Workshop “The tree of life”
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Adventure Therapy Europe Reaching Further – Strategic Partnership supported by Erasmus+ BE_The_Tree_of_Life.docx Page 1 of 10 Lynn Van Hoof & Nadia Vossen – NATURE (Belgium) Workshop “The tree of life” 1. What is it? This is the workshop we provided for the rest of the partnership group during our second meeting in The Netherlands. A: Visualization exercise (exercise of grounding) 1. Sit or stand comfortably and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. If you want, you can put your hand on your belly. And as you breath in, you feel that your belly expands, gets bigger …. as you slowly breath out you feel your belly getting thinner. Repeat this for several times as you feel your body relaxing more and more … Concentrate your awareness around your center of gravity, in the middle of your body. Visualize a seed or sapling there, ready to take root. Become aware of where your feet are connected to the earth, and imagine yourself as the sapling young tree, taking root through your connection to the earth. As you breath in, feel yourself gathering your energy, and as you breathe out, let your roots dig deeper into the soil. They tunnel down and spread out as they grow. Feel yourself connecting with the dirt and stones and even the water table, deep below you. With each breath, push your roots a little bit further, gently, because roots will find their way around and through any obstacles that present themselves. As you get down to the bedrock, feel your roots touch the stones, and connect with the veins in the stones themselves, so that your roots go down into the very bones, the center of the earth. Pause there for a moment and let that connection strengthen. Let whatever is bothering you flow down and out into the earth and be diffused, and draw up from your roots whatever energy and sustenance you need. Feel the stability that your roots give you, so that you are balanced and steady. Now, when you take a breath in, draw that flow up into yourself, into your trunk, and as you breathe out, start to put out leaves and branches. Breathe in, and feel the energy of the earth combine with your own, to feed those branches, and as you breathe out, feel them grow,
Transcript of Workshop “The tree of life”
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LynnVanHoof&NadiaVossen–NATURE(Belgium)
Workshop“Thetreeoflife”
1.Whatisit?
Thisistheworkshopweprovidedfortherestofthepartnershipgroupduringoursecondmeetingin
TheNetherlands.
A:Visualizationexercise(exerciseofgrounding)
1. Sitorstandcomfortablyandcloseyoureyes.Takeadeepbreathandletitoutslowly.Ifyou
want,youcanputyourhandonyourbelly.Andasyoubreathin,youfeelthatyourbelly
expands,getsbigger….asyouslowlybreathoutyoufeelyourbellygettingthinner.Repeat
thisforseveraltimesasyoufeelyourbodyrelaxingmoreandmore…
Concentrateyourawarenessaroundyourcenterofgravity,inthemiddleofyourbody.
Visualizeaseedorsaplingthere,readytotakeroot.Becomeawareofwhereyourfeetare
connectedtotheearth,andimagineyourselfasthesaplingyoungtree,takingrootthrough
yourconnectiontotheearth.
Asyoubreathin,feelyourselfgatheringyourenergy,andasyoubreatheout,letyourroots
digdeeperintothesoil.Theytunneldownandspreadoutastheygrow.Feelyourself
connectingwiththedirtandstonesandeventhewatertable,deepbelowyou.Witheach
breath,pushyourrootsalittlebitfurther,gently,becauserootswillfindtheirwayaround
andthroughanyobstaclesthatpresentthemselves.Asyougetdowntothebedrock,feelyour
rootstouchthestones,andconnectwiththeveinsinthestonesthemselves,sothatyour
rootsgodownintotheverybones,thecenteroftheearth.
Pausethereforamomentandletthatconnectionstrengthen.Letwhateverisbotheringyou
flowdownandoutintotheearthandbediffused,anddrawupfromyourrootswhatever
energyandsustenanceyouneed.Feelthestabilitythatyourrootsgiveyou,sothatyouare
balancedandsteady.
Now,whenyoutakeabreathin,drawthatflowupintoyourself,intoyourtrunk,andasyou
breatheout,starttoputoutleavesandbranches.Breathein,andfeeltheenergyoftheearth
combinewithyourown,tofeedthosebranches,andasyoubreatheout,feelthemgrow,
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reachingupthroughthesky.Letthemdivideandspread,sothatsomearethickandstrong,
andothersendindelicatetwigsthatswaysmoothlyasthewindblowsthroughthem.Feel
yourleavesseekingoutthesun’senergy,orthemoon’s,orboth.Thatenergyflowsintoyou,
andmingles,mixeswithwhat’salreadythere,strengtheningyourtrunkandfeedingyouall
thewaydowntoyourroots,too.
