Training in Clean Language, Symbolic Modelling and Clean Space with Apricot Island

Notes from Apricot Island

Apricot Island Newsletter

January 2010

Happy New Year! I hope you had a great Christmas / New Year break, and that snow hasn't inconvenienced you too much. I've been spending the extra time writing and putting the finishing touches to our 2010 programme of events (listed right). There's lots to tell you about!

Clean in the Classroom
Hardly a day goes by without someone telling me about their new application for Clean Language. Doctors, hypnotherapists, marketing specialists, project leaders, parents... people from all walks of use are finding their own special uses for this remarkable methodology. Next week I am going to see teacher Julie McCracken who is using Clean with her class of five-to-seven year-olds. We are collaborating on a book about this and I'm keen to see Julie in action. Read about our collaboration and some of the things Julie is doing.

New Year, New Venue, New Venture
Most of our trainings to date have been held in our home and people always comment on the friendly atmosphere (and the lovely jacket potato lunches!) Now, we're extending our welcome and offering full-board accommodation (for those who want it) at a new venue we've found in Gosport. It's a beautiful, comfortable, Edwardian house and we'll be holding our Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct trainings there - see the events list (right) for details. We haven't planned what we'll do in the evenings, but I've no doubt something interesting and enjoyable will emerge!

Learn Clean Language With Ease at Apricot Island - and Become a Clean Facilitator
Our Clean Facilitator Programme is now fully established, with our first Assessment for Learning having taken place in December. Three people achieved the required standard for their Level 1 Clean Facilitator Certificates: Sheryl Andrews; Sarah-Jane Whitehouse and Helen Harrison. Here's what Sarah-Jane, who is a coach, says:

"I felt utterly supported during the 2 days, and I was able to practice and hone my skills with the assistance of the written and verbal feedback following each session. Marian & Phil created an environment that was calm and conducive to learning at my best. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the assessment felt like it was just another part of it."

You can start training to become a Clean Facilitator in February by joining us for Less is More.

New: Supervision Event
I'm often contacted by people who want supervised practice, and so far we've achieved this by setting up three-way phone or Skype conversations. Now, we're extending this idea to a live 1-day Supervision Event, which will take place in Gosport on 4 March. Bring your own client(s), buddy up with a fellow facilitator or register your interest as either facilitator or client and we will match you up.

Discover Your Assertive Self - Back By Popular Demand
If you wish you were more confident, if you feel guilty when you say no or if you need to stand up for yourself more often, this workshop in April is for you.

"Something really big shifted for me. I realised I had spent a long time trying to be someone I wasn't. Now I am true to myself."

Penny Tompkins, who'll be leading the workshop with me, is currently working (with her husband, James Lawley) on a new book on Self-Deception, Self-Delusion, Self-Denial: And How To Act From What You Know To Be True, which fits really well with this workshop, so you can expect some up-to-date input. We're also attracting interest from people who want to see how we run a workshop with a topic like assertiveness, yet stay clean.

Evening Seminar: An Invitation To Observe...
If you're new to Clean Language, you may be wondering what really happens in a clean coaching session - and we are offering an opportunity for you to find out at an evening seminar in Fareham on Tuesday January 26. This introduction to Clean Language will include a live demonstration and a question-and-answer session. Please tell friends and colleagues about this event.

"Clean Language is the quickest and most effective way of helping to gain clarity of thought that I have come across in 30 years of marketing."
Lizz Clarke, Logical Creative Marketing

California Here I Come...
I've been working with Sharon Small, from San Luis Obispo for the last few months, helping her to launch Less is More (May 1 - 2) in California. Sharon assisted me in Portland in '08 and '09 and now we are going for a role reversal - I will be supporting her as she becomes the first licensed trainer for Apricot Island. If you're in California and have been waiting for Clean Language training to come to you, this is your chance!

Portland Training Dates - and A Grand Opening
Immediately after the training in San Luis Obispo, Sharon and I will head north to Portland, Oregon where I will be running Less is More and More to Explore (May 4-8) with Sharon assisting. This is also in a new venue: a lovely new workshop space in Multnomah Village, which belongs to Michael Spandel, who's attended both previous trainings and who is helping us to promote this training. He's holding a Grand Opening Party for the workshop space on Jan 17, with live music and prizes. If you're in Portland, I know Michael would love to see you there - please email him (michaelspandel@gmail.com) for details.

If you're in the USA please tell your friends and colleagues about these training opportunities and look out for news of teleseminars we'll be running in advance.

Workbooks Help Spread Clean Ideas
No wonder more and more people are experimenting with Clean Language... During 2009, the workbooks we've designed with Training Attention Ltd. have been instrumental in spreading the word and teaching people about Clean Language and related ideas throughout many organisations, including: Barnados, two large retail companies, the Wirral Housing Partnership; Liverpool John Moores University; and 450 people from the NHS. The workbook format has been so useful we've also applied it to the NLP-based Magical Spelling, which has been adopted by three primary schools operating as a trust in Burnley, where it will be used by over 1,000 staff and pupils. You can purchase copies of these workbooks from Training Attention Ltd. and Magical Spelling Ltd.

I do hope I will see you at one or more of the events mentioned above!

With best wishes,

Marian

+44 (0)23 9221 5355