I am Pat Young and I am the principal of Learning Edge Consulting. I have been facilitating groups, teams and individuals for more than twenty years.
My experience includes facilitating post graduate facilitator development programmes at the Human Potential Research Group at the University of Surrey [1992 - 1994] at the Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice at the University of Bath [1998 - 2000], and several Diplomas in Counselling at Sandwell College and Birmingham Counselling Centre.
I designed and facilitated the Master Practitioner Diploma in FIRO Theory [2007 - 2007] and was myself accredited Master Practitioner in FIRO Theory by S.E.L.F. [Schutz Education & Learning Foundation] in Stockholm in 2005.
From 1989 – 1992 I was Senior Counsellor and latterly Director of the Alcohol Counselling Service in Brixton.
I have worked as a consultant to organisations in the private and public sectors specializing in management and leadership development training, group and team dynamics, group, executive and individual coaching. I have a strong background in business and management.
I have been working with Will Schutz’s FIRO Theory since I encountered ‘JOY’ in 1982 and had the privilege of being trained by Will from 1999. I am privileged to have worked closely and personally with both Will Schutz and John Heron. I am passionate about facilitating and equally passionate about FIRO Theory.
Interests outside facilitation include:
Occasional amateur stand up comedian, probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but a real buzz none the less. There is a bootleg video somewhere of my ‘performance’ at Komedia in Brighton last year, when I track it down I will post it here [maybe!].
Longest held ambitions?
1) Learn to play the piano, yes, I’m working on it and hopefully by the time you are reading this I will have progressed even more! How Long? Since I was about fifteen – a very long time ago.
2) Run a full marathon. I’ve started one but had to drop out after seventeen miles with a tendon injury. In the intervening period I’ve ran two half marathons and two 10K races. This year (2011) I’ve already completed one 10K in March in Brighton, and have just completed another in East Grinstead (25th September). I entered and completed the Barnes Green half marathon in October 2011. 2012 Is my target year for a full Marathon, watch this space. Ambition held since I was approx 24 years old.
Sussex Bootcamps. My most recent addiction and what a pleasant surprise it has been. I joined Sussex BC in November 2009, signing up for three intensive sessions per week, having made an initial commitment to myself to ‘stick it out’ until Easter 2010. I really did think I would have to grit my teeth to ‘get through’ the experience. However, to my surprise and delight I realised within the first two weeks that I was going to thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. A couple of short months later I had to acknowledge I had become addicted. In December 2010 I was nominated for their Bootcamper Of The Year Competition … and to my delight I won it.
Has my BC experience been of benefit to me? You bet it has; I have lost (at the time of writing) 37llbs in weight, 10 inches off my waist, 5 inches off my chest and 3 inches off my collar. Last year a friend arranged for me to complete a VO2 Max test, which is a scientific measure of fitness. My VO2 Max score was in the range a fit man in his mid thirties would be pleased to achieve, I am considerably older than that and to say I was delighted is a mild understatement. Recently on a routine medical examination I was informed that “I had the blood pressure of a 20 year old and that I had eliminated my risk of stroke!”
Ballroom Dancing, what a buzz it is! I have been tripping the light fantastic in Ken (younger brother of Robert, or so he says) Redford’s Dance School for four years now and it’s just great fun. Favourite dance is the Tango, closely followed by the Rumba, the Cha Cha, the Samba and the Waltz. Strictly has a lot to answer for.