Events and news

John with group of hospice counsellors in Sussex

Hospice counsellor training

In September 2023, I completed 3 days of projective-arts training Oaklander style with this wonderful group of hospice counsellors at St Peter & St James Hospice in Sussex, who are working with grieving children and young people.

If you’d like to find out how I could offer similar training at your organisation, do please get in touch.

John with group of training attendees.

Working with young people: a year-long Gestalt arts intensive 2024

Where: Ealing, London

When: 10 CPD days between 24 January and 21 November 2024

Find out more about this course

(The image shows the group that successfully completed the 2023 course).

lit buildings in Tbilisi

Adolescence: creative reorganisation of the self

Where: Tbilisi, Georgia

When: 12 November 2023

Contact Jon for details

Angel miniature, used in sand tray work

Oaklander basic training 1: Haredi play therapists

Where: Manchester

When: 3 to 5 December 2023

Contact Jon for details

Ballycastle sea and cliffs

Serious fun: the Oaklander approach to working with children and young people

Where: Gestalt residential, Ballycastle, Belfast

When: 26 January 2024

Contact Jon for details

Pile of books about therapy

New book chapter

I have a new chapter on working with a sick child during COVID-19.

The book is in press – publication details to follow.

Jon Blend and Karen Fried

The Just for Now story

Watch Jon’s interview with Karen Fried, creator of the ‘Just for Now’ series and international trainer and writer on the Violet Oaklander method.

Find out more

Jon Blend working in group session

Working with children and adolescents: bi-monthly closed supervision group: Violet Oaklander method

Where: Acton, London W3

When: Ongoing

Contact Jon for details

Screen shot of Jon Blend doing online Lifemusic session

Restoring the ‘Hum’ in Human!*

Watch Jon’s video bringing together participants from around the world in a Lifemusic session, part of the ‘Just For Now’ online seminar series hosted by Karen Fried.

Find out more

Job-Blend, Coco the dog and a little boy

On canine-assisted therapy – a talk for counsellors

Coming soon. Where possible, Coco my ‘co-therapist’ accompanies me for this talk on how animals may bring a healing presence to therapy with clients of all ages.

Contact Jon for details