Hundred Flowers Psychology Workshop

Workshop for psychologists to promote resilience and support creative responses to change - The Hundred Flowers Workshop

“Let a hundred flowers bloom.
Let a hundred schools of thought contend.”
(from a Chinese verse misused by Chairman Mao)

Never has there been a:

On 20th May 2011, about 50 applied psychologists assembled in York to consider and discuss the future. The theme was strengthening resilience amongst applied psychologists by promoting creative responses to change. Guided by the aim to “Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend”, the workshop provided the opportunity to hear and respond to innovative ideas for the future.

In her profile of Derek Mowbray (Director, M.A.S.) in The Psychologist shortly after the publication of the 1989 Management Advisory Service Review of Clinical Psychology, Celia Kitzinger described him as a ‘turbulent visionary’. That was echoed in a recent observation on a Unison website which described him as a ‘visionary who should be listened to’.

Derek’s vision of the future is a response to his belief that clinical psychology is in a cul-de-sac and is missing the opportunity to display its’ expertise with organisations, groups, communities and the general public. He introduced the workshop by presenting his conclusion that there is an urgent need to improve access to applied psychology services and his vision of how that might be achieved through a National Institute for Psychological Excellence and local Centres for Psychological Health and Wellbeing. He sees the Centres as drawing together psychologists from all ‘domains’ of applied psychology, working societies, companies, groups and communities, in promoting and offering psychological products and services that maintain high levels of psychological wellbeing and performance, as well as offering therapeutic interventions. He urged those attending the workshop to seize current opportunities and to help him to realise his vision.

Bernard Kat (Director, Psynapse (Psychological Services) Ltd), who jointly promoted the workshop, discussed the meaning and special characteristics of ‘a service’ and the complex nature of the three way relationship between the psychologist, those who commission the psychologist’s work, and the ultimate beneficiaries of the psychologist’s work. Discussing the question ‘For providing what services should psychologists want to be known?’ Bernard outlined the importance of ensuring that all the parties involved in those triangular relationships know and understand the particular value and characteristics of professional applied psychology services. He ‘nudged’ the workshop towards a session in which everyone was tasked with consulting to each other concerning their personal plans and aspirations – unsurprisingly, the most successful aspect of the day.

Tim Cate (Acting Operational Director for North Yorkshire, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust), poacher turned gamekeeper, gave a ‘straight talking’ account of the realities of the NHS today. Everyone quickly picked up what he was talking about by his clever use of a video of a Gazelle going at full speed across the Savannah plains of somewhere straight into the only tree that was visible. ‘How stupid was that’ we all thought until Tim neatly suggested that psychologists were the Gazelle. The message was pretty clear – it is going to get even rougher. Sadly, throughout the morning, texts and emails had been arriving that were announcing risks to jobs, job losses and downgrading of jobs.

Richard Pemberton (Deputy Director of Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust) did well to draw all the observations together before everyone ran for the doors. A number of ‘big themes’ emerged – the need for a critical mass; the need to re-capture psychology from psychologist-substitutes; the need for a single voice; the need to project a positive image and to be credible; the need for marketing. These connected strongly with the ideas that started the day – a National Institute and Centres – themes for the follow-up workshop in the autumn. Copies of the presentations and background documents are available in the Workshops Sessions page.

We are going to hold another workshop on 18th November 2011 in central London. If you are interested in attending, use the email box below to let us know and we will send you further information.

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