This course aims to provide a thorough training in working with individuals, groups and teams. It is designed for professionals who are required to facilitate groups, be that in residential settings (such as prisons or therapeutic communities) or in a more public context. This includes group workers, community leaders, mediators, educators as well as coaches, counsellors and organisational consultants.

This training intensive explores the link between more individualised approaches to reconciliation such as counselling and working with dual and larger systems. The course recognises the larger dynamics behind all conflict and the common ground shared by enemies.
Counselling skills complement both group facilitation and conflict resolution skills and include unconditional positive regard, respect and authenticity. The principles of non-violent communication underpin these activities.

By drawing course participants from a wide variety of professional backgrounds the course community will provide a rich and fertile environment for challenge, support and personal development.
The training is run by Naos in conjunction with the The Forgiveness Project, who's own methodologies and contributions to the field of restorative justice are an integral part of this course.

To download the flyer, click here.

Faculty: The faculty includes Prof Renos Papadopoulos, Marina Cantacuzino, Judi Keshet-Orr, Arike, Ulrike Encke, Hen Wilkinson, Indra Adnan, Tineke Brackel, Dieuwke Begemann, Jaap Westerbos and Bernd C. Leygraf (Course Directors).

Dates: October 2012 - October 2013, one full day per month plus four weekend intensives (Saturday to Sunday, 10.00 - 17.00, non-residential, total: 21 days). In addition course participants are required to take part in once monthly peer sessions for support, skills training and discussion.

Location: London. Possibly Avenue House, Finchley.

Fees: £1.450, payable by one deposit of £100 (to reserve your place), plus one full payment of £1.350, or 9 instalments of £135 a month. Fees paid upfront are reduced by 10% (in which case the total fees will be £1.305) A limited number of bursaries is available.

• Student Testimonials

  • “Just wanted to say a huge thank you for what transpired to be an amazing opening to the diploma, Jaap & Bernd are 2 of the most incredible facilitators I have ever met and I can say my experience was one of an assortment of words including, openess, newness, differences and I could go on and on!”
    Tracey Ford, Founding Director JAGS Foundation

    
    “I am very impressed by the course so far and I can be very cynical and arrogant when it comes to training as my previous career was designing courses for years (for the legal profession which is different but I can tell a good course from a badly designed one).
    You definitely got the balance of practice versus theory right but also my God you all know so well what you are doing!!  You and Bernd are great, you really know how to communicate and push our boundaries but create a safe environment at the same time. Difficult balance to strike...  I am also ever so impressed by Renos Papadapoulos.  The way he held everyone's attention so well all day was remarkable... If all your guest speakers are as good as you guys and him, we will have a great year.”
    Yeshim Harris, Director Engi

    
    “I am absolutely loving the course!!”
    Sue Dominey

• Full Course Content
  • 
    Course content
    
    Group Facilitation
    1. The core principles and values underpinning successful facilitation work: creating an environment of trust, observing group process, intervention skills, handling conflict and complex situations
    2. Tools and techniques used in facilitation: story telling, dialogue skills, appreciative inquiry, Gestalt cycle, Transactional Analysis
    3. The role of the facilitator: use of self, presence, authenticity, holding and containment
    4. Psychological theory underpinning group facilitation: Tuckman (1965), Schwarz (2002), Doyle (2003) et al.
    
    Conflict Resolution
    1. The principles of non-violent communication. Language of responsibility, feedback, personal ownership, projections, emotional availability, the quality of the relationship, shadow functions
    2. Working with cultural differences, including gender, race, sexuality, victim and perpetrator cultures
    3. Working with a variety of value systems
    4. Taking a non-defensive stance
    5. Working with one-person, dual and larger systems
    
    Counselling Skills
    1. Carl Rogers’ core conditions: empathy, authenticity and respect
    2. Intimate relationship skills
    3. Disclosure and transparency: Transactional Analysis, Karpman’s Drama Triangle
    4. Ethical practice and establishing and holding boundaries
    5. Active listening
    6. Verbal and non-verbal skills.
    
    Additional teaching
    1. The Essential Peacemaking: Woman and Men, an approach to resolution of gender conflict, created by the Earthstewards Network (ESN)
    2. Principles of Soft Power
    3. Inspirational Leadership
    4. Hellinger’s hidden symmetry of love.
    
    Methodology
    The programme combines didactic and experiential learning, skills training in triads and small groups, guided reading and large group process.
    
    Faculty
    The faculty represents a wide range of expertise in the field of conflict resolution, group facilitation and counsellin
    For biographies see: About Us.
    Prof Renos Papadopoulos, Marina Cantacuzino, Judi Keshet-Orr, Arike, Ulrike Encke, Hen Wilkinson, Indra Adnan, Tineke Brackel, Dieuwke Begemann, Jaap Westerbos and Bernd C. Leygraf (Course Directors).
    
    Handbook
    All course participants will be provided with an extensive course handbook, including handouts, code of ethics, assessment forms, essay title, a reading list and more.
    
    Course dates 2012/2013
    The course runs from October 2012 until October 2013: one full Saturday per month plus four weekend intensives (Saturday to Sunday, 10.00 - 17.30 non-residential). Total: 21 days. In addition course participants are required to take part in once monthly peer sessions for support, skills training and discussion.
    
    Provisional dates, subject to change 
    October 13 and October 14, 2012
    October 27, 2012
    November 17, 2012
    December 8, 2012
    January 6, 2013
    February 9 and February 10, 2013
    March 2, 2013
    March 23, 2013
    April 20, 2013
    May 4, 2013
    May 25, 2013
    June 15 and June 16, 2013
    July 6, 2013
    July 20, 2013
    September 7, 2013
    September 28, 2013
    October 12 and October 13, 2013
    
    Assessment
    To qualify for the Diploma students are required to complete one 3.500 words case study, active participation, have fully paid all course fees and attend a minimum of 90% of the course.
    
    Award
    A Diploma in Group Facilitation, Conflict Resolution and Counselling Skills. Graduates may apply to UKAHPP (Association for Humanistic Psychology Practitioners) for national accreditation as group facilitator (or mediator).
    
    Entry Requirements: 
    There are no formal entry requirements.
    No less than 1year experience working with people.
    
    Accreditation
    A Diploma in Group Facilitation, Conflict Resolution and Counselling Skills. Graduates may apply to UKAHPP (Association for Humanistic Psychology Practitioners) for national accreditation as group facilitator (or mediator).
    
    Fees
    £1.450, payable by one deposit of £100 (to reserve your place), followed by 9 instalments of £135 a month. Fees paid upfront are reduced by 10% (in which case the total fees will be £1.305). We have a limited number of bursary places which are allocated on a first come basis. 
    
    Application process
    Applicants are required to complete the application form (click here).
    This will be followed by a telephone interview. If offered a place, a course contract will have to be completed and an initial deposit of £100 to secure a place.
    
    
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