Past workshops

November 3-10th 2018 - ( a similar course will take place in September 2021)
Cortijo Romero, Andalusia, Spain.
Opening Doors to Invisible Worlds
Re-awaken your sense of wonder and aliveness by working with myths, folk tales and wondertales. These stories contain deep wisdom distilled over generations and allow us to see our own lives as meaningfully connected to universal archetypal patterns. Walking their paths brings back a sense of magic into our lives and gives us guidance in moving forward. We will explore the riches of these stories, through creative visualisation and writing, movement and simple art activities.
Cortijo Romero, Andalusia, Spain.
Opening Doors to Invisible Worlds
Re-awaken your sense of wonder and aliveness by working with myths, folk tales and wondertales. These stories contain deep wisdom distilled over generations and allow us to see our own lives as meaningfully connected to universal archetypal patterns. Walking their paths brings back a sense of magic into our lives and gives us guidance in moving forward. We will explore the riches of these stories, through creative visualisation and writing, movement and simple art activities.
I run a variety of course and workshops in psychotherapy and the environmental crisis, working with myth and story and art therapy.
See below for a selection of courses I have run over the last few years.
South Africa
Opening Doors to Invisible Worlds
with Dr Hayley Berman
January 30th - February 1st
Emoyeni Buddhist Retreat Centre
Lefika La Phodiso
Art Therapy Centre, Johannesburg
Key note speech at conference and exhibition February 12/13th
Radical Hope and Cultural Tragedy
April 18th Bristol
A conference hosted by CPA with speakers Jay Griffiths
and Chris Johnstone and workshops led by:
Paul Hoggett and Penny Mclellan,
Sally Weintrobe, Chris Robertson and Richard Wainright,
Sarah Deco
‘I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing ‘
These opening lines from T.S. Eliott’s East Coker illuminate the pull of false hope, the hope that leads to tears. And perhaps we then become too quickly disillusioned by our leaders, and by friends and colleagues upon whom we had pinned such hopes. But often, shorn of our illusions, we slip into cynicism and despair or go off to find a retreat inside ourselves. Facing the worst and yet sustaining an optimism of the will, now there’s a challenge.
Facing climate change, species extinction, global conflicts and poverty, allowing ourselves to be disturbed by them, moved by them and yet remaining sane, is no easy thing. As therapists involved in the Climate Psychology Alliance many of our clients also face a private world which is in ruins and so we know something about inner strength, the nature of courage and the capacity to look into a future bereft of familiar landmarks. This is what we call, following Jonathan Lear, ‘radical hope’. And in April we will hold an event in Bristol, Radical Hope and Cultural Tragedy, dedicated to an exploration of this kind of hope, involving the writer Jay Griffiths, activist Chris Johnstone, playwright Steve Waters, Embercombe founder Mac Macartney and many others. Go to www.climatepsychologyalliance.com for more details.
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing ‘
These opening lines from T.S. Eliott’s East Coker illuminate the pull of false hope, the hope that leads to tears. And perhaps we then become too quickly disillusioned by our leaders, and by friends and colleagues upon whom we had pinned such hopes. But often, shorn of our illusions, we slip into cynicism and despair or go off to find a retreat inside ourselves. Facing the worst and yet sustaining an optimism of the will, now there’s a challenge.
Facing climate change, species extinction, global conflicts and poverty, allowing ourselves to be disturbed by them, moved by them and yet remaining sane, is no easy thing. As therapists involved in the Climate Psychology Alliance many of our clients also face a private world which is in ruins and so we know something about inner strength, the nature of courage and the capacity to look into a future bereft of familiar landmarks. This is what we call, following Jonathan Lear, ‘radical hope’. And in April we will hold an event in Bristol, Radical Hope and Cultural Tragedy, dedicated to an exploration of this kind of hope, involving the writer Jay Griffiths, activist Chris Johnstone, playwright Steve Waters, Embercombe founder Mac Macartney and many others. Go to www.climatepsychologyalliance.com for more details.
Transpersonal Perspectives
Four Worlds and A Broken Stone
Sunday September 20th 2015
at Pax Lodge
10.30am – 4pm
'The future can’t be predicted but it can be envisioned and brought lovingly into being.’ Donella Meadows
Listening to stories, especially myths and folk tales evokes a particular state of mind. It is a state, close to dreaming, in which we link to an inner ‘world wide web’ experiencing a sense of connectedness; to each other, our ancestors, the whole network of living beings and the unfolding of history. Engaging with these ancient stories may enable us to grasp more profoundly the enormity of what faces us and develop a sense of meaning and therefore hope.
