Cutting in Cutting Through

Hi

In the last month I have attended two sessions of a workshop, "Cutting in Cutting Through" presented by Dr Wendy McIntosh of Davaar Consultancy Training and Development.

The workshop was designed for health and community sector staff who work with people who self-harm.

While the subject matter is intense, Wendy's facilitation style is powerful and fast paced. Wendy warms people up in the morning session, through some group activities and discussion about the key concepts related to why people self-harm.

In the afternoon session, I saw Wendy in full flight using psychodrama as a training technique.

Psychodrama, or 'drama for the soul' was developed by J L Moreno. Unlike Freud, who developed psychodrama with the doctor as the all knowing expert, Moreno believed people were experts in their own lives. Psychodrama provides the platform for people to be experts through role playing their stories. Role playing allows for self-reflection and change.

At the training, participants shared stories of their own roles while working with clients who self-harm. Participants then chose which stories they would like see 'acted out'. Wendy played director as participants re-enacted the interactions between staff and clients.

In order to really appreciate what it is like to 'walk in another's shoes', Wendy asked participants to swap the role of worker to that of client. The participants who found themselves in the role of client reported that it gave them a greater appreciation of their client's experience. This provided the platform for them to relfect on their own practice and think through future interactions. Wendy challenged participants to swap back to being the worker and try another approach or intervention given the new insight.

It was powerful and transforming. I think it is an amazing training tool. Adult learning principles include 'experiential' training methods and this is a fantastic choice for human services where training is in a simulated environment.

Wendy is a gifted trainer and I feel so fortunate that she is sharing her experiences and skills with me.

Regards
Michelle