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The Action Factory Podcast
The Action Factory
37 episodes
42 minutes ago
Welcome to The Action Factory Podcast. I’m Michael Dawson, drawing on my experience growing up in the care system, working across NHS, local authority, and mental health settings, and developing what became The Solutions Toolkit at The Action Factory. In this podcast, I share insights from my own journey on both sides of the care system. Together, we explore what really works when communicating with young people in your care. Skills from Solution Focused Brief Therapy, NLP and clinical hypnosis.
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Mental Health
Health & Fitness
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All content for The Action Factory Podcast is the property of The Action Factory and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Welcome to The Action Factory Podcast. I’m Michael Dawson, drawing on my experience growing up in the care system, working across NHS, local authority, and mental health settings, and developing what became The Solutions Toolkit at The Action Factory. In this podcast, I share insights from my own journey on both sides of the care system. Together, we explore what really works when communicating with young people in your care. Skills from Solution Focused Brief Therapy, NLP and clinical hypnosis.
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Mental Health
Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/37)
The Action Factory Podcast
#148 - The Mystery of Self-Destruction in Youth.

Ever witnessed a young person repeat a self-destructive behavior that seems to defy all logic? I know I have. And today, I'm diving into a story I’ve never shared before — not just about the young people I’ve worked with, but about my own inexplicable, self-destructive behavior as a kid. If you're wondering why young people sometimes act against their own best interests, stick around. Because even after decades in this field, I don’t have all the answers — just the questions that haunt me still.

_________

Finally, if you’re a youth work team who would be interested in building team consistency, better confidence in crises, and offering better outcomes, you might want to check out my webinar below.

 WATCH THE FREE TRAINING SESSION

 

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6 days ago
19 minutes 14 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#147 - Buying back our children.

Welcome to The Action Factory Podcast, and it’s great to be back! After a long hiatus due to moving house, I want to talk about how we might save our council a few million pounds.

My name is Michael Dawson, and I developed a universal, principle-based framework for youth work teams. During the design of the Solutions Toolkit, I’m often asked about my experience. It’s broad and covers most sectors, but I’ll always refer to three fantastic and revolutionary projects that I was lucky enough to have been involved in.

In today’s episode, I want to talk about one of them. It was a project where I jokingly used to say that, in private industry, we would all be driving Mercedes.

Why?

Because, based purely on the financials, we were saving city councils millions of pounds a year. We did this by keeping young people at home instead of in the care system. In fact, (after recording) I found a fascinating article in The Guardian by George Monbiot that confirms exactly what I’ve been saying.

If you’re a City Council influencer, we could easily do this again in a new and modern way.

In this episode, I’ll describe our service and what we did. Sadly, it’s a kind of rise and fall of the most cost-effective service the City Council ever created.

Although I found the article below after recording, I think you’ll find it interesting:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/18/child-care-cost-year-wealth-funds-councils-britain-residential

Oh and the Simpsons of course 

Finally, if you’re a youth work team who would be interested in building team consistency, better confidence in crises, and offering better outcomes, you might want to check out my webinar below.

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

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1 week ago
21 minutes 19 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#129 Elevating Residential Youth Work with the Solutions Toolkit

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Less a sales pitch, more a request for help. Are you a young person's residential care home manager with a team of between 2 and 12 people?

Care home managers, the Solutions Toolkit is almost here, a game-changing framework designed specifically for residential youth work teams. It’s principle-based so it serves as a foundation for existing regimes and personalities, while seamlessly complementing and enhancing other working models.

In this episode, I want to delve deep into the insights and strategies that will transform your approach to working with young people, while tackling the challenges of making the Solutions Toolkit accessible and universal. 

Highlights: - Embrace the three A's (Adopt, Adapt, and Abandon) and the three C's (The circles are - You, Your Clients, and Your Tools) for a bespoke approach.

Overcome the main training obstacles with the three M's (Mobility, Membership, and Money)
An exclusive offer for residential care home managers to participate in the Solutions Toolkit pre-launch for just £250 (instead of the £5,000 launch price).

A two-year money-back guarantee for accepted focus group members.

Access a free micro-course on the basic ideas of the Solutions Toolkit at www. theactionfactory.com  

If your a residential care home manager with a team of 2 to 12 people then don’t miss this episode.

 

www.theactionfactory.com

 

 

 

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1 year ago
15 minutes

The Action Factory Podcast
#146 90 Seconds- The horror of entering a children's home as a resident (For me at least)

Welcome to the Action Factory Podcast, I'm Michael Dawson, the creator of the Solutions Toolkit, the first framework designed for those working with young people in care environments.