In Four Worlds and a Broken Stone, the creation myth of the Native American Hopi tribe, several worlds rise and are then destroyed through the failings of humanity. The next and final world is yet to come.
The workshop will include Sarah telling this myth and working with the themes and the images that arise.
More information and booking http://transpersonalperspectives.org/four-worlds-and-a-broken-stone/
at Pax Lodge
10.30am – 4pm
'The future can’t be predicted but it can be envisioned and brought lovingly into being.’ Donella Meadows
Listening to stories, especially myths and folk tales evokes a particular state of mind. It is a state, close to dreaming, in which we link to an inner ‘world wide web’ experiencing a sense of connectedness; to each other, our ancestors, the whole network of living beings and the unfolding of history. Engaging with these ancient stories may enable us to grasp more profoundly the enormity of what faces us and develop a sense of meaning and therefore hope.
In Four Worlds and a Broken Stone, the creation myth of the Native American Hopi tribe, several worlds rise and are then destroyed through the failings of humanity. The next and final world is yet to come.
The workshop will include Sarah telling this myth and working with the themes and the images that arise.
More information and booking http://transpersonalperspectives.org/four-worlds-and-a-broken-stone/
THE ANALYTIC NETWORK
www.bathpsychotherapyservice.co.uk
Saturday 21st June 2014
What should the role of psychotherapy be in a time of ecological crisis?
What is our ‘duty of care’ as psychotherapists at this time where it seems, only a major change in human awareness and behavior can prevent our eco system from reaching a disastrous ‘tipping point’? Do interactions in the consulting room relate in any way to this global ecological crisis? What is our collective responsibility as practitioners? I hope my talk will be a stimulus for discussion on these questions for which, of course, there are no definitive answers.
Venue: Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute (BRLSI)
16-18 Queen’s Square, BATH, BA1 2HN
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tickets at the door only: £8 (refreshments included)
THE ANALYTIC NETWORK (Also known as the Bath Psychotherapy Service) is a group of psychotherapists from the Psychoanalytic & Jungian traditions practising in or near Bath. If you are looking for psychotherapy or supervision you can find details of our members at www.bathpsychotherapyservice.co.uk
www.bathpsychotherapyservice.co.uk
Saturday 21st June 2014
What should the role of psychotherapy be in a time of ecological crisis?
What is our ‘duty of care’ as psychotherapists at this time where it seems, only a major change in human awareness and behavior can prevent our eco system from reaching a disastrous ‘tipping point’? Do interactions in the consulting room relate in any way to this global ecological crisis? What is our collective responsibility as practitioners? I hope my talk will be a stimulus for discussion on these questions for which, of course, there are no definitive answers.
Venue: Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute (BRLSI)
16-18 Queen’s Square, BATH, BA1 2HN
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Tickets at the door only: £8 (refreshments included)
THE ANALYTIC NETWORK (Also known as the Bath Psychotherapy Service) is a group of psychotherapists from the Psychoanalytic & Jungian traditions practising in or near Bath. If you are looking for psychotherapy or supervision you can find details of our members at www.bathpsychotherapyservice.co.uk
Environment, Crisis and The Group
Following the event at the IGA in February there will be four large group discussions held at
The Institute of Group Analysis, 1 Daleham Gardens, NW3 5B
Monday evenings - 8.30pm – 10.00pm
28th April, 12th May, 2nd June and 7th July
This is a space to explore thoughts and feelings around climate change and related issues in a group analytic context. A space where there is no imperative to find solutions, but an opportunity to free associate and perhaps find new connections and meanings.
The groups will run from 8.30pm – 10.00pm. Please arrive from 8pm. There will be coffee and tea available.
The April and May groups will be convened by Sarah Deco.
Teresa Von Sommaruga Howard and Sarah Deco will jointly convene the groups in June and July.
There is a fee to cover costs of £6 per group or £20 for all four, (IGA students £5 or £16 for four)
Booking and further information:
www.groupanalysis.org,
020 7431 2693, iga@igalondon.org.uk
Following the event at the IGA in February there will be four large group discussions held at
The Institute of Group Analysis, 1 Daleham Gardens, NW3 5B
Monday evenings - 8.30pm – 10.00pm
28th April, 12th May, 2nd June and 7th July
This is a space to explore thoughts and feelings around climate change and related issues in a group analytic context. A space where there is no imperative to find solutions, but an opportunity to free associate and perhaps find new connections and meanings.
The groups will run from 8.30pm – 10.00pm. Please arrive from 8pm. There will be coffee and tea available.
The April and May groups will be convened by Sarah Deco.
Teresa Von Sommaruga Howard and Sarah Deco will jointly convene the groups in June and July.
