"Empathy is innumerate. "


Initial background for the colouring in exercise: assessment, maps, emotional intelligence & emotion differentiation

12th June 2018

This "Initial background" post provides important information to support use of the brief 6-minute "Emotion colouring In exercise". There is additional useful information in the companion post "Further background for the colouring in exercise: gratitude, expressive writing, emotion processing & taking it forward". Emotional intelligence: Emotion differentiation: More to follow …

The "emotion colouring in exercise": how to do it

11th June 2018

The "Emotion colouring In exercise" is a deceptively simple 6-minute writing exercise where we practise identifying and describing our feelings. For important additional information about this process, see the "Initial background for the colouring in exercise: assessment, maps, emotional intelligence & emotion differentiation" and the "Further background for the colouring …

Achieving clinical excellence: 1st conference day - Birgit Valla's talk

3rd May 2018

I've already written a couple of posts about this trip to Sweden - "Achieving clinical excellence (ACE): the 'Becoming a more effective practitioner' conference in Sweden" and yesterday's Achieving clinical excellence: pre-conference workshop 'What is FIT? The research behind it and how to do it'". Today is the first full …

Achieving clinical excellence: pre-conference workshop "What is FIT? The research behind it and how to do it"

3rd May 2018

I wrote yesterday about arriving in Sweden. Howevery I'm primarily here for the ACE Conference, so how was yesterday's pre-conference workshop with Scott Miller & Bruce Wampold - "What is FIT, the research behind it and how to do it"? Well, my initial response was one of some disappointment. It …

Recent research: articles from spring journals

1st May 2018

I read a lot of research. When I find an article of particular interest I download it to my bibliographic database - Endnote - which currently contains well over 26,000 abstracts. I also regularly tweet about emerging research, so following me on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ (click on the relevant …

Achieving clinical excellence: the ACE 'Becoming a more effective practitioner' conference in Sweden

24th April 2018

I'm off to Sweden this weekend, seizing the chance for some 'touristing' in Stockholm before taking a train north to the 'Achieving clinical excellence (ACE)' conference in Ostersund. If becoming a more effective practitioner interests you and you can't get to Sweden this May, then there is plenty of opportunity …

The surprising power of weak 'social ties'

31st March 2018

I’ve just been to the Farmer’s Market here in Edinburgh and I set myself the challenge of being more chatty than usual to the stallholders I was buying food from. I ‘pushed’ myself to be friendly & talk more than I’ve ever done before (and I’ve been going to the …

Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training: 8th session, taking the learning on into our lives

29th March 2018

At our eighth & last session of the Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training, we reviewed the journey we've been on together over the last couple of months. We looked at what each of us personally had found most interesting & valuable. The weekly reflection sheets that we'd filled in could …

Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training: 7th session home practice

16th March 2018

These home practice suggestions link with the seventh session of the Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training. There are seven home practice requests for the fortnight until our 8th & last evening together. 1.) Please would you glance back at the handouts from the seventh session of the course & jot …

Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training: 6th session home practice

9th March 2018

These home practice suggestions link with the sixth session of the Compassion, wisdom & wellbeing training. There are five requests for this next week. 1.) Please would you glance back at the handouts from the sixth session of the course & jot down further thoughts/feelings on this week's session 6 …