How the Cafes work
The aim of our cafes is to create warm and friendly meeting spaces where we can meet likeminded colleagues in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. We take inspiration from the traditions of the intellectual salon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_(gathering) – see image) and the concept of deathcafe.com (gatherings of likeminded people around coffee and cake to share thoughts and feelings about a particular topic).
The core concept is this: our training has equipped us with exceptionally sophisticated skills in the art of relating – which, professionally, we use to hold other people. This is a space where we turn these skills towards ourselves – to meet and support each other at ‘relational depth’. It is about allowing ourselves to be truly seen, and feel less isolated.
In keeping with the above traditions, there will be a part to the meetings that is a sharing round, or reflective space, which is gently facilitated, using participatory methods such as the Art of Hosting (AoH). The aim is to allow colleagues to share their thoughts and feelings and to resonate with each other empathically and respond thoughtfully – without wanting to ‘win an argument’ or force a point of view, and without having an agenda to ‘sell anything’. In some meetings, there can then also be a ‘presentation slot’ for one colleague to present a topic/project they are working on – more typical ‘Salon style’.
After that will be time for informal socialising with coffee and snacks, for colleagues to deepen their connections and network.
You are invited to come as you are – no special preparations needed. The emphasis is on this being an informal, relaxed gathering – you can speak as much or as little as you wish to.
Some cafes will be open themed, such as the pluralistic therapists cafe for colleagues of all orientations. Others will be themed or aimed at particular orientations, such as the Psychoanalysis Cafe for colleagues of psychoanalytic/-dynamic orientations, the (screen)writing/discussion group, climate cafe, or the therapists and contemplative practice group.
We are planning to operate like a ‘social franchise’ – this means, colleagues will be able to design their own cafes and salons, and will be able to advertise them on this page.
All groups are for registered therapists only. This is to ensure we create boundaried, confidential spaces where we can talk among colleagues. This means we will ask that you kindly provide your accrediting body registration number or training institution if still in training, prior to booking.
Our ticket platform is Humanitix, an ethical non-profit ticket platform.