UTOPIA.PHOTO

Category: Archive

  • 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.

  • Two actor/models needed for academic photography project

    Could you help? I am an academic photographer/researcher interested in the use of images to convey emotions. To complete a small project as part of my research, I am looking for two models with acting experience/training to pose for a series of illustrative images.

    Psychologists classify emotions using a system devised by Robert Plutchik in 1980. In this, eight core emotions, each with three degrees of ‘strength’ were identified, which combine in pairs to form a further eight emotions – 32 in all.

    File:Plutchils-emotional-wheel.png - Wikimedia Commons

    I am hoping to create an illustrative set of portraits for each of these emotions, using at least two actor/models – one male and one female. The images will be used for a variety of purposes, primarily to support future research.

    Other than the emotional expression, it is important that the models should be ‘neutral’ in all other respects: no make-up, no jewellery, no tattoos, clean-shaven, and ideally between 25 and 40 years of age. The images will be head and upper torso wearing grey t-shirts.

    Unfortunately, I do not have funding for this part of the project, but will gladly provide a set of images for your portfolio and pay agreed travel expenses.

    I have been offered the use of a studio in Banbury, Oxfordshire on Saturdays between 9am and 1pm, so the shoot will need to be carried out then.

    If you would be prepared to help with this, please email me on graham@utopia.photo. Thank you.

  • Lifesaving – why do you do it?

    This year, I shall have been involved in lifesaving for 48 years. Friends often ask me why. Well, today gives a pretty good insight into my reasons.

    Between 11am and 4pm, a group of four lifesaving instructors, taught rope-throwing rescues to 200+ people and CPR to 50+. We were at an area of Walton-on-Thames, beside the River, as part of a multi-agency water safety event. Organised by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and attended by ourselves, the Surrey Search and Rescue charity, the Police, and the Maritime Volunteer Service, it provided the opportunity to engage with a broad cross-section of the community in an area in which there have been three times the number of drownings this year compared to previous ones.

    The members of the public ranged from very young children to ‘mature’ grandparents, some were on their own ‘just walking past’; there were young couples and couples who were young at heart; cyclists, joggers, and even some wedding guests!

    A few vignettes…

    • The five-year-old Asian boy, who was so excited at learning to throw a line to someone who could be drowning, that half-an-hour later he returned with three of his best friends to show them.
    • The lady in the wheelchair who surprised herself.
    • The two sisters and their younger brother whose instructions to the casualty could probably be heard on the other side of the River.
    • The guy with mental health issues who had seen a mate ‘go in’ and didn’t know what to do.
    • The six-year-old autistic boy who threw the rope dead straight to its full 15 metres length, landing it straight across the outstretched arms of the casualty… not once but three times – jumping up and down with excitement each time!
    • The group of four Russian-speaking nannies, who thought it was such a great opportunity that one of them rang her employers and asked if she could collect the kids and bring them down to the River to have a go even though it was her day off.
    • The three grannies who, independently, persuaded their charges that they should learn CPR together (“It’s a really useful skill to have.”)
    • The rowing coach who, reluctant at first, had a go then realised that this was actually something that his rowers and club members should all learn…

    I could go on. Why do I do this? Of course, there’s the grand moral purpose to save lives, prevent drowning, encourage water safety. However, those could all be achieved in other ways and I don’t think they alone would sustain someone’s motivation for 48 years. The answer is a bit deeper. I am not a religious person, but to see human beings of every background, all kinds of circumstances, and with so many personal stories, ‘having a go’ – stepping outside their personal comfort zone – wanting to know what they could do if ever they had to. There are so many horrifying things happening all around us, that it’s seeing people like this that restores your faith in humanity. It’s that kind of spiritual buzz that keeps me involved in initiatives like this. And, do you know what? I have a pretty strong feeling that I am not the only one!?

  • 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