You’ve been helping to run Manifest and many other camps for several years, now. What is your primary role?
It’s a supportive camp and everyone looks out for each other, but sometimes people can struggle to connect. Us being blokes we tend to hide away rather than reach out. I look out for people that might be struggling and make a point of engaging with them; see if they’d like a private chat. One or two guys have found that helpful in the past, and have been able to participate in and enjoy the camp more fully after sharing their concerns.
You’re a body psychotherapist by profession, what’s that about?
It’s a combination of bodywork – including massage and body awareness, and talking therapy. I listen to people talk about where they want to go in life, what excites or motivates them; and then explore the thoughts and feelings that they have that block them from pursuing them. The body stores memory and trauma and so the body work alongside the talking, helps unblock a person’s drive towards fulfilling their potential; helping them get unstuck. I trained at the Chiron Centre of Body Psychotherapy and have been practicing since 1992.
Why do you like participating in men only gatherings such as Manifest?
You know, its difficult to explain clearly. Mixed groups and groups of a specific gender have their own different types of energy. Men relate differently with other men. I’m sure it’s the same for women. We are freer to talk about some topics that would be more difficult in a mixed gender group. A great example of this was at last year’s camp. One of the men proposed a discussion about our prostates, any issues we’d had and solutions we’d encountered. What an eye-opening and valuable conversation that turned out to be between about a dozen of us. But its harder for men to trust that an all men setting can be supportive and inclusive. Many blokes have had past experiences in men only groups which have been divisive and critical, with lots of one-upmanship; and found them risky, unsafe and even harmful. So it can be an especially healing environment to encounter men as warm, nurturing, respectful and mutually supportive. It can be very life affirming to share positive experiences as men; and to talk about past difficulties or struggles with other men– such as with our fathers for example, or just as being a man. It can validate our own personal challenges to have them witnessed and acknowledged by others with similar experiences. Knowing you’re not the only one can be a relief: ‘f*** this, I’m not going to live under this cloud forever’ sort of thing!
What were your highlights from last year’s camp?
That discussion about the prostate was one of them! Generally though, it’s just the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of guys for a few days. It was a warm and friendly place to be. And also to spend several days in nature – what a beautiful site; to play some music… but above all, the main thing for me is Council. It’s the heart of the camp and always a very moving experience.
And what will you be offering at this year’s Manifest?
I like to arrive and see what may be most useful or of interest to the men who join us. I may well offer my ‘body in relationship’ workshop: Being Here, Showing Up. The aim is to enable participants to get a deeper connection with their bodies and themselves, using basic skills drawn from body psychotherapy and mindfulness – putting them more deeply in contact with their feelings and immediate experience; and from this embodied state, to explore communication with others. Also, may offer some early morning shiatsu warm up sessions or meditation. It’s a great way of starting the day.