In today's episode, we delve into the real, raw experience of the admission process into care — not the procedures and rules, but what it actually feels like for a young person going through it.

I recently (and unexpectedly) opened up about my own journey during an interview on The Passionate Youth Worker podcast, revealing an event I hadn't touched on for years.

It took a sudden burst of tears while watching a TV drama to realize how deeply my past experiences still affected me.

That moment on the podcast inspired me to revisit and break down the very scene that caused me so much trauma. Today, we’ll explore that scene together and uncover the lessons that might lie hidden within.

If you’re involved in running a children's home, this episode is crucial.

Hopefully, the scenarios we discuss aren’t familiar, but they are an important learning opportunity.

To help you after the episode, I've developed an interactive "Admissions Audit" document. This tool is designed to help ensure that the admission process is as comforting as possible for young people — a stark contrast to my own experiences and those of the young girl in the drama.

Also, don’t miss out on grabbing a free copy of the Key Worker Compass by clicking the link below. This handy tool keeps all your key worker information right at your fingertips.

At the moment, I'm offering a two-year subscription to all my personal training for the cost of a single month. Under $20 will grant you a two-year full legacy membership as we continue to spread the word and make a difference.

Join us on this journey and help change the way we support our youth in care.

ADMISSIONS AUDIT SHEET

Please save on your own device before making changes

WATCH THE CLIP HERE

FULL SHOW - NO CHILD OF MINE

THE PASSIONATE YOUTH WORKER PODCAST

THE KEY WORKER COMPASS DOWNLOAD

 

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1 year ago
20 minutes 11 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#145 Residential Youth Work - The Greatest Job in the World.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

Now, let's get started...

Today we dive into the heart of Residential Youth Work—a realm I'm so passionate about, I literally wear it on my sleeve... and my head!

You will have seen my wardrobe additions, shirts and hats, boldly proclaiming it "The Greatest Job in the World."

Why such enthusiasm? Well, it's the unique magic of making even the smallest difference in a young person's life that has me shouting from the rooftops. But today, I'm dialing back the volume to extend a warm, inviting hand to those considering a path in residential youth work.

Join me as we delve into my six compelling reasons why residential youth work stands apart from the rest. Whether you've been contemplating a career that enables you to positively influence young lives, or you're simply curious about what makes this job so rewarding, this episode promises to enlighten and inspire. Let's embark on this journey together and discover why residential youth work is, indeed, the greatest job in the world.

Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

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1 year ago
13 minutes 3 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#144 A Day With Milton H Erickson - Lessons from the Master.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, let's get started...

 

In this thought-provoking episode, "A Day With Milton H Erickson - Lessons from the Master," I embark on a fascinating journey to explore the hypothetical yet illuminating scenario of having Milton H. Erickson himself as a staff member in our modern-day children's home.

Imagine the unparalleled insights we could gain by working a shift alongside the master of psychotherapy himself. This episode delves into the rich teachings and innovative approaches Erickson might bring to our team. With his unparalleled ability to connect and effect change, I'll dissect how Erickson's presence could revolutionize our practices, challenge our perspectives, and deepen our impact.

Join me as we step into a day with Erickson, drawing lessons from his wisdom and envisioning the profound influence such a figure could have in the realm of residential youth work today.

This episode is not just a tribute to Erickson's legacy but a practical guide inspired by his work, offering valuable insights for anyone dedicated to nurturing change and growth in the hearts and minds of the young individuals in their care.

Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.

 

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1 year ago
14 minutes 42 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#143 Milton H Erickson - The Rockstar of Change

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, let's get started...

In this episode titled "Milton H. Erickson - The Rockstar of Change," I dive deep into the extraordinary life and legacy of one of the most influential figures in psychotherapy. With a mix of admiration and healthy skepticism, I unravel the stories of a man whose methods and teachings continue to inspire and provoke thought long after his time.

Whether you're a novice to Erickson's work or a seasoned professional in psychotherapy, this episode offers a unique lens through which to explore his world. I'll briefly outline Erickson's remarkable journey, his pivotal role in the field, and his undying influence on therapeutic practices.

Moreover, I delve into six transformative lessons that residential youth workers—and indeed, anyone interested in effecting change—can draw from his approach. Join us as we navigate the legend, the skepticism, and the undeniable impact of Erickson's work, making this episode a must-listen for our students or anyone intrigued by the power of change and the stories of those who master it.

Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.

 

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1 year ago
18 minutes 56 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#142 Youth Work Wellness: Self-Care Strategies for Professionals

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, let's get started...

