Nanci Hogan, ACC FRSA

I always ask them about their work and personal story. What are the challenges they face? What are their wins? I also ask them how they best receive information whether through blogs, podcasts, books or through doing creative activities--e.g. writing a poem or painting a picture or writing a song. If their learning style is kinesthetic I try to find activities they can do or in the session I may get them to move around a bit. Some people like to journal, some people don't. Some people like to meditate and others hate it. I try to find activities that they can do that refuel their tanks so they can be more resilient and thrive. If they are in transitions, we explore what issues these transitions are bringing up and where they'd like to be

In my experience evidence and the use of stories are important. Data is invaluable but what people remember usually will be the stories that illustrate the stories. However stories without data are anecdotal and don’t constitute evidence on their own

In my experience peer support groups can be hugely valuable. The key is training the peer group facilitator first and then structuring the meetings so they are safe spaces for members to encourage and support one another. I was a peer group facilitator for a charity that provided peer support for charity chief execs. I used the 10 principles developed by Nancy Klein in A Time to Think. It encourages active listening, asking open ended questions and supporting each other through n a safe space without resorting to giving people unsolicited advice. Also it provides a framework where all get to participate and no one chatty person is allowed to dominate the group

My focus is researching transformation points or what causes people who've been highly invested in sustaining conflict to undergo a radical transformation? What causes them to move from violence towards collaboration with their sworn 'enemy' to create new conditions where everyone flourishs? One of the best examples of this was my encounter with an Israeli soldier who'd been stationed in the Occupied Territories. His world view changed in an instant when he almost killed a four year old Palestinian child when patrolling in the OT. She reminded him of his own daughter. He vowed in that instant to work for peace so that his daughter and future generations of Palestinians and Israelis didn't have to experience constant conflict and war.