Enjoyable and helpful as a simple and effective tool to use with clients
The training was fantastic and it's very practical and I will definitely use it with my clients in the session :)
Excellent yet another helpful session much appreciated
Explained with good examples and some role plays from participants. I thought it was great.
Webinar Description
90-minute webinar
Even young children seem to know about sailboats! Remember ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ and how Max sailed his boat to an adventure?
In this webinar, you will learn how to use a practical tool to open conversations about self through the metaphor of a sailing ship. Informed by Narrative Therapy, this experiential training involves you drawing a simple sailboat (no skill required!) and exploring how each part of the boat holds a part of our personal story, explored using rich metaphors about life’s challenges and what makes us resilient.
This technique can be particularly appealing to male clients, young and old, as it isn’t too ‘flowery’ (like The Tree of Life) and has lots of straight lines. It can also be full of scary sharks, dark clouds and turbulent waters.
This tool captures the person and the problem in ways that open up both serious and hopeful conversations.
There is a tender moment when the treasure chest is drawn towards the end. This powerful journey to the person’s heart can reveal a special discovery about what is most precious to them.
If you enjoy using The Tree of Life or other creative expressive arts, and understand that neither you nor your client needs to be artistically talented to bring alive any metaphor, then this could be an accessible and enjoyable tool to offer your clients.
Learning Outcomes
You will have the opportunity to:
- Have a better understanding of the narrative approaches and some of the unique engagement practices which draw on both the ‘problem’ and the ‘person’
- Creatively invite clients to talk about problems, values and strengths using externalising and scaling techniques
- Experience the benefits of metaphors and expressive arts in therapeutic work.
- Develop an understanding of The Sailboat of Life Method - a strength-based creative arts intervention
What ideas are explored?
- What is The Sailboat of Life method?
- What theory informs this work?
- Does this work for all ages?
- How can I use this method in safe and respectful ways
Who Should Attend?
All those working in a counselling, teaching or case work capacity who want to work in more engaging, strength based and creative ways. Psychologists, school counsellors, social workers, counsellors, youth workers, case workers, teachers and group facilitators, pastoral workers, other allied health professionals and students of these disciplines will find this technique valuable in the gathering of stories of strength and community skills and values.
Webinar Facilitator
Presenter - Kim Billington, Narrative Therapist |
 | | Masters in Counselling, Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work, Bachelors in Education Kim is a registered supervisor and counsellor registered as a clinical supervisor with PACFA and ACA. Kim is passionate about training and supervision and is the author of two books for practitioners: A Counsellor’s Companion, for those working with children, and Counselling Conversations for those working with adult clients. Committed to passing forward her ever-evolving counselling skills and knowledge, Kim aims to support and inspire counselling practitioners to develop their own unique creative skills and explore new ways to connect with their clients to support healing and identity growth. As a dynamic course facilitator, Kim has been running training programs including, Playful Narrative Therapy since 2013 for Sydney Centre for Creative Change. She has been facilitating groups and workshops for over 25 years. |
Training Dates and Times
19th March 2025, 1pm - 2:30pm AEDT (Sydney Time)
&
16th June 2025, 6pm - 7:30pm AEST (Sydney Time)
&
28th October 2025, 6pm - 7:30pm AEDT (Sydney Time)
Please note, this is a LIVE and INTERACTIVE training event. We don't record this.
Attending from interstate or internationally?
You can use this time converter to check the exact day and time of this training for your location.
Training Details
Included in the workshop price:
- 90 min CPD hours
- Access to slides and link to create Certificate of Attendance
- GST
- Live online training
Participant Preparation
You will need an A3 sized paper (or cardboard thickness if you want to paint), strengths cards or a list of strengths and coloured textas, pencils or paints on hand for the webinar.
Training Cost
SPECIAL Price $90
Approved ACA Event for 5 points
Work Paying?
Lucky you!
Send us an email requesting an invoice via the contact page with your name, the dates and name of course/courses you'd like to do and the name of your organisation who you want us to invoice and we will send you an organisational invoice and a registration form.
What people are saying about Kim's courses:
√..Great! Kim was a wonderful and engaging presenter. I have learnt a lot about how to use this in my therapy work.
√..practical and experiential.
√..a good way to learn about a person (client) rather than seeing them for their referral or presenting issue. Great to get the bigger picture and understand where they come from.
√..Great session. Interactive. Generated thought and reflection.
√..a useful art therapy approach suitable to a wide range of clients and able to be adapted.
√..Very resourceful. Backs up my knowledge and gives me confidence to continue.
√..was an excellent training - valuable to counselling role and useful tool.
