I offer a variety of workshops for professional development and personal growth. By keeping group sizes small I ensure maximum individual attention and a collaborative, engaging learning atmosphere.

Workshops can be booked individually, as a group, or by organizations and can be presented online or in-person.

TRAUMATIC INCIDENT REDUCTION (TIR) WORKSHOP

Do you need an effective tool with which to help others deal with the effects of trauma? Then this workshop could be just what you have been looking for. TIR is an Imaginal Exposure technique that enables people to fully process and integrate their memories of traumatic events. Those who have been guided through the TIR process report either a disappearance or significant reduction of trauma symptoms such as hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, disturbances of sleep or appetite, intrusive thought,s and fears related to the trauma (for example, a fear of driving).

TIR is practiced in 22 countries world-wide, and has been acknowledged by the National Registry of Evidence Based Practices (NREPP) in the USA as one of the accepted effective techniques to address Trauma and PTSD in war veterans.

TIR Workshop Dates

Workshop dates 2025:

8, 9 ,10 ,15, 16 & 17 May

Registration closes: 30 April

Early registration discount valid until: 9 April

9:00 – 16:00 daily SAST (GMT+2)

18, 19, 23, 25, 26 & 30 August

Registration closes: 9 August

Early registration discount valid until: 18 July

9:00 – 16:00 daily SAST (GMT+2)

13, 14, 18, 20, 21 & 25 October

Registration closes: 6 October

Early registration discount valid until: 22 September

9:00 – 16:00 daily SAST (GMT+2)

My TIR workshop is longer than the standard TIR workshop. What you will receive in addition to the standard workshop is:

• Additional time for practice to ensure that you are confident in your ability to facilitate the techniques by the end of the training.

• Presenting the workshop with a short break in the middle gives you time to fully comprehend and integrate the new information.

• Additional information on Grief and Bereavement, and how TIR and Unblocking can be used to assist those who are struggling after loss.

• Practical sessions are recorded for detailed, individual feedback. This is an invaluable learning tool that allows you to accurately estimate your skill

• If anyone still struggles with any aspect of facilitating a TIR or Unblocking at the end of the workshop, I provide a free phone consult to clarify any misunderstandings

• Post-workshop recap session. 6 – 8 weeks after the workshop, I provide a free, voluntary recap session for those who are interested

Who can attend?

This course is suitable for anyone who comes into contact with traumatized individuals in a helping capacity. Since the technique follows a very strict protocol, previous counselling training is not essential, although it is undoubtedly an advantage.

TIR is a useful tool for psychologists, social workers, counsellors, coaches, and alternative healing practitioners.

What will you learn?

Through theory, practical work, and demonstration videos, you will be thoroughly prepared to be able to use the techniques by the end of the workshop. The workshop content covers:
• Theory of trauma
• Understanding the Applied Metapsychology approach on which TIR and a large number of other techniques are based
• Theory and practice of the Unblocking technique – a very effective technique to assist people with relationships and situations in which they are having difficulties.
• Theory and practice of the TIR technique
• Application of the TIR technique to long-lasting personal issues such as recurring unwanted thoughts, feelings, attitude and emotional responses.

• Application of the techniques to support those struggling with grief

On successful completion of the workshop you will:

• Be able to address a variety of personal difficulties using the TIR and Unblocking techniques.
• Be able to effectively resolve the symptoms of trauma
• Receive a certificate of attendance from the Traumatic Incident Reduction Association (TIRA) in the USA
• Be eligible to Join TIRA-South Africa, membership of which includes being listed as a TIR workshop graduate on their website as well as discounts to symposiums and forums.
• Be eligible to attend the advanced workshops to learn a wide variety of Applied Metapsychology techniques, including how to draw up a case plan for a new client, how to address a large number of personal issues and difficulties, and how to work with traumatized children.
• Be eligible to complete an internship to become a Certified Facilitator with TIRA USA. This is the first step to becoming a Certified TIR trainer and Senior Trainer (a trainer who is qualified to present the two advanced workshops that follows on the TIR training).

Cost

R7 500*pp
Register early to qualify for a R600 discount, and pay only R6 900

Payment plans can be made by arrangement

*this is the subsidized South African rate, please contact me for international rates

How to register

Please contact me at elizabeth.retief@gmail.com to register

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS WORKSHOP

Getting on the same team – How to build collaborative relationships

Healthy relationships start with a healthy sense of self and good boundaries. We cannot connect with others if we do not feel safe with them, and we cannot feel safe with others if we are not secure within ourselves. The Relationship Skills Workshop gives you practical tools to understand yourself and your loved ones better, and to communicate in ways that strengthen intimacy and build a sense of partnership, even during conflict.

Through eight weekly 2/2½-hour sessions, you will learn about collaborative relationship management, attachment styles, how to communicate well and avoid and manage emotional triggers, and the fundamentals of TA, a practical system that will help you understand and heal you.

Discussions are kept general, and you won’t be required to divulge personal experiences. Weekly tasks give you the chance to put the workshop skills into practice through self-led exercises, helping you to talk through issues with partners and strengthen your relationships. These weekly tasks and discussions will guide your personal growth as you take on an active role in building better communication habits.

You are welcome to attend the Relationship Skills workshop on your own or with people with whom you want to build a secure, healthy relationship. By understanding yourself, you will discover the key to making your relationships collaborative instead of adversarial.

My workshops are polyamory friendly and teaches skills that can improve any relationship, regardless of it’s structure.

Counsellors and coaches can also attend these workshops to learn about the collaborative relationship approach, attachment theory, Non-Violent Communication and Transactional Analysis, and to gain a useful set of questions and exercises for their clients.

Dates

To be determined. Please contact me if you are interested in attending this workshop and I will keep you informed when the next one is scheduled

Cost

R1 800*pp (Subsidized South African Rate)
USD 200 (International Rate)

Payments can be made in 2 – 4 installments.

e-mail me at elizabeth.retief@gmail.com for more information or to register

HEALTHY MENTAL HABITS

Have you ever noticed how often your own thoughts serve to sap your motivation and make you miserable, angry, or afraid? If you would like to learn how to recognize negative mental habits and replace them with ones that support you rather than sabotage you, this short skills training workshop might be just what you have been looking for.

Based on the principles of NLP, this workshop will teach you:
• To be self-encouraging rather than self-sabotaging
• Some simple adjustments to your current habits that can increase your happiness and sense of well-being
• Techniques to examine your own motives and values for better self-understanding
• The foundational principles of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

Duration: 1 day

STRESS MANAGEMENT

We all have to deal with high demands on our mental and emotional resources. We live in a constant state of stress that adversely affects our health and our ability to experience joy and contentment in life. While no course can remove your sources of stress, this workshop will provide you with practical skills to minimize the negative effects of stress on your life, relationships and health.

Duration: 1 Day