Workshops

Upcoming workshops:

 Mindful Parenting

We are strong believers that we all, as parents, do the best job we can with the resources we have available to us at the time. Sometimes we find ourselves ground down by our children’s needs and behaviour, and as a result, respond from a bank of less emotional resources than we would on a better day. Likewise, sometimes our child will present us with a new challenge to which we wish we had more resource in the form of understanding or knowledge about how to respond.

The course is designed to help parents feel confident to use effective, focussed, and thoughtful strategies on purpose for the right reasons at the right time.

This course aims to achieve this in a number of ways which can be split into two key themes:

1) Knowledge about a range of theory which informs our decision making about how to manage a situation with our child. Including but not limited to:

o   Age related neurodevelopmental stages and realistic expectations

o   Attachment theory – Addressing this basic, yet fundamental need for learning within their relationship with you

o   The effective use of boundaries and containment

o   Discipline and types of consequences for actions

o   The theory behind why some mainstream popular parenting strategies don’t work

o   Theories of nurturing positive behaviour in your child

2) Exploring basics of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) that we can employ to look after ourselves in more challenging parenting situations

o   Learning to tolerate the more challenging emotions that parenting throws up for us in order to help us feel more able to respond

o   Defusing ourselves from ruminative thoughts that make us feel bad as parents (usually around guilt, anger, and anxiety)

o   Develop our ability to experience the present moment for what it is

Throughout the three sessions we will explore these two themes alongside one another as they are often hard to tease apart. We all know what a fully immersive experience parenting is!

When and Where:

The course is made up of 3 x 2.5 hour sessions.

Episkopi: Saturday Mornings – 09.00-11.30am - 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd March

Akrotiri: Friday Mornings - 08.30-11.00am - 26^th April, 3^rd, 10^th May

Cost:  €80 (Second parent/guardian is free)

(N.B. There is a €15 discount for people who have attending a previous Serenity Psychology course or workshop)

Living life positively on life’s terms: Empowering ourselves to live life according to our values despite what life throws at us

Aims:

• Developing our understanding of what our personal values are, and how to live our day-today lives according to them
  
• Overcoming difficult thoughts and feelings as roadblocks to living a rich, full, and meaningful life
  
• Equipping ourselves to feel comfortable to experience the full range of human emotions that come with being alive
  
• Helping ourselves to let go of problematic or self defeating ‘self help’ strategies
  
• Learning skills to live mindfully, to allow us to make our choices more ‘on purpose’
  

What is it and who is it for?

The course will take place over 5 consecutive weeks. Each session will last 1.5 hours. Maximum number of participants is 8.

This course is an experiential and participatory psycho-education course aimed at adults who wish to improve their wellbeing and/or wish to feel more in control of living their life in their chosen direction. It is defined by what you can learn to promote wellbeing, rather than stating what 'problems' it can help address. If you want any further information about the course please don't hesitate to get in contact with any questions.

Cost: €70 (Payment is required in full before the course commences)
    €10 discount to anyone from coming from Akrotiri who carshares*

Location: Episkopi Wellbeing Centre (Up the steps from the Pool Bar)

Dates:

Wednesday 16^th January 7.30pm - 9pm

Wednesday 23^rd January 7.30pm - 9pm

Wednesday  30^th January 7.30pm - 9pm    

Wednesday 6^th February 7.30pm - 9pm

Wednesday 13^th February 7.30pm - 9pm

To book a place, please email Hannah at hannah@serenitypsychology.co.uk

* I can put people in touch with others attending from Aki if consent is given. Carsharing is for the majority of sessions, it won't be policed it if someone has to drive separately as a one off for one evening.

Supporting your child through change and transition

Facilitated by:   Dr Louisa Elston-Green – Educational Psychologist  and Dr Hannah Robertson-Cowley – Clinical Psychologist                                                        

A workshop aimed at parents who wish to equip themselves with more resources and ideas to support their children through change and transition. The workshop is aimed at parents of toddlers through to pre-teen age as the concepts discussed are universal to all ages.

Saturday 19th January - 09.00 am-12.00 noon Akrotiri Chaplaincy Centre

Topics that will be covered:

• Thinking what change and transition means in more detail
  
• Exploring our own relationship with change and how this can affect how we parent
  
• Learning about ‘Emotional Containment’ and ‘Attachment’ as applied to change
  
• Practical ways to help our children manage their emotions
  
• Managing our own expectations of our children
  
• Ways to identify behaviours as a means of communication and how we can respond
  
• Practical ideas and tips to help for smooth transitions

It is our aim that everyone leaves the workshop with an improved understanding of theory that will help them understand and respond to their child in new and novel situations; a clearer idea of what they bring personally that affects how they respond; and the beginnings of a toolbox of ideas that could work for their family in the future.

Cost: 30e

Spaces are limited so please get in contact to reserve a space. Email hannah@serenitypsychology.co.uk for further info or to reserve a space.