As You Are Centre

Groups, Workshops & Events

Workshops

Positive Directions Course Starting on 10th February 2010 the course will run for 6 weeks. It will take place at 11am to 1.30pm every Wednesday.

Do you ever sit down and think you’d like to be doing something else but something just holds you back from it, perhaps you know what it is but can’t see how to overcome it? Sometimes you feel you need to change something but you can’t quite put your finger on what exactly that change needs to be?

Our Positive Directions Course may be able to give you the support and the tools you need to make positive decisions about your future. Looking at subjects such as self-esteem, coping with stress and anxiety, uncovering your inner strengths and practical ideas of how to move forward and achieve your dreams.

For further information or to take part in the course, please contact Nicky Hitchcock on 07952 754 859.



'Masks' Workshop For Counsellors & Psychotherapists

Date to be confirmed. £40.00.

All of us have a variety of masks that each of us wears daily. Many of the masks can be useful they can provide us with defenses when we most need them, or at times when well feel powerless masks can help us achieve an illusion of power that can get us through a difficult or challenging situation. We might slip into these masks to get us through a difficult meeting or job interview, to get us through a busy day after hearing distressing news.

But what about the masks we are less aware of, these may be the identities that have been given to us, or ones that we have assumed over time. Just like when we wear a masquerade mask these metaphoric masks will impact on how we experience the world. Our vision, breathing and even how we relate to others might be affected.
We might work with clients who seem trapped behind their symbolic masks, as we embark on the therapeutic journey we are able to understand the history behind the masks creation. However, we might also become aware that the beliefs behind the mask are old and out dated, we may well experience the self deprecating humour or intimacy avoidance first hand. Like performers from ancient Greece these clients can seem to speak their words while holding masks in front of their face.

This experiential workshop aims to give you an understanding behind the reasons we have to create these symbolic masks. You will also work with the facilitators to develop useful and creative ways to work with symbolic masks in the therapy room.

If you would be interested in attending this workshop please contact Nicky on 07952754859 or Click here to email us


Groups

Professional Development and Discussion Forum

Counselling/psychotherapy can be a very isolated profession, the therapeutic hour rich with emotions and intimacy can be a stark contrast to the intervening hours. Time spent writing notes, letters, and the constant pursuit of ethical practice means private practice can be a lonely career path to take. We also hear from counsellors working within other agencies who are left feeling despondent as they strive to provide their clients with the therapeutic relationship in an environment void of empathic understanding and the core conditions. At As You Are we would like to offer all counsellors and trainee counsellors an opportunity to join our discussion forum and support network group.

Our bi-monthly meetings will provide space to meet other like minded professionals as we discuss relevant topics and issues. The agenda will be decided by those attending and will be facilitated by a qualified counsellor. We recognize that each of our members brings their own unique qualities and skills and we would welcome offers and ideas of presentations.

If you would be interested in joining this group contact Nicky on 07952754859 or Click here to email us

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Benefits of groups

Feeling less isolated and more understood by others

Feeling more hopeful about the future

Opportunity to try out new ways of relating in a safe environment

Be supported whilst sharing difficult feelings

Validating and relief at realising that you are not the only one experiencing difficult feelings

Facilitators
Our facilitators are experienced counsellors and trained to certificate level in Groupwork Facilitation Skills by Wealden College, Crowborough.

Acceptance onto the above groups will involve an initial free consultation to ensure that groupwork is right for you and to put together a group ready to embark on the journey. A deposit is due at the consultation.

Click here to join our groups mailing list or to let us know if there are any groups you would like to see running.

Workshops
We are keen to work with local charities and organisations to develop bespoke in-house workshops. Recent workshops have included a Self-Esteem workshop (part of International Women's Day) and an Away Day (team building for a supported housing association). Please contact us if you have any ideas you would like to develop and discuss with us.