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Cathy Connan

cathy connan

Budbrooke

After about 20 years working in PR and communications, I began a long process of change. It started when I joined Samaritans as a listening volunteer and began a BSc in Psychology. After completing an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy and a Diploma in Supervision it has culminated in my working in private practice as an integrative psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice. I am lucky. I truly love my work and am privileged that people share their vulnerabilities with me as they heal emotional and psychological wounds. I work from a warm and welcoming space in my garden. My garden room is surrounded by mature trees. One of the things I love about being there is listening to the breeze, and even the wind, blowing through the leaves. The sound is soothing. I slow down when I hear it and often find myself looking up to see the tops of the trees. Giving something back has always been important to me. I have volunteered in all sorts of roles, including on the door of The Gate Theatre in Noting Hill and making ‘Complan Cocktails’ for oncology patients. I left Samaritans after about six years and now work as a supervisor with Cruse, a charity supporting bereaved people. I created Space for You because I recognise that whatever our story, whatever the pressures and stresses we face, we all need a space to be. A space where we can express ourselves and be heard, where we are noticed buy not judged. Space for You personal development workshops offer exactly that. I am a member of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

The Offer Bank

the offer bank

5.0(3)

Brighton

‘Yes’ is to accept an ‘offer’. ‘And’ is to build on that offer. ‘Yes’ is to agree to be on a threshold. ‘And’ is to step over that threshold and offer, receive or discover new information. When we improvisers say ‘Yes, And’ to an offer, we allow for divergent (aka ‘blue-sky’) and creative thinking that follows the points of interest and engagement in a conversation, rather than following a pre-written agenda. It also makes sure – because we always accept the ‘Yes’ and specifically build on that ‘Yes’ with our ‘And’ – that everyone remains on track and on topic, without any wild or left-field or non-relevant additions. It also means there are no denials or blocks and, equally, there are no wildly disparate or ‘out there’ suggestions. So by creating an environment without blocks, wild tangents or stagnant thinking, ‘Yes, And’ keeps a group on topic, imaginative and in flow. Improvisers acknowledge that many people (ourselves included), prefer to say ‘No’ or ‘Yes, But’. Saying ‘No’ makes humans feel more in control and safe. “Shall we try this new thing?” “No!” (I’m busy, it’s untested, there’s good reasons not to – and essentially, it feels safer to say “No”). Saying ‘Yes, But’ makes humans feel more in control and safe – and sometimes a bit cleverer. “Shall we try this new thing?” “Yes, But… Before we do, I can see and will now list a number of clever reasons why it might not work.” (I’m in control of my fear and the possibility of the unknown. I sound open to it but essentially, I might not like it, so it feels safer to say “No”). However, we are programmed, as humans, to keep ourselves safe. So we can afford to go with the flow a bit more often and to work our ‘accept and build’ muscles. When we get in the habit of saying ‘Yes, And’, it guarantees more focused, meaningful conversations, clearer routes to creativity, better teamwork. It puts more options on the table. Even better, it encourages imaginative connections instead of competitions involving egos. It’s good for rapport. It means we think fast and shiny. It’s the clearest route to pure play. And play is key. Play where we imagine, invent, create, and solve. Play is how and where we humans human to our best potential.