There is a fee to cover costs of £6 per group or £20 for all four, (IGA students £5 or £16 for four)
Booking and further information:
www.groupanalysis.org,
020 7431 2693, iga@igalondon.org.uk
Story: Our Collective Inheritance
A Talk at The Meditatio Centre on Wednesday 30th April 6.30pm
One of a series on the subject of Meaning
Stories shape and make sense of our experience and are fundamental to our understanding of the world and ourselves. Traditional tales and myths honed by generations of tellers embody a universal wisdom and help us access the richness of imagery and symbolism that is our shared collective inheritance. Through traditional tales and myths we will explore the psychological importance of story and ask: What are the stories that can help us make sense of where we are now?
Sarah is a Group Analyst, psychotherapist, art therapist and storyteller. She works with individuals, groups and organisations using visual and performing art and story. She has been a meditator for many years and mindfulness is an essential part of her practice. www.sarahdeco.org
Please book online by visiting www.wccmmeditatio.org and click on The Meditatio Centre.
You can also book by telephone or by email.
To contact the Meditatio Centre:
Telephone 020 7278 2070
Email meditatio@wccm.org
How to get there:
The Meditatio Centre is located at
St Marks, Myddelton Square, London EC1R 1XX
The nearest underground station is Angel. The other nearby station is Kings Cross which is about a 15 minute walk.
Sarah is a Group Analyst, psychotherapist, art therapist and storyteller. She works with individuals, groups and organisations using visual and performing art and story. She has been a meditator for many years and mindfulness is an essential part of her practice. www.sarahdeco.org
Please book online by visiting www.wccmmeditatio.org and click on The Meditatio Centre.
You can also book by telephone or by email.
To contact the Meditatio Centre:
Telephone 020 7278 2070
Email meditatio@wccm.org
How to get there:
The Meditatio Centre is located at
St Marks, Myddelton Square, London EC1R 1XX
The nearest underground station is Angel. The other nearby station is Kings Cross which is about a 15 minute walk.
Walking and Talking
Workshops in the Oxfordshire countryside,
What is it like to free associate as a group in a wild place?
What is like to experience a group where the living environment adds its voice too?
How much richer could our professional and personal lives be if we deepen our connection to the natural world?
The workshops are designed for those who would like to explore how we can develop our understanding of ourselves in the context of the natural world, they will also provide a restorative experience, discussing work and personal issues in a supportive group whilst exploring the riches of a natural environment.
Take time out of your workplace, to connect the personal and professional with a symbolic and sensory awareness of the natural world.
The workshops will highlight our connection to the world around us in response to the changing seasons and will provide an opportunity to explore work and personal issues.
We have an indoor space available in case of poor weather.
Lunch and refreshments included
CPD certificates available.
They are generally held at The Earth Trust, Little Wittenham, which has earth works, ancient woodland, lake and river meadows, and excellent transport links from Didcot Parkway (45 mins from Paddington). We can arrange lifts from the station.
sarah@sarahdeco.org
Workshops in the Oxfordshire countryside,
What is it like to free associate as a group in a wild place?
What is like to experience a group where the living environment adds its voice too?
How much richer could our professional and personal lives be if we deepen our connection to the natural world?
The workshops are designed for those who would like to explore how we can develop our understanding of ourselves in the context of the natural world, they will also provide a restorative experience, discussing work and personal issues in a supportive group whilst exploring the riches of a natural environment.
Take time out of your workplace, to connect the personal and professional with a symbolic and sensory awareness of the natural world.
The workshops will highlight our connection to the world around us in response to the changing seasons and will provide an opportunity to explore work and personal issues.
We have an indoor space available in case of poor weather.
Lunch and refreshments included
CPD certificates available.
They are generally held at The Earth Trust, Little Wittenham, which has earth works, ancient woodland, lake and river meadows, and excellent transport links from Didcot Parkway (45 mins from Paddington). We can arrange lifts from the station.
sarah@sarahdeco.org
Art and Imagination: A Workshop, Date TBC
Celebrating Art, Imagination and the Natural World
At The Sidney Nolan Trust Rodd Farm, Presteigne Powys, Wales During these residential weekends we will be drawing, painting and making work in the environment, using conventional art materials and what we find around us. We will work in groups sharing experiences and there will also be time to work individually. Use of creative visualization and group work techniques which will aim to help us connect more deeply with the natural world around us as well as to focus on our own personal journey. The weekend is open to all, designed both for those who have experience of making art, and for those who are completely new to the process. For more information or to book please contact:sarah@sarahdeco.org or call Sarah on 07540 766651 For more information on the venue see www.sidneynolantrust.org |