KamiL Torczewski shares his deep thoughts straight from the heart after a workshop for men:
—
Last week (June 9-11), the first edition of the unique therapeutic workshop “A Man’s Journey” took place. It was an opportunity for men to meet who want to develop awareness of their own needs and limitations, and who are ready to learn how to create healthy relationships with themselves and others. They were accompanied on this journey by two guides: Marten Bos and KamiL Torczewski.
Questions we sought answers to include:
- How do we deal with cultural and social norms, our past, and fears about the future?
- How to understand and follow your own needs, goals and identity in a healthy way, both for yourself and in your relationships with others?
- How to gain greater awareness of who I am and how I want to be – both for myself and in my relationship with others?
- How do you find your own healthy way of being a man, or just being yourself?
The workshop was held in an atmosphere of trust and openness – with room for discussion, individual work, with small and large group exercises and numerous experiments. All this was enriched with a bit of basic Gestalt theory. It was a time and place to slow down and maybe even stop for a while. For in the constant flow, it is difficult to see what really is. By the same token, it’s hard to expect things to change….
We thank each participant for their courage, commitment and partnership in this journey. It was a space full of authenticity, deep questions and real discoveries.
KamiL Torczewski after a workshop for men:
💬…A handful of my thoughts:
There is a lot of talk today about a “crisis of masculinity.” I have a rather cautious view on this subject, but indeed – certain socio-cultural phenomena are difficult to overlook. The men I encounter in my therapeutic work (in individual therapy) often create a very poignant picture of widespread anxiety, impotence, simmering, unexpressed anger or inability to be in a satisfying relationship. All the more – what I experienced during the workshop we conducted really fills me with great optimism. Its participants – although representing different generations and different worlds (not only professional), had the courage to put aside the now ubiquitous male rivalry and, in an atmosphere of support and mutual understanding, explore their difficulties and challenges (as well as superpowers). I know very well that this takes a lot of courage; I also know that this kind of opening up to other men means taking a lot of risks. For some, for the first time in their lives. All the more so, I am amazed, or even delighted, at what this group was able to accomplish together. Although for some of the participants, this was their first contact with the world of psychotherapy, the amount of work they did in these 3 days is impressive.
I believe that changing the world can only happen through individual change. And I have a firm belief that the men I had the opportunity to work with in these 3 days have already made this world a slightly better place to live in. First of all for themselves, but also for all of us. Congratulations. 💬