Youth Work Wellness: Self-Care Strategies for Professionals, delves into the heart of self-care, exploring not just the 'what' and 'how,' but the pivotal 'why' behind nurturing our own well-being in the demanding field of youth work.

Let's transform it from a buzzword into a concrete foundation upon which the resilience and effectiveness of youth professionals can be built and sustained.

Emotional fatigue, burnout, and the often overlooked vicarious trauma. We shine a light on the personal stories of resilience and recovery.

I'll talk about simple and actionable strategies and innovative approaches that integrate self-care into the very fabric of your daily routines, making well-being achievable for even the busiest professionals. From mindfulness techniques tailored for the youth work setting to creating a self-care plan that's as unique as your personal and professional journey, this episode is packed with practical insights.

We explore how organizations can foster a culture of wellness, supporting not just the youth they serve, but also the professionals who dedicate their lives to this vital work. The power of peer support, the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and strategies for advocating for a work environment that prioritizes mental health and wellness.

Tune in to transform your approach to self-care, elevate your professional practice, and rediscover the joy and passion that drew you to youth work. Because taking care of yourself isn't just an act of self-love—it's a professional necessity.

Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.

 

 

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1 year ago
18 minutes 46 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
# 141 Bonus Episode - The Curious Inquisitor in Change Therapy.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

If you're looking for the free NLP in residential youth work course, it will be back after the Christmas break, but in the meantime, I want to talk about a concept called the 'Curious Inquisitor.'

In this session, we will discuss a concept from the Solutions Toolkit training course called the 'Curious Inquisitor.' I place this concept at the center of everything we do in residential youth work training. As you know, the course adopts and adapts from the very best change therapy strategies ever created. One of those is, of course, Neurolinguistic Programming.

A central concept of NLP is

'The map is not the territory.' 

My interpretation of this idea shows that each of us keeps our own map of the world around us; in doing so, we do not navigate the real obstacles or advantages but only the ones we see, the ones on our map. 

This is why we often struggle to solve a problem for someone else when the solution seems glaringly obvious to us. 

So how can we get around this in residential youth work?

I love the idea of being the 'Curious Inquisitor.' That is, to be curious about how our clients see the world. Instead of trying to steer their bus, we might simply ask them about preferred directions we could take. This way, we ensure that we stay within their map and in doing so, find solutions that fit into their world. Anything that doesn't fit into their perception will ultimately be rejected or sabotaged.

Staying Curious and resisting the temptation to offer solutions of your own is a tough ask. The attached audio is from my full team training course for residential youth workers called 'The Solutions Toolkit.' There's a free version here.

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1 year ago
13 minutes 43 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#131 P1 Free 10-part audio course, ”NLP in Residential Youth Work.”

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, let's get started...

I'm Michael Dawson from the Action Factory, and I'm thrilled to kick off session one of our free 10-part audio course, "NLP in Residential Youth Work."

In this session, we're going to lay the groundwork for the transformative journey ahead. We'll delve into the fascinating origins of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) along with my rode colored memories of the 70's. We unpack the basic key ideas that form the foundation of this powerful tool. Consider this your roadmap as we prepare to dive deep into the rich landscape of NLP in the coming weeks.

And, as the course title suggests, every lesson will be crafted within the framework of residential youth work. We're not just learning about NLP in a vacuum - we're exploring how these tools and techniques can be applied directly to your day-to-day interactions and challenges as a residential youth worker. This is practical, actionable knowledge that you can start using immediately.

The best part? This entire course is completely free. We believe in the power of NLP and we want to make sure these tools are accessible to everyone.

You can download the notes for each session and get your hands on the free PDF that accompanies this podcast, ensuring you have all the resources you need to fully immerse yourself in the world of NLP.

So, without further ado, let's jump in and explore the fascinating world of NLP and unlock the potential it holds for transforming your approach to residential youth work.

Don't forget to hit that subscribe button to ensure you don't miss out on any of the upcoming lessons. Let's get started!

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Get the session DOWNLOAD NOTES HERE

 

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2 years ago
15 minutes 48 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#130 Walking on fire - All things residential youth work.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, let's get started...

Welcome to the Action Factor podcast, your go-to source for all things residential youth work. I'm Michael Dawson.

If you're passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young people and navigating the intricate world of residential youth work, you've come to the right place.

In today's episode, we're diving into a journey that promises to make subscribing to this podcast an irresistible choice.

What sets our newer format apart?

Well, we're not just here to talk; we're here to empower. We're rolling out a series of free courses and an abundance of extras designed specifically for residential youth workers who aspire to be better at what they do.

