Linda Wicks FSHom reports on the Society of Homeopath’s 2025 winter workshop ‘Teens in a digital age – rekindling communication.’
I booked quite late for this online winter workshop, and I’m so glad I did. I found it refreshing that the focus of the day was on connection, prompting us to reflect on the self- awareness, assumptions and values we bring to our encounters with young people, whether as practitioners or as parents. Each of the four speakers brought a unique perspective to this theme, firmly rooted from within their own experience.
Michaela Glöckler, presented some hard-hitting facts about some of the alarming digital influences on young people, linking this to a resume of neurological development in childhood and adolescence. I remember it was some 40 years after training as a teacher that I learnt about some of these key concepts; maybe that information wasn’t available in the 1970s, but it illuminated my approach to teenagers from then on. Michaela’s talk offered this crucial information which provided a baseline for the rest of the day.
Lou Harvey- Zahra built on this to discuss the ways we can adapt our own communication with teens to offer a safe, non-judgemental space as they strive for autonomy. Along with plenty of references for further study, she gave us a list of top tips for optimising connection, in our roles of homeopath, parent or educator.
Christian Taylor RSHom explored, with openness and honesty, his extensive learning from working with teenagers in the Dolphin House children’s clinic in Brighton. His emphasis was on the connection with our own authenticity, and the importance of relationship and individual responses over the issues of technology. I felt this really endorsed our current focus on the value of ongoing supervision. He illustrated his talk with research findings and case examples.
The last slot of the day can sometimes feel hard work, but this was certainly not the case on Saturday! Cori Anderberg engaged us fully with her positive views on teenagers and what they can offer to us. Her session was full of insights into practice management, anchored in her own really helpful analogy which I’ll be happy to adopt as a metaphor for all kinds of potentially challenging situations.
I’d encourage everyone who missed this event to catch up through the recordings. It was a delight to have input from different practitioners and varied backgrounds.. The energy was tangible, and I loved the fact that it was all about connection – it’s at the root of what we do and what we’re best at.
The recording of the 2025 winter workshop ‘Teens in a digital world – rekindling communication’ is available to buy in the Society online shop
Material published in this section of the website does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Society of Homeopaths.
