'Yet more Twaddle from Graham Firth!'
Enthusiasts, supporters and some quieter ones at the back!
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of co-hosting an Intensive Interaction training day with one of the originators of the approach, Dr Dave Hewett. We were in Birmingham, training the clinical staff from the cities three CLDTs. We were actually at the Birmingham City Football Club - in the City Room, so unfortunately not in the 'Jasper Carrot Suite', which I would have much preferred: was that his real name?
Anyway, the 30+ multidisciplinary staff (a good mixture of SLTs, OTs, psychologists, psychiatrists, LD Nurses, and Crisis Team staff) seemed to receive the day very well (although I should say at this point that I haven't as yet read the official evaluations which might tell a different story).
Being in Birmingham reminded me of my last time presenting there, at our 2008 UK conference at the local Hippodrome theatre. Despite me thinking that the day had gone well, and the general evaluation feedback being overwhelmingly very positive (as it always is at our conferences), one comment has stuck with me to this very day. It simply said: 'Yet more Twaddle from Graham Firth!' - and it was the 'yet more...' bit that got me most - they must have seen me speak before!
But that comment (which really does make me laugh now - honestly, I'm well over it !) has always made me think about how powerful the effects of negative feedback can be compared to positive feedback: and how much more positive stuff do all of us generally need to hear about ourselves to arm us against any negative comments. Especially so if those comments resonate with our sense of self (no honestly, I am well over it!) or seem to be at least partially true (okay then, yes, I do know that I can sometimes talk some twaddle - but certainly not about Intensive Interaction!).
From many of our service users' points of view, imagine the long term effects of generally negative or no responses to their twaddle (or attempts at meaningful expressive communication) if they don't have Intensive Interaction used with them. Imagine how that effects someone's sense of self. Then imagine how many positive responses they may need to their attempts at meaningful expressive communication to counteract that, and over what length of time. That is the essence of our Intensive Interaction work.
Being in Birmingham reminded me of my last time presenting there, at our 2008 UK conference at the local Hippodrome theatre. Despite me thinking that the day had gone well, and the general evaluation feedback being overwhelmingly very positive (as it always is at our conferences), one comment has stuck with me to this very day. It simply said: 'Yet more Twaddle from Graham Firth!' - and it was the 'yet more...' bit that got me most - they must have seen me speak before!
But that comment (which really does make me laugh now - honestly, I'm well over it !) has always made me think about how powerful the effects of negative feedback can be compared to positive feedback: and how much more positive stuff do all of us generally need to hear about ourselves to arm us against any negative comments. Especially so if those comments resonate with our sense of self (no honestly, I am well over it!) or seem to be at least partially true (okay then, yes, I do know that I can sometimes talk some twaddle - but certainly not about Intensive Interaction!).
From many of our service users' points of view, imagine the long term effects of generally negative or no responses to their twaddle (or attempts at meaningful expressive communication) if they don't have Intensive Interaction used with them. Imagine how that effects someone's sense of self. Then imagine how many positive responses they may need to their attempts at meaningful expressive communication to counteract that, and over what length of time. That is the essence of our Intensive Interaction work.
Back to this week's training. As I have now got into the habit of doing at such events, I was looking out for those people who I could quickly see were potential or even current 'enthusiasts' and 'supporters' (see previous Blog 14/08/17). This was relatively easy, even as we were setting up and getting sorted for the day we had already started chatting with some of the trainees who got there early. Among this group were several people - like Jo who had been the organiser of the day - who would no doubt be the main instigators of change to more Intensive Interaction ways of working across adult learning disability services in Birmingham (and I'm sure they are already well along that journey now!).
Then there was a group of people who got more and more engaged in aspects of the discussions as the day progressed - which is a good sign: these I feel will become the supporters. There were also some people who were a bit quieter: perhaps not as comfortable talking in front of others in such an open arena - but still the sense in the room (my sense ... proper evaluations as yet unknown) was that many of the trainees would go on to change their practices, and ultimately the practices of others - and especially so if they worked together, building a local Intensive Interaction 'Community of Practice' (more on this in another Blog) around the initial ground work of those evident enthusiasts and supporters.
Anyway, I had a great day: and twaddler or not ... 'You Decide'! You can see me speak on Intensive Interaction issues via the wonders of YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8A3AT9NeTE
https://www.facebook.com/dave.hewett.71/videos/10154399638976123/
p.s. I am away on holiday next week, so no blogging until the week after.
Then there was a group of people who got more and more engaged in aspects of the discussions as the day progressed - which is a good sign: these I feel will become the supporters. There were also some people who were a bit quieter: perhaps not as comfortable talking in front of others in such an open arena - but still the sense in the room (my sense ... proper evaluations as yet unknown) was that many of the trainees would go on to change their practices, and ultimately the practices of others - and especially so if they worked together, building a local Intensive Interaction 'Community of Practice' (more on this in another Blog) around the initial ground work of those evident enthusiasts and supporters.
Anyway, I had a great day: and twaddler or not ... 'You Decide'! You can see me speak on Intensive Interaction issues via the wonders of YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8A3AT9NeTE
https://www.facebook.com/dave.hewett.71/videos/10154399638976123/
p.s. I am away on holiday next week, so no blogging until the week after.
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