Whether you're an experienced youth worker, just starting out, or someone with a curiosity about this vital field, stay tuned because we've got exciting content and a game-changing course on the horizon. So, let's address the questions you might have: Where have I been? Why should you care? And why is this all connected to subscribing? The answers lie ahead, and I promise you, it's a journey you won't want to miss. So, without further ado, let's get started.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

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2 years ago
10 minutes 13 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#128 Pam Grout will believe me.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

Now onwards we go..

"If you agree to become guest on my podcast then I can't promise you'll sell a million books."

The fact that I wrote these words in my email to Pam and she still agreed to talk to me only increased my admiration for her work. In fact if you are one of those closet woo woo people who believe in the law of manifestation then who better to come out to than Pam herself.

Pam has written 20 books and countless articles for publishing royalty including, Family Circle, CNN, Washington Post and many more.

Her book E-Squared (one of my favourites) topped the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 40 languages.

There's a video version of our brief chat on our YouTube channel or the podcast website under the video menu if your finding this elsewhere.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

I guess you're also wanting to find out more about Pam and her work. Click below to go to her website and check out the books and free fun things to add a smile to your day.

Pam Grout Books

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2 years ago
21 minutes 8 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#127 - Life on the streets

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

We are all familiar with the Big Issue vendors on the streets of our cities.

I was privileged to talk to a few of them in Manchester UK. The Big Issue magazine is now worldwide and provides a legal income for the homeless as well as support to get them back off the streets.

In talking to these guys and doing the recordings there was a common thread through their stories. In the main they tended to be intelligent professional people, a soldier, an award winning chef and more. We spoke to lots more homeless people and the second noticeable thing tended to be life trauma of some kind, alcohol, divorce etc. The slippery slope isn't always as far away as we think.

Thanks to Leon, Mark, Christian and the others for their fascinating insight.

I don't think I ever passed a big issue vendor after doing this recording and maybe you won't either.

THE BIG ISSUE

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

 

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2 years ago
14 minutes 26 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#126 Remove the problem not the solution

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

One of our favourite NLP mantras which in most cases is true.

"The problem you have now was once the solution to another problem."

A sure fire bit of wisdom and it was interesting to hear Rich Rolls mention this concept when he was being interviewed about his battle with alcohol.

I wanted to share my thoughts and encourage you to hear the interview with Rich.

I personally spoke with Rich and I'll be posting that soon. He is an ultra athlete, multiple 100 mile plus runs and triathlons. He was once named as one of the fittest humans on the planet.

In the meantime HERE'S THE VIDEO I'm referencing in this episode.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

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2 years ago
7 minutes 51 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#125 100 things to do before breakfast

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

Since I began people geeking I've been reading books, watching YouTube and listening to podcasts by the guru's, the masters of change. I recently became fascinated by that subliminal backlog of life advice that in most cases I'd never followed. That was when I realised that there was a bloody lot of it.

Start your day with this and never do that, adding it all together would mean a hundred things to do before breakfast!

In retrospect I actually DID try some of it ,and it's stuck with me to this day but in the main the gurus have only managed to garner knowing nods of approval from me.

Getting up at 4am might make you as strong as the Rock, or as good a writer as Stephen King or as smart as Elon Musk. An ice cold shower might make me as vibrant as Anthony Robbins but...

I realise now that caution is needed, after all when they ask me how I became a great writer it won't be getting up at 4am, it will be write in service stations and lunch breaks. (Thanks for that Michael.)

The advice of others doesn't always fit into our lives and in the main, the ones who really hold the secret to happiness are probably not too worried about telling us.

Most are too busy just being happy. The rest of the happy people are so happy they can't stop telling us, and what could be worse if your not?

Still I hope you like my subliminal check list for a successful life.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

 

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2 years ago
13 minutes 46 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#124 Ray Edwards - Quad amputee, climb Kilimanjaro? Hold my beer.

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

Ray Edwards is getting himself ready to climb Kilimanjaro. At 19500 ft it's a challenge for any climber but Ray is a quadruple amputee. When we spoke he was able to describe the circumstances that brought him here and his dream of setting up a charity that could faithfully support other amputees.

That charity is Limbcare and was partially formed by Ray in June 2010. His book 'I'm still standing' is a bestseller as well as receiving an MBE for his work.

I spoke to on my FM radio show some years ago just before he attempted the climb of Kilimanjaro.

You can check his website to see how he went on with the climb.

In the meantime I'm really pleased to have found this recording and I certainly hope I can track Ray down and catch up soon.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

 

 

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2 years ago
13 minutes 1 second

The Action Factory Podcast
#121 Who cares, wins

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

Welcome to the solutions toolkit podcast from the Action Factory.

