NEXT PUBLIC COURSE IN 2012: Our next public course is 25th September 2012 in London - please see our Training & Events page

"I found I have lots more tools to use but most of all I found the approach almost opposite to what I had been doing. To look forward and motivate is great and the language tips were fantastic. I found it very inspiring - the most valuable training I have ever been on".
Jade Levell, Catch 22, Southampton

Eileen devised this approach while working with young offenders, some of whom had had difficult and challenging childhoods. However, the majority of the group that Eileen worked with responded well to a focus on recognition of the realities of their current situations; discussions about resilience; an examination of alternatives; a repairing of relationships and attitudes and eventually - what change would look like.  

 

It was through the development of this approach that Eileen met and was influenced by Hawkes,

Wilgosh & Marsh, the award winning practitioners in Solution Focused Brief Therapy (deShazer '85).

 

The Examine, Repair & Move On Approach, incorporates the research from the neuro-sciences,

communication skills, language skills including analogies and metaphor and visuals such as The Change Balloon,(Murphy '93) that are especially useful when working with children and young people. The visuals also include Self-Monitor Charts and "Notice-Board" charts for use within schools.  

 

The tools of the approach are included in all of our training and provides a good structure for working in a Solution Focused framework:

 

Meeting the client in their view of the world and using language, analogies and metaphor that resonate allows for real listening for both worker and client.

 

Weight-Watchers is a very successful business because people need people to notice the change which then motivates them to continue the change.  

 

Expecting someone to behave in a certain way can often leave a person no other choice than to follow the pattern cut for them.

 

A person's commitment to change often requires someone to collude with them on the possibility of change.  Neuro-science studies would indicate that Placebos are exactly that - an expectation that change can occur.  The "curious" language we use and the visual tools we implement allow for a mapping of "when" rather than "if" change occurs.  Individuals can benefit from "practising" a new behaviour in preparation for their personal change.

 

Creating an atmosphere for people to talk about how they need things to be - visualising what they will say and how others will respond, encourages preparation for change and an understanding of the likely consequences.

 

The Change Balloon; The Scaling Walk; The Relationship Map; Monitor Charts; The 24 hour Clock -  simple tools that externalises the problem and helps individuals to focus on who could do what to help change take place.

 

Founded in the language of deShazer's Solution Focused Brief Therapy model and the rituals and expectations of placebos and NLP,  the Silent Session is a non-intrusive

opportunity for the client to "talk" through their difficulty; their part in any negative pattern that exists,identify exceptions, strengths, resources and their preferred futures without having to "edit" or "translate" for the listener.

 

6 Session step-by-step exercises for group and 1:1 sessions

Parenting the Teenager