Small Fish, Big Pond

In London on 17th March for the the BADTh First National Supervisors meeting I was a bit overawed by the presence of so many experienced, well-known 'names' in Dramatherapy. A warm-up exercise in which we were invited to identify our areas of work showed an astonishing breadth of expertise - in forensic, educational and health settings as well as international and global interests.

My own limited practice - with a small number of clients, and specialising in mental health problems - seemed very dull by comparison. However, I was pleased to be sought out by Lily, a dramatherapist who had enjoyed a workshop I'd facilitated at Bretton Hall a few years back, involving a dragon. I was also delighted to meet up with two practitioners who have been role models for me - Ted Wharam, a down-to-earth pioneer of dramatherapy in the 70's, an impressive guest lecturer on my training course, and the ever-youthful Alida Gersie, whose books on storytelling and story making are key texts for anyone who uses stories in their work. My copy of her Earthtales is dog-eared from constant use. It was quite wonderful not only to be able to chat to them, but to participate with them in a small group where we used objects and pictures to create individual sculpts reflecting our experience and concerns as supervisors. It was a levelling experience, revealing how uncertain we can all feel about the work we do, no matter how experienced we are.

One very useful piece of learning from Alida was the concept of a three way contract between supervisor, supervisee and supervisee's line manager. I've suggested this to one of my own supervisees and she is keen to pursue it. It had never occurred to me to to offer this, but it makes sense, particularly when dramatherapy is not fully understood by organisations. This was, in fact, a very strong theme throughout the day. We are still a minority profession, but that can also be our strength, as is proved by Ted's experience as a lone dramatherapist in the North who is now in demand for his expertise in his work with the police. He has something unique to offer.

Not much about 'having a life as well' in this post.....work has been very much to the fore, but I have been knitting, finally completing the silk jacket (my first attempt at designing a garment) I've been working on for a while, unravelling, re-knitting, adapting. I gratefully acknowledge help and inspiration from Di Gilpin, knitwear designer from St Andrews. Her online Knit Club is at http://www.digilpindesigns.com
This is my jacket:
Either side of the meeting in London, I stayed in Swindon and
managed to have a bit of time with my archaeologist daughter who took me up a windswept hill to see the white horse of Uffington. This was a really awesome (in its truest sense) experience. Just us, some sheep and an ancient chalk image of a beautiful creature which seems to be flying across the landscape. We found a Norman church in nearby Ashbury with strange double and triple headstones in the overgrown churchyard - couples and families of children? In the context of landscape and history, we seemed mere specks. And yet, later, sitting by a log fire in the Rose and Crown, enjoying a meal together, catching up on our separate lives as grown women, we did seem significant in terms of our family and its continuing story.






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