Restthere,lettingtheenergyflowintoyouandthroughyou,lettingitnourishyou,healyou,
andreplenishyou.
Whenyou’reready,gentlydrawyourrootsandbranchesbackin.Youcandothisby
visualizingthemshrinkingbackintoyouasyoubreathein.Youknowtheywillalwaysbe
there,andthatyoucanextendthemagain,andconnectwithyourenvironmentagain,atany
time.Fornow,letthemretractintoyou,sothatyougraduallybecomeawareoftheshapeof
yourownbodyagain.
2. Whenyou’reready,youturnaroundfacingtheoutsideofthecircle.Keepyoureyesclosed
andtrytostayincontactwithyourselfandinsilence.
B:Solo
…Receivethefollowinginstructions:goonalittlesolowalkhereintheenvironment,onthebigfield
weareonandsearchforatree(oraspot)thatremindsyouofyourchildhood.Atreethattriggers
somethinginyou,touchesyouinsomewayorfeelsfamiliar……thatremindsyouofhowitwasfor
youasachild.Youwalkaroundandyoutakethetimetofindyourtreethatconnectswithyouand
yourchildhood(withthisinstruction:creationofanatmosphere).Whenyouhavefoundthistreeyou
getacloserlookandfindaspot(sitting/lyingdown/…)whereyougetagoodimage,animagethat
touchesyouinsomeway.Seewhatcomestoyourmindwhensitting/lyingthere.Takethetime.
Whenyou’redone,turnyourattentioninsideandseehowyoufeel.Trytocreateanimagethat
matchesyourfeelingofthismomentwithnaturalmaterialsthatyoucanfindinyoursurroundings
andplaceitnexttothetree.
Youcantakemoreorlessabout40minutestimeandwhentheDRUMgoes,youcomebacktothe
circle(maybegentlyusingthedrumatthatmomentsothattheyrecognizethesound..).
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C:Showingpartnersyourtree+writingexercise
Whenthedrumgoes,comebacktothecircle–insilence.Thereisacandleinthemiddleand
everyoneiscalmandsilent.Instructionsaregivenoftakingyourrightneighborsothatyoupairup
withanotherperson,thentoblindfoldonepersonoftheduo.Theotheronetakeshimtohisspot/
tree.Whenarrived,hecantakeoffhisblindfoldandyoutellhimeverythingaboutyourspot.Tellhim
howyoufoundit,whichthoughtscametoyourmind,whichassociationsyou’vemade,whatisthe
storybehindit,howyoufeltandwhy.Thepartnerlistenscarefully.
Whenthestoryisfinished,yourpartnerwilltellyouwhattouchedhiminyourstory.Hewillalso
changesomething/addsomethingtotheimageyouhavecreatednexttothetree(withoutknowing
whatitis).Youdon’tneedtotalkaboutthechangingoftheimage,justfeelwhatitdoestoyou.
Afterthis,eachpersongoesbacktotheirowntree,takesapenandbookletwithhimandopensthe
envelope.Therearesomewritinginstructionsinit:writealetterfromtheperspectiveofthetree(or
thespot)towards:
• thechildthatyouwere
• thepersonyouarenow
→youcanchoosebetweentheselasttwo,whateverfeelsmosthelping/supportiveforyou
Whenyouhearthedrumyoucansaygoodbyetothetree.
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D:Sharinginthebiggroup
Gobacktothecirclefacingeachother(andsitdown).Whowantstosaysomethingabouttheir
experience?Whowantstoreadoutloudhis/herletter–intheirownlanguage?Whatdoesthisdo
withhim/her,withthegroup?Whatdoyouneed?
E:Endinggame
Shakeyourbody,yourarms,legs,neck,head,…Thenformacircleclosetoeachother.Putyourtwo
handsintheairandturn90degreestotheright.“Andthenwesay:‘WelldoneNadia’”Whilst
rubbingtheupperarmsofthepersoninfrontofyou(inacaring,lovingway).Thenagaintwoarmsin
theairandturn180degreestotheleft.“Andthenwesay:‘WelldoneSusana’”Whilstrubbingthe
upperarmsofthepersoninfrontofyou(inacaring,lovingway).Thenagaintwoarmsintheair,
facingthemiddleofthecircle.Last,butnotleastwesay‘WelldoneLynn’(toyourself,inthesame
way).
2.Whoisthetargetgroup?
