Click here for dates & details of upcoming 'open' workshop programmes!
"It is certainly a course everyone should do who is involved with young people and
their future prospects. BRILLIANT!"
- Angela Ogilvie
Head of Year 9
St Mary's College,
Hull, 2001
What began in February 2001 as 'An Introduction to Spiral Dynamics & Related Models
of Neuro-Linguistic Programming' has grown into a range of courses dealing with the
theory and applications of Integrated SocioPsychology. (See the Schedule page for
details on upcoming open workshops.)
The behavioural sciences are concerned with explaining why people behave and think
as they do. Unfortunately the behavioural sciences are fractured by both inter-discipline
and inter-school differences - which have often escalated into long-running disputes.
Additionally there is a reluctance in many university Psychology and Sociology departments
to recognise approaches such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) which are on the
fringe of ‘academia’. (Even though they are often grounded in extensive investigative
studies and are supported by much thought and research in the universities themselves!)
Integrated SocioPsychology draws upon Spiral Dynamics, NLP models such as Neurological
Levels and Meta-States, so-called academic or 'conventional' Psychology models such
as Dimensions of Temperament and Reciprocal Determinism, and much thought in the
sociological schools of Symbolic Interactionism and Structural Functionalism - all
applied through the lens of 4Q/8L - to explain why people think and, therefore, behave,
in different ways at different times and in different contexts.
In keeping with the ethos of NLP, Integrated SocioPsychology training aims to make
the material as accessible and as practical to use as possible. Thus, there is a
strong emphasis on ‘real life’ applications, with a variety of tools and techniques
demonstrated, including elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) concepts
as well as NLP.With the knowledge, understanding and skills gained from training
in Integrated SocioPsychology, participants have found they have been able to map
out far more effective strategies for getting the most out of relationships - with
colleagues, clients, customers, partners, children - whoever!
At the same time the material is robust and grounded in verifiable science. The courses
contain varying levels of scientific depth and detail which visitors should bear
in mind when deciding which course would be suitable for their needs and wants. All
‘open’ courses can be customised for in-house delivery.
The very first open programme, in February 2001, was sponsored by St Mary's College
in Hull, following a half-day introductory session the previous November. Programmes
since have been delivered both under my own name and in partnership with others such
as Summit Consulting, Cobus Business Services and David Burnby & Associates. A programme
in Peterborough in late 2004 was sponsored by an ad hoc consortium of NLP Practitioners
and Master Practitioners.
A basic introduction to Integrated SocioPsychology comprised a module of North East
Lincolnshire Council's 'Innovation Engine' programme for businesses. This followed
earlier short sessions for the Council’s Innovation Circle on ‘Spiral Dynamics &
Adizes Organisation LifeCycle’ and ‘Spiral Dynamics & Leadership’.
Customisable in-house programmes
In-house programmes have been delivered to organisations as diverse as Hodgson Sealants
Ltd, Hull's Preston Road New Deal for Communities project, the Garths Resource Centre
(also in Hull), the North Lincolnshire Council Community Investment Team, South Humber
Young Enterprise, Hull City Council Regeneration Services, Yorkshire Accord and the
Hull Optimists charitable club for disabled swimmers.
The sheer scope of Integrated SocioPsychology, combined with its cohesive core structure,
allows an incredible range of flexibility in developing programmes to meet the needs
and objectives of the participants.
The Innovation Engine module and the in-house programmes for Hodgsons and the North
Lincs Community Investment Team also brought in Adizes LifeCycle as the workshops
were geared towards organisational development. (Project reports of both Hodgsons
and the North Lincs team are available in the Services pages - and the basics of
the ’Working with Organisation LifeCycles’ were generated by those projects.) 'For
Education Professionals...', an open programme in June 2007, directed the material
towards learning and the issues children and staff face in schools. The weekend session
for the Hull Optimists included a light-hearted look at Body Language. and a focus
on dealing with fear and other unhelpful beliefs (maladaptive schemas).
Sessions for Wakefield College Services to Business and the Chartered Institute of
Personnel & Development West Yorkshire both put the emphasis squarely on developing
an Integrated SocioPsychology approach to Conflict Management.
Some of the core elements of the Integrated SocioPsychology workshops have been incorporated
as key elements into the ‘Understanding Yourself & Others - an Introduction to Psychology’
‘night school’ course I have run at Rossett School for their Extended Schools programme
since January 2011.
Obviously the aims of the programmes vary according to whether they are open or in
house and who the target audience is. However, they all enable participants to start
applying the models in practical, real-life situations - as well as providing a solid
foundation for further study.
Highly enjoyable interactive workshops
As both a (part-time) teacher and an NLP Master Practitioner, I recognise the importance
of engaging the workshop participant as fully as possible by using a multi-sensory
approach and by making the content as relevant as possible.
The workshops include highly-colourful materials, photographic illustrations, music,
stories, humorous role plays, case studies, games and interactive exercises - sometimes
even 'Walking the Spiral'!
Participants are usually encouraged to bring a 'people issue' to the programme, to
work through and thus be able to link the learning to 'real-life' scenarios. To be
certificated, all participants have to make a brief presentation on how they will
make use of the learning.
The Integrated SocioPsychology workshops are not just about academic theory - though,
on many of them, there is plenty of that!! Participants leave the programmes with
knowledge and practical sociopsychological 'tools' they can use in real life. Organisations
have become more effective at what they do, teams have worked together more harmoniously
and personal relationships have been saved as a result of applying the learning from
these programmes. Some participants have found the experiences deeply challenging
on a personal level; and several have made life-changing decisions as a result -
including changing jobs, going self-employed, moving on from seriously-unhealthy
relationships in which they had become trapped and finding the freedom and the belief
in themselves to do things they never thought they would be able to do.
In the instance of Lewis Lynch, a disillusioned teacher at St Mary's College, Hull,
he found the programme gave him new perspectives on Education - which led to him
staying in the profession!
Check the Schedule for information on upcoming open programmes. To discuss your needs
and/or to arrange a programme (in-house or open, please get in touch via the details
on the Contact page.
Click here to go to more photos and quotations from participants in the programmes.
