Explore every episode of the podcast A Call Across the Pond; Transforming Relationships at School, at Home and Beyond

In this episode Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interviewing Ayse Adil. Ayse is the co-founder of Family Based Solutions, a charity in Enfield, London, that provides support for families experiencing child-to-parent abuse, families recovering from domestic abuse, and adult perpetrators of abuse. With over 15 years of experience in various educational roles, Ayse delivers training for organisations such as the NSPCC (The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) and the Metropolitan Police. She is also the co-founder of FBS Chat, an online platform where community members and therapists from around the world are interviewed to share insights and experiences. Ayse is dedicated to fostering positive change in both professional and family settings.

Thanks so much Ayse for bringing your honesty, passion for community, and a few good laughs to our conversation. We loved having you!

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In this episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing our very own Tara Gretton! Vicky Essebag and Naomi Whitehead co-host this episode as they learn about Tara's inspiring work. Tara is an accredited solution-focused practitioner and social worker with post-graduate qualifications in child development and social work, and additional training in human physiology. With over 20 years of experience within the social care setting, education, charity sector and organizations, Tara delivers solution-focused therapeutic interventions, training, consultancy and coaching to children, young people, families and adults. She currently works in the area of Bath, England, where she is Founder of her private practice - Solution-Revolution, and a Co-Director for Solution-Focused Trainers - a community interest company. In addition to training many schools and organizations in solution-focus, Tara co-facilitates breathwork workshops at Breathing Solutions. Tara feels passionately about celebrating peoples' voices, noticing their personal resources and capabilities, and helping them to become unstuck from current or ongoing challenges. Please join us in welcoming Tara!

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In this new episode, Tara Gretton and Vicky Essebag have the pleasure of interviewing Naomi Whitehead, a passionate and inspirational solution-focused leader. Naomi resides in Sheffield, England where she is a freelance solution-focused practitioner whose current portfolio includes managing her own coaching and training company, providing coaching services to the social justice feminist charity - Young Women’s Trust, guest lecturing at both Sheffield Universities, being a director at Solution Focused Trainers Community Interest Company and delivering coaching fundamentals and mentor coaching for Solutions Academy. In our conversation, Naomi sheds light on personal and professional experiences that have shaped her love for the solution-focused approach, and ways in which she builds relationship and community. Welcome Naomi!

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In this new episode, Naomi Whitehead - An experienced Solution-Focused Coach, Trainer and Leader, joins Tara Gretton in interviewing Vicky Essebag about her book -  Relationspaces; A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents. Enjoy this episode as these three wonderful women reflect on the intention behind creating effective and productive spaces in relationship.

Vicky Essebag MEd - CPSY, OCT, CSFC is a relational communication specialist, Board Member of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association and Fellow with the Institute of Coaching. She pairs her extensive background in education as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and school administrator, with her experience as a family therapist and solution-focused coach. Vicky is widely known for applying and teaching Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) as a model to support a relationship-based approach in schools, families and organizations. Vicky sets the tone for prioritizing effective communication to inspire inclusive and compassionate spaces for living and learning. She is a public speaker, instructional leader and consultant. Vicky is Founder of the company – Relationspaces. www.relationspaces.com. info@relationspaces.com.

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Tara and Vicky had the pleasure of interviewing Jacqui Storm. Jacqui shines a light on the vital relationship we have with our minds and bodies. She has been on a life journey for personal health and believes that all human beings have an inner healing intelligence. She helps people to access this through self-help and preventative therapy. Jacqui explores how the breath empowers and how it compliments solution-focused work. She sees a strong link between back pain, emotions and nutrition. Jacqui is an experienced chiropractor and acupuncturist, and a lecturer in both subjects. She studied at the Scandinavian college of chiropractors in Stockholm and the international Su Jok Acupuncture Association in Moscow. On her quest to discover healing opportunities that reveal mind and body connection, Jacqui also became a trained nutritionist, and yoga teacher. She has additional qualifications in Twist and Meridian therapies, reiki, reflexology and deep tissue massage.  Recognizing that chronic back pain is always accompanied with emotional upset, Jacqui now combines spinal therapy with breath work. She is currently living in Bath, England,  and practicing as the co-director of the AIR School of Breathwork.

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In this episode, Tara Gretton and Vicky Essebag have the pleasure of interviewing Gaia,  a 21-year-old diversity activist based in Bristol, U.K., who works as an LGBTQ+ Team Coordinator for The Diversity Trust. Drawing on her own experience and expertise as a Trans Woman, she delivers LGBTQ+, and specifically Transgender Awareness training. She also leads the local LGBTQ+ groups Alphabets Youth and Alphabets Adults.  Gaia was trained in the Solution Focused Approach by our very own Tara whilst attending Beechen Cliff School, where she discovered the power of Solution Focus in empowering marginalised communities, and in inspiring young people to grow into the best versions of themselves.  Welcome Gaia!

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In this new episode, Tara and Vicky have the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Albanese.  Carolyn is an experienced educator, guidance counsellor and school administrator. She is a passionate mental health and wellbeing advocate, supporting women who have experienced mental health trauma and/or abuse and are looking to change their life path.  She is a leader in equity, inclusion, wellbeing and human rights for all, as an Education Officer for the Ministry of Education of Ontario.  In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys playing the piano and drums,  hiking and travelling with her family, and visiting family in Italy. Carolyn shares her personal story with us, providing insight into the silence that can exist in family relationships, to avoid dealing with and supporting mental health. She shares her journey of discovery and self-compassion. Stay tuned for the new year when Carolyn returns to discuss mental health stigma as it relates to equity and inclusion.

