1. References

2. External links

Café Psychologique ...

Café Psychologique was started by Group Analyst Chris Powell in Leeds, United Kingdom, in January 2011..^[1][2][3] Although inspired by the Café Scientifique and Café Philosophique movements, it differs from them in two ways. While other Cafés are about ideas, Café Psychologique is about people’s lives approached through the ideas of psychology and psychotherapy. Although Café Psychologique is convened by a Group Analyst or Psychologist there are no long presentations. The conversation is driven by the participants and the areas they want to discuss, based around the theme of that particular meeting. It fundamentally asserts that the expertise for thinking psychologically resides in the group, not in a nominated expert or speaker. Café Psychologique draws on the techniques of Group Analysis, created by S.H. Foulkes^[4] The method of 'free-floating' discussion' (Foulke's group equivalent to the free association method of individual psychoanalysis) is central. This allows an emerging conversation from the feelings as well as thoughts of participants, leading to insights arising in ways not always possible in more structured discussions. The café is run along the lines of a Group Analytic Large Group^[5] with a conductor who maintains a space for interpersonal exchange.

The notion of expertise residing in the group is a key feature of Café Psychologique, drawn from the influence of Gestalt Psychology on Foulkes' development of Group Analysis. This prefigures more recent work on the way groups can provide better ideas or solutions than individuals, such as The Wisdom of Crowds.

Another influence is the film Fight Club by David Fincher which provided the original model for the rules by which Cafe Psychologique runs. Like the fictional Fight Club, Café Psychologique places a high value on participation so uses the following rules to guide the conversation:

1. Everyone can talk - there are no lectures as the emphasis is on creating conversation. As such, participants are encouraged to say something to the group at some point during the café.

2. All points are view are valid - the group encourages a range of opinions and perspectives so participants are reminded that what they say is 'valid' even if another group member has a different perspective.

3. Statements work better than questions - participants are encouraged to speak from their experience and knowledge rather than questioning the experience of another group member.

4. There is no fixed agenda - the conversation is introduced in relation to a theme which begins the group discussion. However, there is no fixed agenda for the café.

A fifth rule is often added: 'Drinking helps' to emphasise this is a social, not clinical or academic setting, with events usually taking place in a café or bar.

The café conductor’s role is to enable exploration and discovery for participants. Each café lasts for two hours, with a break in the middle. Cafés usually take place once a month and a theme is introduced, usually in no more than three minutes, by a guest with an interest in the topic. Themes vary widely from the particular to the general^[6] but always invite participants to talk about them from a psychological perspective.

There are Cafe Psychologique events in the UK: Leeds, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Bournemouth, Liverpool^[7], Brighton; Czech Republic: Prague; and Australia: [https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Cafe-Psychologique-Sydney/ Sydney]. New cafés continue to develop in the UK and elsewhere.

Café Psychologique aims to promote psychological approaches to every part of life, destigmatise issues of mental health and psychological therapies, and assert the psychological expertise present and available outside professional and academic contexts. It is facilitated in a community space and is open to members of the public. The café enables people to connect, which has been shown to positively impact on individual wellbeing^[8]

References

External links

• Café Psychologique Homepage

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