less%20is%20more%204.jpgLess is More:
An Introduction To Clean Language


A 2-day Introductory/Basic Skills training for Consultants, Facilitators, Coaches, Counsellors, Therapists, Trainers, Managers, Health Practitioners, Parents and Project Leaders (i.e. people who help other people to think).

  • Add a powerful communication tool to your toolbox.
  • Learn techniques you can use to work more effectively with individuals and groups.
  • Find out about the power that metaphor has in our lives.

This two-day workshop includes:

  • An overview of the history of Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling and the range of contexts to which it is now being applied
  • The basic Clean Language questions and how to ask them for maximum effect
  • Demonstrations of the questions being used within various contexts
  • Activities to help you to ‘pick out’ and pay attention to the metaphors in peoples’ language
  • How to develop individuals’ metaphors, and help them gain new insights, quickly
  • Clean-Lite : a powerful model for motivating yourself and others to take action
  • Lots of practice and feedback
  • Full colour course manual – .pdf and hard copy

"Clean Language is an honouring, affirming and facilitatory language."
Lawley, J. & Tompkins, P., "Metaphors in Mind", p.28


Clean_Lite.png"This workshop enabled me to get an appreciation of the potential power of Clean Language and its value in a surprising range of work and home scenarios. It has encouraged me to make the commitment to deepening my knowledge of Clean Language and to deepening my skills in deploying it."
Mary Musselbrook

"It was a superb experience, in terms of my personal and professional development. It was exciting, challenging, thought-provoking and informative."
Julie Heavens

"I liked the easy-to-follow structure; it was very understandable. I will definitely use Clean Language with my clients."
Jenny Webb

"Great mix of theory and practice. A very well-structured course, run at a good pace. I was made to feel that asking questions was welcomed and I was being helped throughout."
Jackie Fletcher, Life Coach and Coach Supervisor

        Practising 'Clean-Lite'


Less is More is offered two or three times a year in Fareham , Hampshire, and is an integral part of longer courses offered abroad.

This training can also be delivered in-house, tailored to your organisation's specific needs. E-mail us for details.

Next Course Dates

  • September 26-27, 2008
  • March 4-5, 2009

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"Research shows that we use, on average, six metaphors a minute in ordinary speech."
Raymond R Gibbs Jr, "Categorisation and Metaphor Understanding" Psychological Review 99, no 3 (1992)

 

Metaphors, Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling Demystified in this 2-day training

Less is More is a highly experiential, fun event, with a good balance between theory and practice, and some personal development thrown in.

Symbolic Modelling

You’ll emerge with a thorough understanding of the principles behind Clean Language and how to ask Clean questions in a way that acknowledges and honours individual perceptions - whilst gently drawing attention to the assumptions that are holding them in place. You will have taken your listening, thinking and questioning skills to a whole new level. And you'll have gained heightened awareness of the role that language - and especially metaphor - plays in forming our perceptions. Plus you’ll meet other interesting, inspiring people doing great work in different fields --- members of your global Clean Language community.

What is Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling? symbolic_modelling_diagram.png

Clean Language was devised by psychotherapist, David Grove, as a way to keep his assumptions out of the interaction, as far as that is possible, so he could work directly with his clients’ perceptions. In practice, it consists of 30 or so Clean Questions, asked in a particular way. David’s use of Clean Language resulted in deep and long-lasting changes for his clients.

A ‘neutral’ tool, Clean Language is very flexible. What started out as (and still is) a therapeutic tool is now used in many contexts, including:

  • as an interviewing tool
  • for modelling different skills and perceptions
  • as a coaching tool…
  • in business – for meetings and appraisals
  • for team building
  • for self-facilitation

Symbolic Modelling is the name given by Penny Tompkins and James Lawley to the model they devised after working with and observing David over several years, to discover what he was doing to achieve his results. They combined David’s ideas with ideas from the fields of cognitive linguistics, systems thinking and NLP to produce a model which could be taught to others to enable them to achieve the same kinds of results as David.

"We define Symbolic Modelling as a process, which uses Clean Language to facilitate people's discovery of how their metaphors express their way of being in the world."
Lawley, J. & Tompkins, P., "Metaphors in Mind", page 22

Symbolic Modelling has four main components:

  • Modelling
  • Metaphor
  • Outcome Orientation
  • Clean Language

During Less is More, you’ll learn how to use Clean Language with and without metaphor and you’ll learn some of the basic ‘vectors’ which will enable you to start navigating someone else’s map of the world. (We get to Outcome Orientation and Modelling on More to Explore.)

