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The Art of Listening

Listening. One of the most important skills we have. But are we taught how to listen? Not just told to do it, but trained in the art?Do you consider yourself to be a good listener?Not too long ago I would have answered this question with a confident yes, of course. Listening is a pre-requisite for supporting people experiencing complex challenges and disadvantage. Then around 6 years ago that certainty was brought into doubt. I’d already recognised that I was a ‘fixer’ and was in the proce...

PIE in Practice

"My flaw was ignorance. I hadn’t properly considered how the minute things are actually massive to others." Powerful words from a member of staff shortly after attending my training earlier this year. "What a massive change this had for Pete and also for me.” Below is a copy of an email I received from “David” who had originally been….let’s  just say…a little skeptical about what he might learn in my training. With permission I’m sharing his story about workin...

The power of retreating

“That’s sounds lovely” is the first response. Followed by a dropping of the jaw and widening of the eyes, sometimes accompanied by a grimace “Why?” or, somewhat ironically, stunned silence when I add that I will not be engaging in conversations about turkey or presents, or the unwanted impact of sprouts this Christmas. I will be spending the festive period on a retreat including the big day itself, the 25th, in silence. You too may have raised your eyebrows at that? Christmas on a coun...

The Impact of Austerity

”It’s not about the money,” Jessie J sang to us in 2011” it’s not about the money, money, money” I don’t think she was talking about PIE but she could have been. You don’t need an injection of cash to become a psychologically informed, trauma responsive environment.   Ok, let’s be honest. It would help. It’s always useful to have additional funds to support new interventions and approaches. But. Fundamentally PIE is a change in mindset, a shift in how we understand and r...

Dealing with disruption

In this blog, 3rd in the series, I have taken a different approach to talking about how we can manage change. There’s a raft of information on how to do this, you don’t need me to repeat it. Instead I want to look at this only constant through a period of my own, personal trauma, and share what I think are key elements we can apply to all periods of disruption. October 2016. My baby sister died. Two months later, December 2016 my dad passed away, leaving a devastated and hysterical wife. &nb...

Brene Brown and PIE

This blog, second in the series considers that old father of ours, time.  It acknowledges that becoming a PIE takes a serious amount of the stuff and poses 3 questions to help us re-evaluate if we are making best use of our current supply.  “Time” as one of my modern-day heroines Brene Brown states in her book Dare to Lead [1] “is our most precious resource.” It often feels scarce, especially at work; where demands are increasing, resource’s diminishing and needs multiplying....

Challenges to implementing PIE: Commissioning

1. Commissioning 2. Managing change3. Competing demands on time4. Impact of Austerity5. Evidencing Impact6. Choosing your psychological approach Six of the key challenges to becoming a psychologically or trauma informed environment.[1]  In this series of blogs, I’ll be considering these potential barriers by sharing lessons learned from a variety of sources. My aim is to continue the conversation, reflect on what’s worked, and consider potential ways of moving forward. Let’s start wi...

Interview with The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/lo......

Making an Impact

Women making social impact https://www.ogunte.com/blog/pr... ...

The Power of PIE

Putting relationships at the heart of service provision can make the difference between success and failure in attempts to support people out of homelessness.  In this blog, first written for Homeless Link in 2014 Claire describes her belief in the power of PIE to help address chronic homelessness and social exclusion. When Jane first arrived at the Thames Reach Waterloo Project, she rejected most of the support on offer. She had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, followin...

Time - the true cost of PIE

Here Claire writes about two key elements of PIE and provides tips on putting them into practice. Written for Homeless Link in 2016 In this brief blog she will describe how you can introduce elements of a PIE, bringing tangible benefits to your clients and staff. It won’t cost a penny, though it will demand some of your precious time. As a service provider I would often raise my eyebrows when we were asked to implement a “new approach,” or adopt the latest example of “good practice.” ...

PIE - Supporting people through trauma.

“Anyone in the helping professions is at risk of compassion fatigue, physical and emotional exhaustion, and a reduced ability to empathise. I found a shocking lack of awareness at senior management level about vicarious trauma and its impact upon staff well-being” Anon The Guardian 2015 "The cost of caring." It’s not only service users who experience emotional distress which can lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration but also the staff supporting them. Psychologically Informed En...