Resources

Learning Circles Scotland is partly inspired by the Community of Philosophical Inquiry (CoPI) approach to community learning and individual development because it nurtures ideas in an inclusive, democratic, safe supportive learning environment. Claire Cassidy - I was fortunate enough to study with Claire during my PGDE(Masters) in 2010 through to my MEd (Phil) in 2018. 

Click on Claire's name to watch a video on CoPI and the benefits of learning to think creatively and for yourself. Click on the CoPI link above to learn more about Practical Philosophy. 

Trevor Silvester - I met Trevor at a Seminar for Sergeants at the Scottish Police College in 2003 not long after I'd had a serious motorbike accident. What I learned from him was mind blowing. His ground breaking creative approach to re-thinking hypnotherapy through his individually designed Wordweaving technique is not only effective but fun!

Click on Trevor's name to discover why I'm happy to promote his Cognitive Hypnotherapy model of learning. I still make reference to some of the things I learned from Trevor all those years ago. He's a great teacher and supporter of heuristic learning although his jokes can be a bit dodgy at times! 

The Mankind Project (MKP)   - Is an international organisation that I have learned a lot from and been supported by since March 2010 when I experienced the New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA).  Since then I have been attending and helping to organise and run Men's groups in and around Edinburgh. We have weekly meetings and regular events that help to strengthen a supportive community of men in Edinburgh. I also support MKP by staffing NWTA weekends.

Learning Circles Scotland - where hearts and minds come together to make our world better...is based on my life experience and my own learning journey that I am honoured and blessed to have shared with these individuals and organisations above and too many more to mention.

Shadow Work Coaching -  Shadow Work has been the gift that keeps on giving to me. I qualified as a Shadow Work Coach in February 2023 after training with Nicola & John Kurk in Basic & Advanced Facilitator Training in 2021/22. As a Shadow Work Practitioner I have learned to use my new awareness and knowledge to make healthy changes and better choices in my own life as well as supporting others to do the same. Shadow Work has enhanced my previous therapy practice of 20 years. I weave together a combination of interdisciplinary and integrative approaches to help recovery and healing. I specialise in working with recovery from addiction, anxiety, anger, grief and recovery from historic physical and sexual abuse. I offer and hold a safe space for you to explore your Shadow. I work from home in Bonnyrigg but can travel to specific locations in and around Edinburgh, Glasgow and Central Scotland. I also offer online Zoom Shadow Work Coaching if that works best for you. So, what’s stopping you? Book a call and find out…

Celebrant Ceremonies - My celebrant work is a natural extension to the existing services I already provide in my local community. I run my own learning, teaching and therapeutic support service called Learning Circles Scotland, established in 2020. It's an honour and privilege to serve local people and the people of Scotland. My background is in policing, teaching and therapeutic support services. My interests include comedy, classic cars, singing in the local choir and hillwalking. I am also a writer, philosopher and artist in my spare time. I may also be seen locally walking my working cocker spaniel, Ailsa who I love very much.