"Thank you Biggi, for a great weekend.  I love your style - calm, unassuming and quietly confident and very supportive and respectful of each individual and their different levels of experience with psychodrama.  If I ever qualify as a psychodramatist, I would like to be at least some of that!   I also really appreciated all the creative ways you offered as a means of engaging the group with the themes and exploring what they meant to us individually.   Beautiful location too  - and of course the retro dance-fest on Saturday night was a highlight - I don't often experience such a comprehensive commitment to ABBA's back catalogue!  I'll be back!"

"Doing Psychodrama in the land that time forgot was not only a very healing experience but also transformative.
I rediscovered & reconnected with talents I'd forgotten & left with a few new ones too. Many Thanks Biggi!" Sara"

This is my third residential in Ballintoy now and yet again I have felt the wonder of both experiencing my own and witnessing others personal transformations towards more satiated and self aware human beings. The beautiful natural location together with Biggi's comfort and mastery of psychodrama combine to create a space to heal often long held wounds.

This particular residential really did facilitate our sense of "being and belonging" as the theme suggested. As a full time Counsellor I would particularly recommend Biggi's residentials and workshops to all therapists or those in caring professions as a way of giving to ourselves what we try to provide others; the time and space to reflect, to heal and to simply be fully ourselves.
Dean

"I loved the theme of being and belonging and how the two relate. I found the weekend to be joyful, relaxing and most of all very gentle. I enjoyed having the opportunity to hold different roles and especially loved the experience of being a witness to someone else's story. There was a strong sense of friendship and support throughout from everyone.
I admire the creativity and ease with which Biggi facilitates the healing process. It was a truly safe and loving experience."
Ciara

November Residential in Ballintoy 2013 Feedback

“The residential was very rewarding on many levels, with lots of support within the group and from Biggi, who is unfailingly warm and careful with the process. Again, I was amazed by the power of the method, and even when I did find things difficult the support of Biggi and the group helped me over the hump. There was laughter, tears, sharing and learning, and I have taken away some life-changing insights, which I got not even through my own work, but simply by taking part in the scenarios of others. A powerful weekend – thank you Biggi!”

“Coming in from the Cold....
Ms Trust negotiates the dim lit country roads,
sensing not seeing the vast expanse of the sea beyond the carved concrete which curves its way along the cliff edge
to which he is drawn like a moth to a flame.
Caution.... brake.... turn following the sharpened bend
which snakes away from the sea now glanced in all its autumn austerity by occasional street lamps which bejewel
it’s greyer, colder, vastness and suggest a seasonally different facet unveiled for those who are brave enough to explore.....
Parked now by a street village populated by a few amenities
with presumed people somewhere inside Ms Trust bids finally farewells to the world just departed via the human made device
to keep her connected but fails to find a signal in this transformative place... And so to enter the therapeutic space where dreams are dared like fires are drawn, kindled and bellowed like meals prepared, shared and digested.
These dreams are individual as they are hurtful. Collective as they are joyful. They are masks, attachments, fears to be let go. In place of authenticity, path finding, barrier breaking and reparenting.... As the weekend draws to a close and mistrusts lie ashen in the fading fire I brace to get back out into the cold to trust myself and play for real.”
Dean

"I was drawn to the residential and knew that it would not be a "rehash" of last summers one. I find the location perfect. It feels like coming home to yourself. It feels safe, peaceful and a thousand miles from the norm. I felt challenged but alive. Free to be myself and it feels good to be me. Thank you for facilitating such a wonderful weekend." Patsy

“This was a very illuminating experience for me- trust in the process”

“We gathered again in Ballintoy but this time in Autumnal weather. The views were still outstanding and although a fresher breeze around us.....the warmth crept in through heated rooms,  a blazing cottage fire, but also a rekindling of friendships and bridges built in the summer. New people joined us and illuminated us more as they uncovered their own fragmented journeys. Like a patchwork quilt we gathered all around to give and receive...  Older stories of healing, younger child experiences, hurting and playful coming together to enrich us all. This tapestry was held by Biggi who interwove and mended where pieces had come adrift.....Some magic was in the air, the eagle soaring, the deer finding her path, the cloak of magic raven and the jug of fulfillment, the invisible became visible and had voice... telling  of stories that grow through time and healing......we become whole again for a while and danced.... Thanks again to all who accepted and shared it with me.”  Anne  

“I found the winter residential very uplifting. Biggi is a very skilful group facilitator who respects individual rights and dignity. She works at the pace of each participant so the environment feels safe and secure.
The quality of her professional knowledge is excellent and she enables each participant to foster their sense of self and increase their personal effectiveness. 
 At the same time she supports people in a remarkably effective way so they can work to alleviate their own personal distress and suffering.
All in all this was a most worthwhile experience.” Lorraine

“It was a difficult process for me very much and I am feeling more so since.  I had no idea of the impact of the work that we did, and how much of an impact the issues were having on me.  The environment was excellent for allowing us to feel able to enact much.  I was going with no expectations and felt very much at ease with not only the surroundings, but with the people in the group and your very good self who tuned into all that was important.  Not only the accommodation, but to be able to venture out, and to enjoy the pleasant surroundings, and we were blessed with the sunshine and blue skies.  An eventful weekend all in all.”

I was pleased as ever to participate in the annual residential psychodrama weekend at Ballintoy 2013. The weather was superb and a bonus was the swimming in the sea!  We were a cohesive group who settled quickly with each other and with Biggi's gentle approach we felt safe and free to explore the theme of the weekend " the Space in between".   This concept meant different things to different people,  a mist of invisibility for some, the joy of vibrancy and movement for others.  I learned more about myself, my inner heart space and the desire to continue to stretch and grow. As a means of healing, this is a powerful event which brings friendship, human understanding and love! I would definitely recommend it to others who wish to explore their psyche in more depth in a safe environment. Touched by it as always.....Thanks to all who were with me on the journeying!”   Anne

“My experience of the psychodrama weekend was initially of not knowing what was ahead, to finding out and experiencing 'a shadow' part of me. A week has passed and with settling it has shown itself as a more experiential feeling of becoming more complete.   I eagerly look forward to the next one because now I know the power that lies within being a part of the group that offers safety to explore that side of us we have kept hidden to everyone even ourselves.”   

“A beautiful space to be held gently and safely whilst looking at our wounds. To appreciate the sacredness of all our journeys. Very powerful work.”

“I loved the residential course.  I was nervous about looking deeply into some of the issues I brought to the weekend, but Biggi’s excellent facilitation, along with the support of the group, allowed me to gradually unpack my negative emotions, safely hold them up to the light without judgement and in my own time.   During the weekend, understanding of the emotions I have experienced regarding my situation grew bit by bit until I was able to confront my issues in a positive and enlightening piece of work.  I am always amazed at the power of the psychodramatic process, and am intensely grateful for what the weekend has given me: illumination, reawakening of my dignity, recovery of power over my situation, affirmation, and the best chance to rebuild to important relationships in my life in a way that will be positive for all concerned.  I am really looking forward to the next one!”

Safety
There's an element of peril
In diving for ocean's pearls
Less we forget to surface for air
Breath out and in again
Feel the warmth of others' sun
But don't burn
And careful not to cross too quickly
Any people made bridges
Over the spaces in between
This and that
Now and then
You and me
...to name but three
Chased by misty fears of
Unloved
Alone
...to name but two
Veils obscuring the view
Of natural beauty
A melting sunset
...to name but one
Rich
Witnessed
In stillness
(Dean)