the strengths cafe |
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The Strengths Cafe is an online publishing project sponsored by Innovative Resources.
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75 colour photographs for conversation and reflection Since its earliest origins, photography has proved to be a powerful catalyst for conversation-building. As photographic technology and approaches to psychotherapy have developed, a broad spectrum of ways in which photography can be used in counselling have evolved. Picture This is a set of 75 original colour photographs that capture different aspects of our journey through life: the mundane, the whimisical the soulful, the playful, the challenging, the imaginative, the chilling and the joyful. can be used separately, as a whole, or by selecting sub-sets. The photos that make up Picture This are particularly accessible because they provide slices of both urban and rural landscapes and lifestyles, and are culturally diverse. As a conversation-building tool, Picture This needs minimal introduction. Like all Innovative Resources' tools it does not require any special training and can be used just as effectively with individuals, groups and teams. It can be used by people of any age, in just about any setting. Picture This is a powerfully interpretive tool. Photographs have a unique ability to stimulate the imagination, memory and emotions. They can be catalysts for people to tell their stories and prompt reflection about values and priorities. For this reason Picture This will be used in schools and prisons, in group work and in counselling sessions—even in creative writing classes. We hope it will take its place as an essential component in the ‘toolkits' of anyone who wishes to work creatively with others. |
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In the Mailbag
Picturing a brighter future
I just wanted to give you some feedback on the use of the Picture This cards. I recently used the cards with an adolescent who is very troubled and had been threatening to kill himself.
The Picture This cards he chose elicited some powerful responses:
Hands lifting hay bales—No matter what I do I can't please Dad.
House burning and crashed car—I feel like my life is crashing and burning.
Shredded paper—I feel confused and all messed up.
Walking down the road in snow—I am always going on walks alone.
The crowd—I want to be the person being focused-on in the crowd.
I found it to be a really successful session as it clarified how much he was internalising. For a young man he is such a deep thinker and very aware of his feelings. He is now being referred for further counselling.
Thank you for such wonderful resources.
Janine Mitchell Youth Pathways Advisor |
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Picturing questions Here are some interesting questions to build around Picture This. Some might be considered ice-breakers, useful in the early stages of engagement with an individual or group. Some will be out of left field, seemingly unconventional but perhaps vital for overcoming the grip of ‘stuckness'. Some of these questions may demand a solid trusting relationship before being raised, while others simply invite reflection and rememberance. Some questions are more oriented to one-on-one conversations while others lend themselves easily to group discussions. All of these questions can provide starting points for deeper coversations.
An alternative method to spreading and scanning is building on serendipitous connections. Cards can be shuffled into a pack face down and one or more cards chosen at random with similar questions asked of those particular cards. At times, these serendipitous connections can be surprising and enlightening.
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