To be in conflict, people have to dismiss or belittle some aspect of the “other” person or people – in effect de-humanising them. So conflict resolution usually requires some way of helping each party recognise the other parties’ humanity. Story-sharing works for conflict resolution because it’s a natural social activity of friends or people within a group.
Of course, the work needs skilled facilitation, and success is more likely if the participants have at least a grain of preparedness to seek progress. Story-sharing can let the first chink of light into a dark place of entrenched bitterness,as the first step towards recognition of mutual humanity, and thus right to exist. that is the precurso of recognising the (at least potential) validity of the “other’s” point of view. Then we can really begin!
I use the principles of integrative art therapy, NLP and non-violent communication plus extensive facilitation experience to design a programme that gently helps people move on from struggling to be in the same room with someone from the ‘other’ side, through tolerance to laughter, sharing of tales and perhaps breaking bread together, and perhaps even friendship. With encouragement and coaching, people may tell their own or a traditional tale from their community, within a small, safe group. Sharing may begin with simple guided conversation, and gradually work up to sharing stories in larger groups, or even public performance. I encourage a mult-sensory approach which is invaluable for people who do not have good level of a shared language.
For a creative conversation about how we could work together contact me, or you might like to know about a workshop I have developed around “Many Tongues in the Holy Land”, based on stories shared during my travels in that region as part of a peace project.
Call me on 07932794251
Email roisin@morethanstories.org.uk
