BRIEF Diploma - a student's experience

Matthew Moore writes:
12 months ago I took a leap of faith. Having twisted my boss’ arm for months and months she finally agreed to let me go and do the diploma course at BRIEF. This gave me the chance to be immersed in the approach that I have been using for the last three years, to speak, sleep, eat it for 2 full days a month for 8 months. I learnt of the history, the developments, the controversy. I came to question the whole thing altogether or at least my ability to do it. Finally I came to a realisation that I had gone from a fledgling SF practitioner to a proficient exponent of the art.

The diploma helped me to do this by putting me together with an amazing group of similarly minded people. We were from a variety of backgrounds but all shared the common goal of being more solution focused. I was placed in a co-coaching group with two other students, where we were able to monitor our progress and work on issues we were having. The whole group was split into two halves to participate, for an afternoon out of each workshop, in practice focused seminar groups where we looked at specific cases, did role plays and practiced asking questions under the guidance of a tutor. Through the teaching sessions and the thoughtful choice of reading materials supplied, I came to understand the background of SF, its history and developments, new and old. I observed live sessions completed by the “experts” and participated in being the “team” behind the one way screen. I even had the experience of receiving a session myself!

And now... I am more flexible in my use of the approach, calmer and more able to function when the going gets tough and I am soon to deliver my own SF training package to the colleagues with whom I work.