UTOPIA.PHOTO

Category: Archived Courses

  • Course: “Person-Centred Approach to Therapy: An Introduction”

    Course: “Person-Centred Approach to Therapy: An Introduction”

    20/01/25 – 24/03/25 – Oxford – Mondays 2:00pm to 5:00pm

    More Information & To Book (do so quickly as places fill FAST)

    One of the transformational developments in the history of talking therapy, the person-centred approach (PCA) proposed by Carl Rogers, has become firmly established at the heart of modern counselling. It has profoundly impacted coaching, teaching and education, healthcare and medicine, mediation and conflict resolution, and even international reconciliation. 

    The first therapeutic method in the humanistic school marked a huge departure from the ‘medical’ mode of doctor-patient. The three ‘core conditions’ of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence are frequently over-simplified, taken out of context, and mistaught. PCA is not simply a set of techniques – it is a fundamental philosophy about individuals and the world as a whole.

    In this course, we explore the philosophy underlying PCA, Rogers’ detailed analysis of what is necessary for therapy to work, and add a modern understanding of emotions and their communication.

  • Course: “Coaching: An Introduction”

    Course: “Coaching: An Introduction”

    30/09/2024 – 02/12/24 – Oxford – Mondays 6:30pm to 9:30pm

    More Information & To Book (do so quickly as places fill FAST)

    Helping anyone interested in using coaching, whether professionally, as a life skill, or to achieve better results in their work with others. Thought-provoking and practical, we explore the theory and skills of good coaching.

    Whether you are just curious about coaching, have a little understanding of what it involves, would like to develop some core skills in it to use in your work, or think it might be useful in parenting, or as a life skill, this is the course for you. In a supportive environment, we shall explore the core skills, the mindset necessary to be an effective coach, understand the boundaries of coaching, and what you need to do to protect yourself and your ‘client’. 

    Regardless of their starting point, participants will have plenty of opportunities to put their learning into practice and should emerge with solid skills, the ability to self-assess and improve, and the confidence to apply coaching in ways that they have not previously tried.

    Some students may wish to go on to our Advanced Coaching course, but this introduction stands alone and should leave you ready to work in your chosen way.

  • Course: “Understanding Emotions”

    Course: “Understanding Emotions”

    30/09/2024 – 02/12/24 – Oxford – Mondays 2:30pm to 4:30pm

    More Information & To Book (do so quickly as places fill FAST)

    That emotions are crucial to our experience of the world around us has been appreciated for thousands of years.  When Goleman popularised our understanding of just one dimension – emotional intelligence – in 1995, his book sold millions of copies.

    Emotions shape our relationships, determine our values, are the basis of our own motivation and how we motivate others. 

    Over ten weeks, with a balance of theory, practical activities, and experiential opportunities, we attempt to understand the detail of emotions and what they are, how they impact us, and fashion society.

    Explore the definition and components of emotions, and discover how they shape our thoughts, perceptions, and behaviours. Trace the evolution of emotional research, from ancient philosophies to modern cognitive science, gaining valuable insights into this ever-evolving field.

    Delve into the neuroscience of emotions, the workings of our brain and how it processes emotional responses. Examine the ongoing debate of whether emotions are innate or social constructs, exploring the interplay between biology, culture, and socialization.

    Uncover the minimal set of emotions that form the foundation of our emotional repertoire and explore their universality across cultures. Discover how empathy serves as a mechanism for emotional communication among individuals and even other sentient animals.

    Investigate the relationship between positive emotions and psychopathology, gaining practical strategies for fostering mental wellness. Explore the intersection of emotions and motivation, and how they influence our actions and decision-making. Examine behavioural economics and marketing, where emotions are skilfully provoked to shape popular behaviour.

    Understand the connection between wisdom, values, and emotions, and practical decision-making and finding meaning in our lives. Lastly, explore the relationship between religion and emotions, uncovering their role in spiritual practices and beliefs.

    Whether for professional or purely personal interest, this course should help you make just a little more sense of the complex world in which we live.

  • Travel Photography – Banbury (Jun 2021)

    Perhaps you’d like to bring back more than just memories from your holidays…To present the essence of your destination in ways that inspire others…
    Explore places with a very different perspective.

    “Each place we visit has its own particular look, character, and ambience. If we want photographs of our travels to be good and lasting, they should capture all of these qualities, and say as much about a place as give the literal look of it.”

