"The Art of The Spontaneous": experiential training for therapists

Margi Brown Ash is presenting a series of workshops for therapists called "The Art of the Spontaneous": how can we develop our artistry in the therapy room? Margi will employ numerous theatrical frameworks including Impulsetraining, improvisation, elements of movement, visual art depiction, creative writing and reflective practice. Please register your interest on 4change@iinet.net.au.Margi has worked in the arts since the early 70's as actor, director and trainer. Her psychotherapeutic training includes postgraduate diplomas and degrees in creative arts therapy and counselling. Presently she is a PhD candidate at Taos/Tilburg (U.S.A. and The Netherlands).  Her area of research is creative arts therapy.Some testimonials from participants in Margi's classes:

• Always positive, always helping us understand in the best way possible to create ourselves in the truest forms of our being. It is life changing and I look forward to coming to class just to see what epiphany I may unearth.
• Has an amazing ability to reach all members of a diverse group with energy and enthusiasm. Has allowed people to grow at their own pace so that the foundations are secure. Challenging and insightful
• Excellent and stimulating.  Margi's teaching was very inclusive of all group members contributions and point of view and respected each of us equally demonstrating compassion, tolerance, patience and wisdom.
• Full of energy and passion for the work of teaching an learning. Models openess to learning and personal and professional development. Respectful and collaborative as well as supportive and adaptible. Walks the talk - a great role model, mentor and teacher!
• Great, puts into action her own theories. Genuine, transparent and real.
• Margi is excellent, she seems genuinelly interested in everyone's learning progress and felt very approachable if we had any dramas or concerns. She created a very fun and positive learning environment
• Margi's warmth, encouragement and inclusivenes helped student ownership of course work. Margi gently challenged individuals to become more self aware and responsible - a lovely space for some very valuable lessons.
• Margi and teaching go hand in hand. The passion, warmth and safety created in the class environment made you want to get in and participate. Her respect and interest in each student is genuine and the classes were lively, fun yet full of learning, questioning and the ability to walk away and be reflective.
• Margi is gorgeous - she is enthusiastic, she is so delighted with the opportunity to not only learn herself but for others to learn also that it is infectious - we all love her!
• Fantastic energy and engagement of the group.
• Margi is an excellent teacher - always warm and approachable, very knowledgeable, and able to facilitate learning groups and experiences with great skill. It has been a pleasure to have her as a lecturer.
• Very personable, excellent communication and a great deal of empathy towards all students.
• Margi's teaching reminded me of my love of learning with her innovative style, creativity and enthusiasm. She made it fun. I did find the way she teaches was very much in line with my particular learning style. Because of this I was so much more engaged in the lectures. I found I was energised at the end of an evening rather than fatigued. I often wanted to go home and read more along the lines of what we had been talking about. She also demonstrated her professionalism and skill in her role as supervisor. After seeing her in action in this role too, I would not hesitate to engage her as my supervisor in the future.
• This teacher encouraged, empowered me to learn more and look at the positive side of things. She was always organised as she set out the structure for each weeks learning activities. She is always cheerful, collaborate with students and model good examples of the course.
• Margi's ability to facilitate in a way that keeps the students wanting more. Her use of language makes the ambience of the class safe and comfortable but also encourages us to critically think about our sessions. The session started off with theory of the unit which amplified our experience I felt throughout the session, Fantastic!! Her joy in teaching (even when she must have been as tired as we were) was inspirational.