How did this workshop impact my practice? It helped me value myself more…
Why do we need Creative Consultation and Support?
Sometimes our clients confuse or challenge us, and leave us not knowing how to respond in the most growth-producing way. As body-oriented practitioners, we know that our relationships with our clients are essential to learning and healing, but we are often left to figure this piece out on our own. Even if we were lucky enough to have some training in interpersonal dynamics, without trusted colleagues to consult with, we may end up feeling isolated or, worse, incompetent. Of course, we are competent professionals and we want to provide the best care we can. When we gain insight into client-practitioner dynamics, we gain confidence in how to maintain our role as care-providers with the variety of interpersonal challenges clients can present. This leads to healthier outcomes for clients —and for us.
What we'll do in the group meetings
Creative Consultation and Support will steep participants in the Balint group process: participatory meetings in which the group shares cases from their clinical work. Participants will each get a turn to describe a client-practitioner situation that interests them, then sit back and listen to the group reflect thoughtfully and creatively about the case. The presenter then gets a goody-bag of new ideas, validations, insights, and often a renewed feeling of connection to take with them back to their practice.
Throughout our time together, and when appropriate, I will help the group establish vocabulary that directs us away from advice-giving and other habits we have that may impede the safety and open flow of the group. Our intent is to deepen our empathy for the experience of both client and practitioner, while clarifying the practitioner's professional perspective.
Who the course serves
Creative Consultation and Support for Body-Oriented Practitioners is open to massage therapists, yoga teachers in private practice, Feldenkrais practitioners, somatic educators, acupuncturists, PTs, OTs, somatically-oriented mental health counselors, and any clinician or educator working with individual clients in a body-centered practice. Licensed or certified professionals only.
Read an article about Creative Consultation and Support
Sheri contributed the article, What's Between You and Your Client: A Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Model, to In Touch, the professional newsletter of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, where Feldenkrais practitioners write for other practitioners.
How do I join a Creative Consultation and Support group?
Every potential participant receives a brief interview so we can make sure we are a good match.