It’s hard to believe but the Heart and Soul of Change Conference in New Orleans has come and gone. It was a memorable experience to say the least and many commented how they were inspired by not only the lineup of speakers but also the social justice and recovery themes of the conference. People are sending in their reflections about the conference and they will be posted here.

It is very rare when you can sit at one conference for three days and listen to and engage with compelling research, clear frameworks and real life experience of just how important it is to put the client’s voice at the centre of all engagements, thoughts and activities, and all under an umbrella of social justice. When all of these come together – as they did at the Heart and Soul of Change conference – you get this amazing collective clarity of purpose, and the energy in the room takes a life of its own. The questions asked at the end – “What is one thing we take away from this experience” and “What is one thing we will do differently” supported us all to think bigger and to realize that both individually and collectively we can and do make a difference in the lives of those we work alongside, and that there are bigger steps to take. The conference gave me both the energy and knowledge to start taking those steps.  Robyn Pope, Wellington, New Zealand

The Heart and Soul Conference was inspiring on many levels. It afforded the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and to meet new ones. The presentations emphasized the importance and necessity of client-centered therapy. The ORS and SRS were central in the presentations. I left the conference with a renewed interest and commitment to the therapeutic alliance and a determination to employ the ORS and SRS in my own clinical work and also in my courses. I have made The Heart and Soul of Change Second Edition: Delivering What Works in Therapy a requirement for two of my courses. In one course, students will administer the ORS and SRS in the clinical segment of a course on assessment of couples and families. The social justice aspect of the conference was similarly inspiring. The speakers were passionate in their delivery but not polarizing, a wonderful model for those of us with an iconoclast bent. I’m having a great time reading the book (Heart and Soul of Change) and eager to engage my students around those ideas. Guy C. Jeanty,  Ft. Lauderdale.

Where the research on what works in therapy and calls to social justice meet, that’s where you find the Heart and Soul of Change. The 2010 Conference inspired it’s audience to attend to research-supported evidence in defense of the client, their voice, their ideas, and their solutions. The presenters seamlessly integrated concrete tools derived from this research with issues of social justice, demonstrating that privileging the client’s voice is not a therapeutic maneuver to enhance outcomes, but a movement toward a more just world. This is the message I am taking away from this year’s conference. I look forward to implementing and expanding on what I have learned.  Justin Corrocher, Havertown, PA

The Heart and Soul of Change conference was palatable for many tastes, from watching video of clients to couples treatment results in Europe, to observing how a community-based approach worked with the Maori people of New Zealand.  The possibilities are endless and many are yet to be explored.  The video connected Barry to the audience in a real way and was validating, humorous, and successful in simplifying the process of “privileging the client’s voice.”  We came away with (1) many tips on how to use the ORS/SRS tools in a meaningful way with our clients to maximize their potential for change (2) ideas on how to use trends, patterns, and timing to maximize movement toward client goals (3) freedom to bring in our unique qualities, knowledge, and skills to the counseling relationship.  Upon returning to the workplace, I have experienced more courage to have transparent conversations with clients, and they in turn are more comfortable with using their voices to guide the process.  There are less surprises and more congruency between client and counselor efforts which leads to better efficiency.   Michele Shay, Calgary, Canada

My first Heart and Soul conference exceed my expectations. The content refreshed my knowledge, reinvigorated my passion for clinical work and recharged my energy to be a champion as my agency implements CDOI. Additionally, the intimacy and accessibility created opportunities and conversations that are impossible at most conferences. As a result I can bring back information that will be pertinent to both my organization and individualized to my professional development as a counselor. CDOI provides a practical and realistic way to privilege the client’s voice, participate in and bear witness to the change process, and to glorify the lions.  Alan Girard, Wheat Ridge, CO

The conference was fantastic! I have been involved with utilizing the ideas, concepts and forms of CDOI since 2002. This was the third time I’ve seen Barry present and I have always come away with something new and immediately useable with my clients. The numerous case vignettes that we saw at the conference really demonstrated the skills of being a CDOI therapist. Thanks to Barry and all of the other presenters for re-energizing and reminding me why I love what I do for a living. Chris Parker, Quincy, Illinois

Being primarily in academics I am often disheartened about what I read in the journals and the general tone of conversations in the “ivory tower” about the pathologizing, expert oriented practice that is promoted here. The Heart and Soul conference was a welcomed change from the norm and I feel absolutely energized. What stays with me is Makungu’s discussions of dignity, Sami’s amazingly courageous stance against the use of psychotropics with children, sitting next to Michael Lambert and talking with him about his discovery of the common factors (wow!), Bob’s fantastic use of the SRS/ORS in Arizona, and a great conversation I had with Jackie at the airport about shared passions to change the direction of the field. Barry was great as usual as was New Orleans. It was a great time and thanks very much to Barry and his team for putting it together. Chris Hall, Wilmington, North Carolina

And here are some random pics from the conference and around town.

Heart and Soul of Change Project Award Winners

Award for “Making a Difference:” Morten Anker    

Award for CDOI Research Achievement: Jeff Reese

Award for Student/Early Career CDOI Research Achievement: Cynthia Handrup