Guy Shennan trains in Palestine

I have recently returned from Palestine, where I delivered two courses in solution focused brief therapy, which as far as I am aware was the first time that the approach has been introduced there.

BRIEF were invited to do this training by the Palestinian Counseling Center (PCC) an NGO in the field of mental health which was established 25 years ago. One of the workers employed in their Socio-Educational Department, Hur Shehabi, completed a Masters in Social Work at Durham University in the UK last year, and while she was in the UK, Hur attended one of BRIEF’s courses.

On her return to Palestine Hur shared her enthusiasm for the approach with staff at the PCC, which led to the invite being made. The PCC organised the courses and provided me with wonderful hospitality while I was in Palestine.

I delivered two 2-day courses, one in Ramallah and the other in Bethlehem, for workers from across the West Bank and Jerusalem. Over 50 people attended altogether, including PCC staff and people from other agencies, which included other NGOs, UN agencies and the Palestinian Authority Ministries of Education, Health and Social Affairs. Those attending included social workers, psychologists, school counsellors and other staff working with young people, women and families.

The response to the training has been very positive, the people attending being engaged by and interested in the solution focused approach. The general view appeared to be that this is an approach that could be used in the contexts in which they are working. There was an interest in further training in the approach, and BRIEF is continuing to liaise with the PCC about ways of developing this.

I plan to write at more length about my visit later.