Upuntilnowwe’vedonethiswithyoungadults,adultsandfamilies.Butwe’vealsousedsomeparts
oftheworkshopwithyouth-at-riskandwithYouthatriskandtheirfamily.Youshouldsimplifyalittle
andnotgiveallinstructionsatonce.
3.Whoarethetrainers/educators?Whataretheircompetences?
Therapistswhodon’tneedanyspecificoutdoorskills.
Trainersneedtobeabletocreateareflectivespaceandtoslowdowntheparticipants.Theyneedto
begoodatfacilitatinggroupprocessesanddiscussionsaswellastheindividualtherapeuticprocess
oftheparticipants.
Trainersalsoneedtobeabletoexplainsafetyissuesandguidelinesregardingwheretowalk,whatto
wear,whattobringandtherulesofleavenotrace.
Foragroupofmax.14participants,onetrainercanbeenoughtofacilitateit,althoughtwomightbe
moreinterestingregardingthegroupfacilitation:ifsomethinghappenswithaparticipantandthe
othertrainerneedstoleave.
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4.Whatkindofmethodologiesdoyouuseinthisworkshop?
Influencesfrom:
• Experientialandclient-centeredtherapy–Intheexerciseandinthecoreconditionsofthetherapist(seeG.referencesfromRogers):congruence,empathy,unconditionalpositiveregard
• Emotion-focusedTherapy–Inthereflectionofthesharingpart+inthequestionsasked• Systemic/contextualtherapy(biographicalwork)-Ifyouconnectwithchildhood,it’s
importanttohaverespectforexistentialloyaltytotheparentsandfamilyandfor“relationalethics”inthewayyoureflectandhandlethoseissues.
• Groupdynamicsandgrouptherapyingeneral(forthesharingpart)
5.Whydoyouusethispractice?
Becausethissequenceofactivitiesfacilitatesandgivestheopportunitytostandfacetofacewith
yourselfthroughthemetaphorofthetreethatislinkedtoyourownchildhoodandlifenow,withthe
opportunitytohealemotionalissues.Standingfacetofacewiththetriggeringtreeyourchildhood
andlifeappearsandcrystalizesitselfinthetree:intheformofthetree,thesmellandevery
sensationthatyoufeelinthatmoment.Sometimesgoingbacktochildhoodisneededtohealinthe
hereandnow.Butit’snotjustdiggingintothepast;itismakingthelinkwiththepersonyouarenow
andinrelationtoothersandusingthegroupasamutualhealingsource.
Ofcoursewedon’tusethesameworkshopeverytimeagain.Youadaptittowhatisgoingoninthe
group.
Soitisagoodcombinationbetweengroupprocessesandspaceforindividualtherapeuticprocess.In
betweenthereisthepossibilitytoshareissuesandthemesabouttheirchildhoodfirstinasmaller
group.Thisstepbeforethegroupsharingpart,maycreatemoresafetytosharefeelings.Laterthey
canshareitinthebiggroup.Challengebychoiceisobviouslyveryimportantforthisactivity.
Alotofouryoungstersorevenadultsrushthroughlifeandthroughtheprogramswithouttakingthe
timetoslowdownandevenstandstilltobemoreawareandfeelwhatisgoingon.Thesolowiththe
treegivesthemtheopportunitytofocus(withoutdistractionbyothersandotherinputchannels),to
stoprunning,toencounterthemselves,takethetime…
Participants,especiallyvulnerableyoungsters,haveoftennotonlylostconnectiontotheoutside
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world(andtonature)butalsotheconnectiontotheirowninnerworld.The‘solowiththetree’can
helptheminanindirectwaytocomeclosertowhatreallymatterstothem/whatkeepsthembusy
bydescribingsomethingoutsideofthemselves(nature/tree).
Feedbackfromyouthatrisk(12years)showinghisspotwithtreetohisfamily:“inmychildhoodI
havetwokindsoftrees:abunchofdeadwoodalmessedupandchaoticandbesideaverybeautiful
tree.ThisishowIfeelaboutmychildhoodbutthisisalsohowitgoesinourfamily:wehavevery
goodandconnectedmomentsandwehavealsoalotoffightsandthenit’samess”.“Iwouldliketo
buildtogetherasafamilystrongfoundationfromthemessywood,sothatwecanliveinharmonyas
afamilyandthat’swhyIthinkweneedhelp.”
6.WhataretheAdventureTherapycomponentsinthisworkshop?
