impressions of a visit to Germany

Written by Niek | 22 June 2010

Next weekend, Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27, is a special CCI practical co-counselling happening in Münster, Germany, says the 2010 program of the so called Counsel Initiative community in this German university city. The flyer with this program answers at the same time the question 'what is co-counselling', mentioning first that it is a self help method to balance and stabilize the balance within. Secondly it reflects that every individual owns their special personal potentialities to create themselves their live in self responsibility. The flyer recalls also some highlights of the CCI history and the actual year program, and is by that also an excellent CCI introduction. So in March there was a fundamental course with 19 participants and another in April with 13 'students'. Others are planned next August and October.

The flyer contents also the names of the 20 CCI trainers of the Community. Several of them are connected with the Centre for psychotherapy and social work, also situated at ' Haus Klopppenburg' (www.haus-kloppenburg.de).  And 'our co-counselling community flourishes' tells Siglind at this recent visit to Haus Kloppenburg. Besides the fundamental trainings at that spot, German trainers also went out to Vienna and other parts of Germany for the same purpose. One of the items on our visit to Haus Kloppenburg is also, sharing information about recent CCI developments. So there is now a translation in German from How To Change Yourself & Your World, written by Rose Evison and Richard Horobin, 1983. Another one is the book that P. Johannes Risse and Siglind Willms create together about their experiences and views after more than 30 years experience with the CCI approach. And the physical reflections as well as others by discharge, regarding the relationship between discharge and emotional and practical change. And at the same time the acknowledgement that 'pushing for discharge only activates resistance against the discharge'. In this respect the proper relationship between (free) attention and working with 'feelings', gets nowadays top priority in some circles. Despite also because the complexity of it.
So both authors of publishing their own experiences in that way, are interested in the reaction, especially in professional circles, on their book when it is published. This evolves in sharing visions about the phenomenon of free attention. In the Netherlands we have no special expression for offering or receiving this free attention. We only simply 'ask for it'! More or less politely. And from there it is only one step to the healing part of 'the putting thoughts into words' and by doing so, the liberating energy does 'its beneficial work'. With other words: does 'only' this action of creativity liberates? As is so often the case in fairy tales!
And after all, we talk about the relationship – or influence – of (CCI) co-counselling and looking/being – or feeling – healthy among dear friends. Energized with our short visit we drive safe home. It is no more than about a two hours drive...!