factory, the first thing that struck me was what a beautiful and interesting location for training and therapy, with it’s colourful street art and a wide range of independent and alternative shops. There seemed to be a connection between them all of encouraging personal expression and celebrating individuality. It had a warm glow about the place and felt like somewhere where anyone could fit in. There was a beautiful and serene lake where you could relax and soak up the atmosphere of the place.
When I found the Citizen Coaching hub, I was welcomed with big smiles and friendly faces, and offered a drink. The training room itself was spacious and bright with big windows and comfy seats. I felt well looked after and instantly at ease with the people that I met, who had also come for the training. The training space was set out so we could all see each other, and with nice couches, this really felt a lot better than sitting behind desks or facing the front of a room. It felt like an open arena where we could all engage with each other.
Prior to going to the training day, I had only ever heard of Gestalt Therapy and the experiments that they do. I knew nothing, in fact if I’m being honest, I was not even sure how to pronounce it correctly. But one thing I did have was an open mind and willingness to really engage and see what I could learn and get out of the experience.
It was not like traditional training where you just sit while an expert talks at you for a few hours. The whole day was more of a group discussion and practical experimentation. I felt that this format was perfect given the topic. It was a great mix of information, demonstrations and experimental activities. I will not bore you with explanations of them all, as I would not want to ruin the experience for anyone wanting to go themselves, however, here are a few of the ones I enjoyed and my experience of them.
One of the first things I liked was that we didn’t just sit and listen, but we were constantly moving around and standing up, getting our bodies and minds active. We started by doing a check in, where we named animals we felt represented how we were feeling. It was an interesting experiment in projection; I chose a sloth as I felt sluggish yet determined to move forward.
Another experiment was standing opposite another person and copying the way they were stood, their posture and then describing how it felt for me. I found this really fascinating and that it offered insight to how I was feeling and what my body posture meant for me. It felt strange to copy someone else’s posture, as it was so different from my own.
The experiment that had the biggest impact on me personally, was when we went round and gave each other compliments. At first it felt a strange for me and I felt slightly awkward. I feel this reflected my own difficulties in accepting positive comments from others. As it went on, I felt more comfortable and able to sit happily with the comments and let them fill me with a warm feeling.
Halfway through the day, we took a break for lunch and all went together and ate in the cafe downstairs. I felt this had a real community feel to it, and was a great opportunity for us to talk to other trainee therapists, as well as the more experienced ones. It was really interesting and a rare chance to share ideas and thoughts with others.
As the day progressed, I felt more at ease and felt that the trainer, Dave Mann, was interesting but also very down-to-earth and genuine. He has real genuineness about him and seemed wise and good at conveying his knowledge and wisdom. He was easy to talk and engage with, and was genuinely interested in all of us as individuals, what was happening for us, and what we did in relation to our jobs and lives.
In summary, I really gained a lot from the training day. I learned new ideas and potential experiments that I can try, and felt I could add a new dimension to my work with clients. But I also felt like I gained personal insight to my own movements and behaviour, as well as new things for me to think about and maybe carry try out myself.
Finally, I felt like I gained new relationships with other people involved, and in particular the staff at Citizen Coaching. I would highly recommend the training to other therapists and trainees from any modality, as I feel anyone could easily engage and have the opportunity to try out and learn new things about themselves, and also to try out with their clients. Also, I would highly recommend Citizen Coaching to all, for great training opportunities and also to others seeking a location to conduct therapy sessions in a warm, welcoming, tranquil and colourful setting.
Matt Shrine [Trainee Therapist]