Workshop Critiques
Near the end of our week-end long communication skills workshops we hand out a Completion Form. Ninety-five percent of the participants communicate favorably indicating that they would like to be invited to another workshop.
Here's what a few participants say:
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"I believe that the value of this workshop is to see real, authentic communication happening in real situations."
"My feelings towards my fiancé are stronger and I love him more and am closer to him. I especially want to thank Kerry for being so right on with Shannon [her fiancé] and handling him exactly how he needed to be handled."
"This was the most magnificent workshop of the 3 that I have attended. I came this time to experience more about cause and intent and responsibility and boy I got whole lot more."
From a young man dragged to the workshop by his girl friend and other relatives: "My original feelings about this workshop was not wanting to be at it. I thought this would be another "Sigfried [sic] and Roy" style of workshop, where you jump through a few hoops, some experiences, and boom you're out the door. I was wrong, VERY WRONG!. The love of my lady (Linda), Auntie Donna, Alan and everyone else involved, made me realize that I'm not the dark, lightness person I thought I was."
"The strongest feeling I had about this workshop is that I . . . had been holding on to some anger for months and was able to let it go."
From a school principal: "There is obviously a great need in our community for this."
"The workshop was transformational for me. By making the commitment to stay, I created an unnatural experience, that is, an experience outside my normal safety zone. I then experienced extreme discomfort, aggravation, & displeasure at having to witness other people acting out my own personal dramas ... acting out with a kind of "knee jerk" automatic response... my own defenses. As I witnessed each defense system being acknowledged, as in the case of several on the first morning, then those who most courageously followed later, I felt my own personal defenses starting to melt away. I was then able to see my own deceptions. By allowing myself to be open to this new model of responsibility I found for the first time, perhaps in my whole life, an ability to move from victim . . ."
Of the two female facilitators: "I love and support women who are strong and doing what they (you) do."
"A tremendously valuable experience."
A therapist's second workshop: "The "BeWith" [a communication process] was very valuable for me this time. I know this will greatly improve my communications with my patients, co-workers and family/friends. The "Acknowledge time" [a paired sharing communication exercise] was so wonderful . . . this has changed my life . . . It was so sweet and peaceful afterwards."
"This was the best workshop I've attended. I can clearly see how much progress I've made since the last Advanced Workshop . . . from the feedback I've received from everyone here and on the outside."
From an RN nurse who had attended three of our other workshops: "I experienced a feeling, from the entire group [70 participants], of love and acceptance . . . so much love . . . that it overwhelmed me."
"This was my second workshop, like the first, I found the experience invaluable. I consider the last workshop as a definite landmark in my development, and feel this one already having profound effects."
A Hawaii State Department of Public Health RN nurse: "I was extremely touched by [a father] and [the father's son] process, [they stood and shared], it helped to give me clarity in my feelings towards my father. Thank you very much! Excellent workshop."
A Licensed Massage Therapist: "Some very excellent work is being done here."
A drug rehabilitation counselor: "Expansive, provoking, moving, allowing, honest, direct, honor, respect, remembrance, community, precise, fear at times going home to the source, love, powerful, blessing, . . . clarity in communication, balanced."
A Licensed Massage Therapist's, second workshop: "I finally got what the (facilitator) has tried to say to me about my controlling and being right. I feel a new aliveness."
Regards a comment about possibly shortening the workshop: ". . . it would be a shame to cut us short on an opportunity to be in such a loving supportive environment."
"Wonderful! Full of personal insights. This is the most alive and connecting experience. I have a hunger for this type of relating and appreciate it deeply."
"The 'Tone Process' [a paired sharing communication exercise in the Advanced Communication Workshop] was extremely difficult for me and I was unable to get a 'Pass' on the emotion Grief. Then later, during the 'Movement Process' [expressing different emotions through music], I got totally in touch with some grief I had left for my second wife."
"The way the (facilitator) has of seeing both sides [of an issue] is beautiful to experience."
A woman attending with her husband and son: "I feel the value my family receives [husband and son attended several workshops] is without a doubt the single most important event to come into my life after marriage and childbirth."
". . . I experienced the most intense feelings I have ever realized. I was able to admit to, talk about, and totally acknowledge a blockage that has been with me All of my adult life. A new chance to live a productive, loving, spiritual life."
"I am totally overwhelmed by the effectiveness of each process."
In reference to an evening conversation with a loved one at home between Sat and Sun of an all weekend workshop: ". . . it has had a major impact on my relationships outside of this actual experience Wow! I feel very much empowered & totally effected in all positive ways. Thank you."
From a compulsive nose picker, highly regarded in the community, after his 37th workshop: "I think this one did it for me. When I saw the guy who facilitated the workshop picking his nose during the lunch break, I finally could see that he just mirrored me. I am transformed!" This one was submitted by one of our board members.