Day 11 365 Project #DigitalChalk

Saturday 27th February and I am snowed in! It's been a long winter but I can just about manage as I have my mac and full access to digitalchalk.com!

Spent the afternoon working on the excellent Distance Credentialed Counselor course from ReadyMinds that will be soon appearing on the DigitalChalk platform.

Tyding up PDF's tweaking the sound on some audio and uploading some streamlined PPT slides, just feels great getting it just right.

Really enjoying being part of such a great project, a big thank you to readyminds.com for having me onboard and to DeeAnna Merz Nagel for bringing us together!







-- Post From My iPhone

Day 10 365Project

Took today's pic on the way back from Sheffield, my first class ticket was cheaper than a regular which made it even more enjoyable!

Attended a meeting of the core staff team of Temenos in my new
role as a member of the management group. This feels like a huge privilidge to have joined this fantastic organisation to support it's ongoing growth and development.

Can't wait to tell you all the plans we are making!







-- Post From My iPhone

Day 9 365Project Tools of the trade

Really enjoying my new tools of the trade today, laptop & headset!

Had a fab interview with Jane Evans from OCTIA, her workshop sounds so exciting!

And an online peer supervision group, it's great to be in contact with such supportive and experienced colleagues despite the distance between us!











-- Post From My iPhone

Day 8 365Project Dentist!

Fear of the day today? Dentist!

It's only been about 20 years since I have been to the dentist, I didn't like it then and I didn't expect I would like it today, although it was more than that!

I kept seeing visions of myself strapped to the chair with instruments in my mouth causing me extreme pain ... no wonder I was anxious!

The reality? The receptionists were lovely, the dentist was lovely and although having my teeth prodded with instruments isn't my first choice of activity it wasn't painful and I left feeling that I could just about manage to tolerate the 2 fillings I need, result!

Left me wondering what it's like for people coming to see me for counselling for the first time, are they experiencing the same fears and fantasies of intolerable pain?!?

It is always my endeavor to make someone who comes into my office as comfortable as possible whether they need some quiet space or to chat about the weather till they relax.

After today, and the anxiety I experienced, I am continuing with this strategy!






-- Post From My iPhone

Day 7 365Project Observations

You might have guessed I didn't take this pic of the Dean Galleries in Edinburgh, I was there yesterday for peer supervision, I did intend to take my own picture but got totally distracted.

Yesterday evening I was observed teaching on the counselling skills course and by the time I got to lunch time my anxiety was very high!

The group of tutors that I work with are excellent, full of wonderful practical experience and a knowing of just how anxiety provoking this work can be, especially when being observed attempting to do it! And the students were so generous in allowing this process of mine into their learning experience. Thanks everyone for your amazing support!

So it's done now, with some lovely feedback and some suggestions for the next observation in a fortnight ...







-- Post From My iPhone

Day 6 365Project

I thought that I hadnt taken any pics today when I forgot that I had, but just in one of my other lives!

I also run a cleaning business and the day started with the rubbish in this photo below, we photograph it, communicate with the management company and then clear it, who would have thought the iPhone would be such an important part of a cleaners life!

I have also been on 2 conference calls, one including colleagues in New Zealand, ongoing work with the OTI, 2 counselling sessions and a lovely dinner with a great friend in the city ...

But it all started with some black bags ... and I kinda like it that way :D

Day 5 36Project

It's only an introductory course but I am stressing about getting my head into it, mostly because I am behind, no surprise there then :)

I am being observed teaching on Teusday evening, should be interesting!


-- Post From My iPhone

Day 4 365Project

Feeling in transition today as I move my office downstairs. I have spent nearly 4 years in private counselling practice in Centrex Conference Centre. My first experience of office life and as a professional!

The corridor where my office was located has got much busier in the last few months, which is great for the building and makes sure that this loation known for it's open, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere continues to be viable.

But also means that I need to be in a quieter part of the building, which is why I am moving downstairs. It's a great part of the building, I am sure the people I work with will be comfortable there and as I closed the door on my first ever office I could feel my heart stretching in a way I didn't expect!

It's probably got something to do with my attachment issues, and my struggle to move in to new things and it says something about how right it was for me to enter this field, this building and this life!

Hope you like the pic of my new room :)






-- Post From My iPhone

Day 3 365Project

3 minutes to go for today and u am just squeezing in my pic of the day, caught this quite by accident in my car and really like it!

Idea of this project is that it will get me thinking and hopefully taking interesting pics, let's hope it's already started :)


-- Post From My iPhone

Day 2 of 365Project

I did a lot of thinking about the future this morning, not unusual for me :)

Just as well I had my coffee!


-- Post From My iPhone

Interview with COAP team for OCTIA 2010

Recoded an interview with the COAP team today who run a website that offers support to young people who are living around addiction using a forum and online counselling.

Emma and Sonja will be presenting at OCTIA 2010 and the interview will hopefully give you a sense of what this excellent team will bring.

Only 1 month to go till the only counselling conference that will be available to view online live with real time interaction with the speakers. Don't forget to book your ticket here www.onlinevents.co.uk

External Assesor

Visit from the external assesor to www.stevenson.ac.uk yesterday where I have been teaching counselling skills since September last year.

The assesor was one if the tutors on my counselling diploma and had a profound impact on mr and how I work!

It was great to see her "get" what the team offers in counselling skills training, a deeply relational space where there is plenty of room to develop!

When I joined the team I was sure it was a great place to develop myself in this kind if work, by the end of yesterday I was convinced all over again!




-- Post From My iPhone

365 Challenge

My good friend and colleague Rich Cove has challanged me to record the next year of my life by taking a picture every day, si here goes!

A picture of my new iPhone 3GS, or the box! Insurance delivered it yesterday and I stayed up late setting it up, the story today ... yawn!

Rich is also taking this challange and I will be retweeting his updates on Twitter.com feel free to follow me over there @onlinevents





-- Post From My iPhone

OCTIA 2010 Interviews

I am recording a series of interviews with the organisers of the OCTIA 2010 conference. The only conference to date about online counselling that is actually available to attend online!


I was too ill this afternoon to record the planned interview with Anne Stokes, which is really disappointing as I have been enjoying the experience and feels great to be getting stuck into preparations. Sorry for canceling Anne and look forward to recording the interview next week.