Thisactivityisalwaysimbeddedinalarger(adventure)therapyprogramandisatitsbestwhenthe
grouphasgonetogetherthroughawholeprocess,notatthefirstdayswhentheyarestillinthe
groupdynamicphaseofinclusionortoomuchfocusontheinfluenceandroles.Thereforwedoit
moretowardstheendofaprogram,butwithenoughspaceafterwardstoprocess.Offcoursewe
putemphasisontheexperientiallearningphilosophyof“challengebychoice”.Keepinmindthe
gradingprinciple.Youdotheexerciseatthemomenttheparticipantshadthechancetogradeupto
thestep.
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Wetrytocreateatherapeuticenvironmentlinkingnaturalelementsastrees,air,wind,…toissues,
moments,emotionsinyourlifeconnectedtochildhoodissuesthatyouwantto,youchoosetoletgo.
Itprovidesaframeandaplaygroundtoactivateemotional(dysfunctional)schemesandgivesan
opportunitytotakeasteptowardsachangeinmorefunctionalschemes(wheredoyouwanttogo
to).Giventhefactthatyoucanonlychangeanemotionalschemewhenitisactivated.Thisactivity
hasthepotentialtogiveafertilesoilforchange,fortheprocessofactivationandfacilitationofthe
creationofnewandfunctionalschemes.Everyparticipantcanlinkhisownpersonalsignificanceinto
thetree.Youcanhelptheparticipantsto‘grade’thechallengetotheirlevelofengagementand
readinessforaction(upgradedowngrade).Theroleofthefacilitator,therapistisveryimportant:in
guidingtheclientandthegroupthroughthisprocess.
Thefactthatyoualsoincludeotherparticipantsinpartsoftheactivity(duos,groupreflection)can
provideastrongconnectionbetweenthem.Theyareactuallypartofthestoryofyourchildhoodtree
andtheprocessoftheonethatisfacetofacewithit,andcanbea‘sourceofhelp’intheindividual
healingprocesses.Thefactthatyoualsoincludeotherparticipantsinframinga“challenge”andthat
youreflectbackonthesolo,sharinginpairs,writingtheletterwiththewholegroup,providesa
strongconnectionbetweenthemandmakesotherparticipants‘co-facilitators’inallindividual
processes.Thegroupcansupporttheparticipantintakingthechallengeandreactingonwhatthe
participantbrings.
Firstthroughthevisualizationexerciseyouopenagateofgroundedself-awareness.Thenyoustart
tousethatverystrongMetaphoriccomponentofthetree.Itisveryimportanttocreateasafespace
andtakeenoughtimetobeableto“contain”emotionalreactions.Somescreeningbeforecanbe
recommended(suicidal,psychoticreactions…).
Itisanactivitythatbringstheclientsintoasituationofstretch.Itisimportantthatthetherapist
recognizesanddistinguishesstretchfrompanic.Becausewhentheparticipantentersinpanic,
he/shewillnotlearnandgrow/healanymore.
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‘Findyourtree’hasthepotentialofun-doingaprojectionlinkedtochildhood.Weallmake
projectionswhenwe‘project’somethingweourselvesfeeluncomfortableaboutonsomeoneor
somethingelseorevenonagroup.Itcanmanifestitselfbyfeelingirritationtowardsthatperson/
thing,byfeelingexcessiveadmirationorsometimesevenbyhavinganinappropriategoodfeeling.
Thetreegivestheopportunitytogetawareofthepossible(mostlyunconscious)projection
participantsareinvitedtomakeonthetreethat‘touches’them.Byaskingquestionsaboutwhat
‘strikes’them,theprojectionmightgetclearer.
Thetreecanalsoprovideaframethatcanactivateemotional(dysfunctional)schemesandhasthe
potentialtobeamotivatorortriggertowardsa(wishto)changeinmorefunctionalschemes(where
doyouwanttogoto).
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References
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Authors
LynnVanHoof(°1987)
Psychologist,TrainerandAdventureTherapistatNATURE
(www.nature.be),BelgianATICrepresentativeandcoordinatorofthe
EuropeanATpartnershipproject‘ReachingFurther’
Workingwithvulnerableyoungstersandadultsinanoutdoorsetting
since2010.
LinkedInLynn//[email protected]
NadiaVossen(°1976)
Contextualpsychotherapist,familyandcrisiscounselorwithyouthat
riskandAdventureTherapistatNATURE(www.nature.be)
Workingwithvulnerableyoungstersandtheirfamilysince1999and
inoutdoorandexperientialsettingssince2012.