    Robert Caputo, National Geographic

    The course runs over five consecutive Thursdays from 6:30–8:30pm.

    Field trip will take place on Saturday 21 March from 10am–4:30pm.

    You can develop your interest in photography further through a range of creative and practical photography courses at Banbury and Bicester College. Browse the full list to get inspired.

    What I’ll learn

    While there is no formal qualification, provided that you engage with the full course experience, you will benefit in several ways; a different appreciation for photography generally, a deeper understanding of this particular genre, practical skills to tackle a variety of projects, a number of images to add to your personal portfolio, a wider network of peers to support you in the future.

    How I’ll learn

    Through a combination of exploration, conversation, practical assignments and field work, this short course will help you understand the key elements of travel photography, develop skills to perform it well, build your confidence, and refine your personal style.

    Format: The course consists of four 2hr evening classes, followed by one Saturday field-trip of 6.5 hours, and then one further evening class.
     

    How I’ll be assessed

    There are no formal assessments for this course.

    Entry Requirements

    Travel Photography is for anyone interested in the genre, regardless of experience.  

    You will find you get more from the course if you have a digital camera with manual controls and you are already familiar with the essentials of using this.

    Booking information: https://www.activatelearning.ac.uk/courses/photography/travel-photography

  • Documentary/ Contemporary Photography – Banbury (Apr 2021)

    Would you like to use photography to tell a story or help a cause? Have you got a pet project that you’d like to make happen? Add depth and meaning to what you shoot.

    “Documentary photography” usually describes longer-term, multi-image projects that tell the story of something significant or provide a record of everyday life in a consistent and relatively true-to-life style.

    “Contemporary” photography has a similar approach, but may use more stylised images, and importantly explores issues affecting society.

    The course runs over 5 consecutive Thursdays from 6:30 pm–8:30 pm.

    Field trip will take place on Saturday 23 May from 10am–4:30pm.

    What I’ll learn

    While there is no formal qualification, provided that you engage with the full course experience, you will benefit in several ways; a different appreciation for photography generally, a deeper understanding of this particular genre, practical skills to tackle a variety of projects, a number of images to add to your personal portfolio, a wider network of peers to support you in the future.

    How I’ll learn

    Through a combination of exploration, conversation, practical assignments and field work, this short course will help you understand the key elements of project-based, documentary or contemporary photography, develop skills to perform it well, build your confidence, and make progress in your personal projects.

    Entry Requirements

    Documentary/ Contemporary Photography is for anyone interested in the genre, regardless of experience.

     You will find you get more from the course if you have a digital camera with manual controls and you are already familiar with the essentials of using this.

    Booking information:

    https://www.activatelearning.ac.uk/courses/photography/documentary-contemporary-photography

  • Street Photography – Woodstock (Mar 2021)

    Street Photography [S] [13+]
    Saturday 13 March 2021
    09:30-16:00, £45
    Tutor: Graham Wilson

    “Well planned and paced day.”

    Whether you want to document your own town or village, improve your travel photography, have new ideas for your family album, or you are a fan of the fast-growing art of street photography and want to try your hand at it, this whole day workshop will open your eyes to new possibilities all around you.

    Street photography ranges from its purest form of candid images of people in their environment, through more formal but ad hoc portraits, capturing the details of a place that make it more memorable, to some aspects of architectural and landscape photography.

    The group will spend most of the day walking around Woodstock (whatever the weather!), tackling a number of straightforward but informative tasks, reconvening for a chance to share experiences, short ‘tutorials’, and briefing for the next activity.  The tutor will help you refine your images over the day, but also be on hand to help answer more general technical questions.

    You will need to bring your own advanced digital camera (e.g. DSLRs, mirrorless, and Bridge cameras) and be reasonably familiar with using it as the emphasis will be on taking photos rather than instruction in camera controls. The workshop is not suitable for ‘point and shoot’ digital cameras or mobile devices.

    Please be aware that you will be walking around Woodstock, and that the workshop will go ahead whatever the weather, so please dress appropriately. You will also need to provide your own refreshments (or buy them locally) during the day.

    More details of the Marlborough School Community Education Photography Classes can be found here: https://www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk/4788/photography

    The booking/enrolment details are here: https://www.marlborough.oxon.sch.uk/733/enrolment-and-booking