I'm Michael Dawson

Yes, I've neglected you but saying I've been busy probably won't cut it.

For the 9th time I took it upon myself to cycle the Tour De France from start to finish. (direct) before you get too impressed. A mere thousand or so Km and that's a podcast right there.

I also managed to finish the new studio at our home in France. Another potential podcast.

Instead, I wanted to talk to myself again about something personal. 

Not what the hell got me here but most importantly, who the hell got me here?

I thought it would be interesting to say it out loud because in the main it was people like you.

  • Residential carers
  • Social workers
  • Teachers.
So I just wanted to say thanks.

I've finished the solutions toolkit audio course and I'll be releasing it to subscribers early. Why?

Because I value your opinion.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

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3 years ago
11 minutes 46 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#120 Why did the solution focused therapist cross the road?

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

I believe that solution focused workers don't need to be therapists and they don't need problems to solve. Having had comments both in person and online about my attitude towards traditional therapists and their methods I thought it worth some clarity.

I often quote in sessions my Aunt Betty, of course Aunt Betty doesn’t exist in reality as a person but she does exist. In fact Aunt Betty might even be you.

So before I explain let me tell you something about Aunt Betty. She is an extremely positive person, she is someone who is always fun and reassuring to be around. In a crisis it’s aunt betty who remains calm and focuses on the positive. In fact when things go wrong in life then it’s Aunt Betty that people gravitate to. People who talk to aunt betty about problems always come away feeling more upbeat and positive about a solution, the problem seems smaller and sometimes afterwards it seems to evaporate all by itself. The funny thing about Aunt Betty is this. She never gives advice or instruction or any of those things. Yes Aunt Betty will tell stories or mention her experiences but never directs them at anyone. Whenever I talk about Aunt Betty then I’m talking about any one of our clients, the social workers, teachers and residential workers whom we train in solution focused working. As i said earlier I could be talking about you.

So here’s the thing. Aunt Betty isn’t trained in the solution focused approach, she certainly never did any therapeutic training either formal or informal. She has no degree’s and wouldn’t know the first thing about therapy. She has no experience and never wrote a book or paper.

However, let me ask you a question

Is she the kind of person that you'd prefer to approach in a crisis?

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

 

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3 years ago
16 minutes 11 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#119 Solution focused lessons from 1963

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

I suffer from solution focused bias, I see it everywhere. Yesterday I was reading a very old book called the power of the subconscious mind by Dr John Murphy. It was first published in 1963.

Although John Murphy doesn't refer to the miracle question, mainly because it wasn't invented in 1963 I recognised that there might be some lessons for us within his words.
In this podcast I pull out three principles that he insists we apply to our subconscious thought process. Once the miracle question is adopted then surely this is a subconscious thought process for your clients. Used in your work then these principles can help you multiply its power and thus multiply the effect with clients. I think these three principles might serve us when using our own version of the miracle question.

1. Physically speak out loud

2. Repeat daily.

3. Speak in the present tense.

They can't be followed verbatim, then again neither can the solution focused approach. We help our clients adapt and adopt this powerful model (sfbt) into their working lives. A thing we call proactive therapy. It helps improve lives and it doesn't look for problems.

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

 

 

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3 years ago
16 minutes 18 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
#118 The universal LAWS of the solution focused approach

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

 

Now, lets begin...

There are a number of principles behind the solution focused approach that are unchanging under any circumstance. Like Issac Newtons laws of motion they apply in every situation. Whether you're a professor of solution focused therapy or simply my aunt betty, if your solution focused then these laws apply.

If you can apply these in your work then you will be a solution focused worker. Everything else is simply the tools. As we discuss in the podcast, Issac Newtons laws are principles. Our tools such as airplanes, rockets and human cannonballs are just tools. Likewise in practice we have to start with the 'LAWS' of the solution focused approach.

ALSO: Exciting news as we launch our individual training course online. Over 2.5 hours of video content designed to take the solution focused model out of the therapy room and into your workplace. Launch offer. 

Visit us at www.theactionfactory.com

Grab the free digital download here.

BIG Four Download

Show more...
3 years ago
17 minutes 40 seconds

The Action Factory Podcast
Welcome to The Action Factory Podcast. I’m Michael Dawson, drawing on my experience growing up in the care system, working across NHS, local authority, and mental health settings, and developing what became The Solutions Toolkit at The Action Factory. In this podcast, I share insights from my own journey on both sides of the care system. Together, we explore what really works when communicating with young people in your care. Skills from Solution Focused Brief Therapy, NLP and clinical hypnosis.