Presence: A bi-monthly experiential group

Presence: an experiential, ongoing group for psychotherapists and counsellors

9.30am - 4.00pm. The group meets bimonthly on dates agreed together in advance. The number of participants is limited to 16. The next two dates are Tuesday 24th January and Mon 20th March. 

To book or for further information please contact Rachael on kellettr@gmail.com

Presence is a co-created, ongoing experiential group where we give ourselves permission to explore being more authentic, discover our own depths, and learn more about how we are experienced by others. It is based on a shared commitment to meet together and participate in a lightly structured, spontaneous process in which whatever emerges allows each of us to experiment and grow in awareness. 

What you can expect

As facilitators, we seek to hold a ‘contained spaciousness’ where everyone can say what they need to say and disagreements can be safely voiced. We aim to make space in which each person has a chance to be fully seen and heard and learn about themselves through their engagement or withdrawal at any given time. With each person responsible for their own boundaries and choices.

A typical day includes the following practices (subject to the unpredictability of co-creation!):

• initial check-in (sharing our insights/ news since the last meeting/current feelings/health concerns)
• open group sharing and responses/circle work
• experiential exercises and focusing on a theme/topic designed to bring new awareness
• time alone, in pairs and small groups inside or outside in nature
• simple, self-created ‘ceremonies’/symbolic actions witnessed by the group
• mindfulness and guided imagery
• check out at the end of the day (How are we feeling? Where are we now? Is there anything unfinished for us?)

Some example topics the group has wanted to explore include: Looking at life purpose and values; spiritual development however defined by the individual; Life transitions; Gender issues; Shame; Living through the Covid pandemic; Neuro-diversity; Trauma and trauma responses; Owning our shadow.

Practicalities

The basic commitment asked of everyone who joins the group is to attend on the agreed dates unless illness or genuine emergencies prevent us and to share honestly - their thoughts, feelings and sensations in the moment - even if this feels uncomfortable at times.

Our experience over eight years has been that the courage this takes always leads to a deeper sense of belonging and to a more authentic experience of connection to others and ourselves. Insights, self-realisation, or awareness may come at the time or on our own after the group. It is our collective experience that staying with the process as it unfolds always leads to personal growth and greater integration.

If you wish to join us we ask that you are willing to:

• Be as present and authentic as you can be in each moment.
• Practise being aware of your own process whilst still allowing yourself and others to learn by getting things ‘wrong’.
• Explore conflict and the expression of anger without lashing out, blaming, or permanently leaving the group.
• Own our projections (either at the time or as soon as we realise what we may have put onto others). 
• Engage with whatever process emerges when we gather and stay with that to the best of our ability.
• Take ownership of everything we bring to the group, of what we say and how we act.
• Give and receive feedback in responsible ways, without being afraid to take risks and noticing when you may be avoiding challenges.
• Look at your own defences.
• Finally, making the time and space in our lives to come away to a beautiful venue, and sharing a meal as part of our day, have also been important elements in the ‘magic’ of this experiential process. ‘Jordans’ has been a crucible for personal and collective transformation for over 300 years.

Testimonials

“Presence has allowed me to continue deepening my understanding of myself and the impact other people have on me and I on them. I have learned so much about group dynamics that is invaluable in my counselling work and also how to stay true to myself. All this in a supportive, life-affirming and emotionally literate group” (S. F.)

What past and present participants say they have most valued:

• honesty, sharing of vulnerability, mutual support, feeling the caring
• safety: receiving and being in a field of compassion and acceptance
• continuity and deep connection I don’t have elsewhere
• growing in awareness; being appreciated for who I am and experiencing others’ generosity of spirit
• a space to grow, develop; a chunk of time set aside for myself, a chance to listen and focus on what’s really going on in my life
• whole-self development; growing in awareness and emotional/relational competence
• the only group I’m in where there’s no pressure to be okay or perform – even to pretend I’m fine by the end of the day