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In this episode, Tara and Vicky interview a special guest - Meg Durham, from the School of Wellbeing Podcast. Meg's podcast has gained much popularity and notoriety in the past couple of years. Meg is a teacher with experience in primary and secondary education across Australia, and a specialist in the field of wellbeing education. She is an instructional leader, public speaker, coach and mentor. Meg founded 'Open Mind Education' in 2013 with a vision to share meaningful wellbeing education with staff, parents and broader school communities. In this episode, Meg talks about the importance of prioritizing one's own well being as an educational leader, to be more successful at addressing daily challenges and all relationships.  Meg, it was a joy to have you on board! Thank you!

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In this episode Tara shares an incredible story that teaches a lesson about what lies under the surface in relationships. What can come of a bad situation when we address it with a shift in perspective? What can everyone involved learn from the experience, and what happens when young people are given a chance to be their best selves? Thank you Tara for sharing this amazing experience!

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You might have noticed that Tara and Vicky took a bit of a break since the last podcast! They were busy creating their new Relationspaces Power Bursts for you, where they respond to questions in short 5 minute bursts.  Their conversations are based on quotes from the book - Relationspaces; A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents. Check them out at  https://www.youtube.com/@Relationspaces, or https://www.youtube.com/@taragretton3700

In this next podcast episode, Tara and Vicky ask the question – How do we shift from information/advice-giving in our relationships, to a questioning stance? They discuss how to engage young people in meaningful conversations where they are motivated to actively participate, and where they have an opportunity for critical reflection and inquiry.  

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This week, Tara and I talk about entering into conversations with our children as they prepare for school. How do we encourage the conversation? How do we motivate authentic self-expression? How do we discover what our children are thinking and feeling? How do we support them as they journey into a new school year? Enjoy!

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A change of perception can be life altering. How willing are we to invest in a change of perception that isn’t immediate? In this next podcast episode, Tara and Vicky embrace the summer as they share stories that point to slowing down the hectic pace of life. How do we manage to do so? What are some unique ways in which to observe these helpful differences? What do we notice about how these differences improve our daily lives? 

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Schools are academic spaces, yet they are also social spaces, where individuals have an opportunity to engage with each other and to establish long term relationships that have an impact their own lives and on school climate. Schools are fairly unique as social systems in that they involve a wide range of roles and responsibilities as well as ages. Tara and Vicky speak to some of the many ways in which we can encourage respectful and healthy relationships in this socially vibrant arena - both one on one (e.g. teacher and students, administrators to teachers) and on a larger scale, as we look to the impact of relationships on the whole school community.

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In this episode Tara and Vicky talk about how noticing what works in relationships positively changes the way in which we think about and act on relationships. Noticing what works also empowers and inspires us to access our personal resources and to help motivate others to do so as well. 

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Tara and I are excited to share that in 2 ½ months, we have had 100 downloads of our podcast! Today we celebrate as we extend our sincere appreciation to all of our podcast listeners! Thank you for bringing us into your day. Keep on listening and please share with your friends and colleagues! Tell us what you're interested in hearing about. You can reach us at https://relationspaces.com/ or https://www.solutionrevolution.co.uk/.

In this next episode, we discuss managing our emotions in relationships, and how to engage with our children and loved ones, when our emotions get the better of us. Enjoy! 

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Tara and Vicky discuss how we can create a space for our children to communicate with kindness. How do we lay a foundation for them to have kind, meaningful and productive interactions which develop character and contribute to healthy relationships? Enjoy this next episode!

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As many secondary school students prepare for the end of the school year, they're also in the process of preparing for their year-end exam period. This is a stressful time, both for students and their families, as emotions and expectations run high. Tara and Vicky discuss how to best engage with, and support our children during this time.

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In Episode 5, we have the pleasure of interviewing Haesun Moon PhD. Haesun is a communication scientist, educator and author of several collaborative books, including Thriving Women, Thriving World, and Foundations of Brief Coaching; A Short Handbook for Professional Coaches. Her most recent book Coaching A to Z; The Extraordinary Use of Ordinary Words, is a must-read! Haesun is creator of the  Dialogic Orientation Quadrant, she teaches Brief Coaching at the University of Toronto,  is executive director at the Canadian Centre for Brief Coaching, and Principal at the Human Learning Institute. Haesun promotes better conversations at home and at work, as a way in which to change the world.

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This week-end and weeks ahead, many families around the world are celebrating holidays, perhaps having some time off from school or work,  and spending more time together. This is a dedicated opportunity to make a great difference in relationships with your family. Join us as we share some of our own experiences and some useful strategies for the holidays.

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Conversations about SUCCESS often include the great outcomes, the big win, top notch evaluations, performances and presentations. This type of success is only available to the fortunate few. With a solution-focused mindset, success is accessible to everyone, as it represents the many accomplishments individuals experience in daily life, both large and small. How does this perception of success impact our relationships and our lives? Stay tuned as we unpack this question.

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Solution-focused (SF) conversations can take place therapeutically, or in the context of our everyday lives. At a glance,  some might interpret SF as an approach that does not leave room for discussion of existing problems. Tara and Vicky de-mystify this notion and bring some clarity to refreshing ways in which to explore the problem, using SF approaches. 

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Tara and Vicky talk about the importance of an intentional approach to bringing our best selves to relationships.

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