NEW Training Weekend: Advanced Group Dynamics: the Art of ‘Skilful Choreography’ 

Starts May 2025 - scroll down for details

CreativeCoupleWork Practitioner Training

Advanced Year starts April 2025 See dedicated page

‘The Un-Making of Them’ Diploma Training in Specialist Psychotherapy with Ex-Boarders at post-graduate level.

Starts May 2025 waiting list only - new training starts May 26 See dedicated page

Advanced Group Dynamics: the Art of ‘Skilful Choreography’ 

A residential weekend post-graduate training led by Nick Duffell (UK) 25/5 – 27/5/25, Gais, Appenzell, Switzerland  with international group and facilitation team

The creativity of all groups depends on the choreography. Without group-dynamics skills, facilitators waste time and energy dealing at the mercy of unconscious interferences and sabotage. Running groups with a co-leader or as a couple can be a huge advantage but brings added traps to fall into, and when couples are part of a therapeutic or healing initiative a whole new set of dynamics are involved.

Techniques learned in individual settings just won’t work, and the worker will need a new understanding and a new therapeutic toolbox: hence this workshop.

These intensive and stimulating post-graduate training days will be useful to those who want to lead groups more creatively and as a top-up for those already trying out their group-dynamics skills. The workshop will build on participants’ group-dynamic theory already learned and will be especially suitable for those involved in co-leadership, who co-lead as a couple, have couples in groups, or for those setting out in such a direction.Residential weekend with international group and facilitation team

• Venue: IdyllGais, with comfortable accommodation and great food
• Delightful mountain village setting with train station and direct connections to major rail hubs and airports
• CPD credits and certificates will be issued, credits for Swiss psychiatrists will be applied for
• Generous discounts for UK or Ireland-based candidates

Participants will learn: 

• A refresher on the Principles of Group Dynamics
• Attending to the group as a ‘Matrix for Change’
• How to recognize themes and patterns in group process
• How to creatively influence and ‘choreograph’ a group
• How to never ‘work alone’: the creative use of group-dynamic theory
• The issues involved in co-leading
• How group dynamics affect co-leaders
• The different styles a ‘creative choregraphing couple’ can adopt
• To pay attention to the ‘eternal triangle’ and its traps and advantages
• To recognise the worker’s own vulnerability and strength in group dynamics
• How to use the authority of a group leader appropriately and effectively
• To understand the role of emotion in couple dynamics
• To borrow the couple-worker’s two crucial mantras
• How to access an ‘internal couple supervisor’ 

The trainer:

Nick Duffell has been leading groups since 1987 and is a psychotherapist, psycho-historian and author, qualified in Systemic Family Therapy, Psychosynthesis and body psychotherapy. For several years he ran a private practice in London and has worked as a freelance trainer and supervisor since1990. He founded Boarding School Survivors and co-founded The Centre for Gender Psychology and now still sees some couples, trains couple-workers and psychotherapists in a style of groupwork that is effective, creative and fun. He has taught group dynamics in Europe as a post-graduate skill for 15 years.

Practical details, cost, and application procedure: please email us so we can send the flyer and you can access the right discounts and book accommodation.