"This training was so well put together. It offered me the opportunity to learn a different way of thinking and reflecting as well as learning the fabulous skills of Clean Language. Marian is a truly trustworthy facilitator."
Janine Clark, Business Consultant

"I am really glad I gave myself the opportunity to learn more about this process, to practice the questions and to be party to the most amazing metaphors."
Karen West

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The two days in detail

Here are the topics we’ll be covering during the two days:

  • The history of the field, basic definitions and terminology moscow%20training.png
  • How to generate Clean Language questions, using the
    Clean Language Question Generator
  • How to ask the questions most effectively
  • How to recognise metaphors in everyday speech
  • The big question: How do you know which question to ask - get many tips and strategies
  • Clean-Lite – how to motivate someone in just a few minutes using only their words and a few questions
  • Learn the basic vectors – the building blocks for all Clean Language work
  • How to help someone to develop a unique and useful resource (plus you’ll go away with one of your own)
  • Clean from door to door – how to start and finish a clean session
  • How you can apply your new skills in your own field

We take a step-by-step approach, with lots of practice and experiences for you to learn from. And there’ll be plenty of time for your questions. You’ll receive a full colour workbook to support your learning.

Your trainer is Marian Way marian_web_pic1.jpg

Marian started her career as a maths teacher and later worked in Weight Watchers - as a group facilitator, a trainer, and finally as Programme Development Manager of Weight Watchers UK, where she and a colleague developed the POINTS diet. She later worked as a consultant to the organisation in the UK and the USA.

A skilled facilitator and trainer, Marian has developed and delivered training programmes which have benefited thousands of people across the world. She has personally delivered trainings in England, Northern Ireland, the USA, Spain and Russia. She also works with individuals and groups to enable them to achieve their goals. She is an NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer who specialises in applications based on Clean Language, which involves paying exquisite attention to people and the language they use to express their ideas. She also facilitates very large group discussions, using the "World Cafe" model.

"I heartily support Marian Way to train Clean Language and Symbolic Modelling. She is a highly experienced facilitator and an adept modeller. She has used metaphor and Clean Language therapeutically as well as in business and consultancy. This represents an admirable range of skills in a wide variety of contexts."
James Lawley, co-developer of Symbolic Modelling and leading authority on the use of self-originated metaphor for personal and professional development.

"Marian has a wonderful way of teaching Clean Language. She is relaxed and patient and her explanations are clear. I would definitely recommend this course."
Juliet Ross, Life Coach

"Marian has a wonderful way of facilitating this workshop, to allow everyone to contribute to the pace and dynamics of the learning… as we do when using ‘Clean’ with our clients. Inspirational."
Lisa Sturge, Life and Laughter Coach

"The course was obviously well-prepared and carefully considered. Working with Marian as she led us step-by-step through the process was both enlivening and enjoyable"
Phee Nugent

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"All of us will need better skills in listening, conversing, respecting one another's uniqueness, because these are essential for strong relationships."
Margaret Wheatley, "Leadership and the New Science", page 39


Questions people have asked

How many participants will there be?

The maximum number of participants any of our trainings is 18 and on this particular training, space is limited to 12 participants. This is because we want to work as cleanly as possible: paying attention to what participants want and working with what arises ‘in the moment’. It’s important to us that there’s time to answer peoples’ questions and that everyone is heard.

Where is the training held? How do I get there?

The training is held at Portchester, Fareham . The room we use has stunning views over the Solent and if the weather’s nice, we work in the garden, too.

Portchester is easily accessible from the A27, A3, M27 and M3. We live about a mile from the railway station. Directions from the main roads and the railway station will be sent to you when you reserve your space.

When is the next training?

  • September 26-27, 2008
  • March 4-5, 2009

What are the times of the training?

10am to 5.30pm each day, with an hour and a quarter for lunch.

What if none of the training dates work for me?

  • Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll receive information about new course dates as they become available.
  • Get together with a group of 6-12 others and call Marian on 023 9221 5355 to find a suitable time for her to come to you, and to tailor the course to your needs.

I already have these skills. Is there a more advanced course?

Yes… More to Explore is a 3-day course that takes you through how to work with a client ‘cleanly’ from start to finish, focusing on their desired outcome(s).

Do I need any knowledge of Clean Language in order to attend? Do I have to know NLP?

This course is for beginners and everyone is welcome. No previous knowledge is necessary. However, we will ask you to read the course workbook through before you arrive. (We’ll send you a .pdf version about a week before the course.)

In addition you can:

What is the cost?

A place on Less is More costs £189.00.

And if you book a place on More to Explore at the same time, you will receive a £50 discount. The total cost of both courses booked at the same time is £428. Simply add both courses to your shopping cart, and type the code LM50 into the coupon box to receive your discount.

Do you ever run the two courses together?

Yes. In March 2009, you can attend for all five days training in one go, if you wish.

How do I book my place?

For online payment (via PayPal) please click on the button below. If you'd rather pay by cheque, please click here to download a booking form.        

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See Also:

more%20to%20explore%202.jpg        pattern%20spotting%202.jpg