To Purchase Decks or for Interest in Future Trainings in
The Safe Container Feedback System
Email Pamela Underwood
Serving Group Facilitators, Therapists, Team Builders, Teachers and Families
This system of feedback avoids competitiveness, unhelpful interpretation and critique.
It develops courage by association and the cross pollination of creative ideas, helpful feedback
and communication skills within groups of 2 or more.
EACH DECK INCLUDES:
Facilitator Guidelines
12 Cards
Presenter Card
Phenomenological Feedback Card
Aesthetic Feedback Card
Artistic Modality Feedback Cards
Visual Art Card
Movement Card
Poetry Card
Music/Sound Card
Time Keeper Card
Scribe Card
3 Witness Cards
Thank you for your purchase!
We are very interested in your thoughts about THE SAFE CONTAINER©
Pamela Underwood’s Expressive Arts Feedback System.
Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.
Looking Forward,
Pamela
GUIDELINES
THE SYSTEM
The genesis of this system is Paolo Knill’s 3 expressive arts feedback methods, as cited in his book Minstrels of Soul. In 2003 THE SAFE CONTAINER; Pamela Underwood’s Expressive Arts Feedback System© was developed to enable facilitators to easily lead groups through each of the system’s feedback methods and roles, step by step.
Group Benefits:
THE SAFE CONTAINER is designed to assist group facilitators in developing
a sense of group safety, trust and cohesiveness while presenting the expressive
arts of music/sound, visual art, poetry or movement and offering systematic
feedback.
This system practices Knill’s 3 feedback methods of
- Phenomenological Feedback – Staying on the surface of what participants see
- Aesthetic Feedback – Using ‘I statements’
- Artistic Feedback – Using the arts as feedback
In addition the system includes Presenter, Time Keeper, Scribe and Witness Roles
Individual Participant’s Benefits:
Participants who present their art, and choose to get feedback, feel seen.
They often gain insight or a new sense of what their art means to them.
THE SAFE CONTAINER offers the opportunity to practice vulnerability
and risk in a safe space. Individuals learn to talk about their art and practice
new ways to communicate which naturally extends to their work, family
and social environments.
Setting Up The System
These guidelines are based on a group of 10 and on the presentation of Visual Art with the Artistic Feedback being poetry, sound/music or movement.
Note About Artistic Feedback:
If the art modality being presented is visual art, then it is helpful to have the artistic feedback be in the form of movement or poetry or music/sound. Each new modality will offer a different way for the presenter to sense their art.
(See suggestions below for VARYING GROUP SIZES.)
The Leader briefly introduces the purpose of The Safe Container System and the different roles that will be played.
- Form a circle: Leader shuffles the cards face down then passes the deck around for each participant to randomly choose one card each.
- Introductions: In circle the Leader asks the participants to introduce themselves to the person on their right. Once the presentations begin, participants will naturally move away from the circle to view the presenters art more easily. However, after each person’s presentation, their card will always be passed to the person who was on their right in the beginning circle, ensuring that everyone plays each role.
- Review the Cards: Remain in the circle, while the group reviews each card. Leader asks each participant to read aloud the instructions on their card in this order: Presenter, Phenomenological Feedback, Aesthetic Feedback, Artistic Feedback (Visual art, Music Sound, Poetry and Movement), Time Keeper, Scribe and Witness.
- Gifts: Remind the group that the presenter’s gift to the group is to share their art and that the feedback that is given is meant to be the group’s gift back to the presenter.
Explain that the Leader will always give the Presenter the option to receive feedback but that they may decline if they are not comfortable receiving it, with no questions asked.
Remind the Presenter to thank their Feedback Participants if they choose to get feedback. - Begin the Presentation Process (see Time Limits and Notes below)
ABOUT SPECIAL CARDS:
Time Keeper Card – Include a chime or singing bowl and a time piece that moves with this card.
Scribe Card – Include a tablet and pen that moves with this card.
Artistic Feedback Cards
Visual Art Card – Include oil pastels and a sketch pad that moves with this card.
Movement Card – Make scarves available (optional)
Poetry Card – Include a pad and pen that moves with this card
Music/Sound Card – Make Instruments available (optional)
The Presentation Process
Plan on 10 Minutes per Person to Present (assuming everyone chooses to get feedback)
Note on Artistic Feedback:
If the art modality being presented is visual art then it is helpful to have the artistic feedback be in the form of movement or poetry or music/sound. Each will offer a different way for the presenter to sense their art.
Step 1) 2 minutes Round One -Presenter shares their art (Visual Art in this example)
Step 2) Leader asks if Presenter would like feedback. If they say yes then the Feedback begins
If they decline, then proceed to Step 8)
Step 3) 1 Minute Phenomenological Feedback
Step 4) 1 Minute Aesthetic Feedback
Step 5) 1 Minute Artistic (Movement)
Step 6) 1 Minute Artistic (Sound/Music)
Step 7) 1 Minute Artistic (Poetry)
Step 8) 1 Minute Closing Round – If Presenter chose not to get feedback,
Leader asks them how it was to present and if they have any closing
words. If Presenter chose to have feedback, then they answer the
questions on the card about the feedback, before closing words.
Step 9) Leader thanks the presenter and then asks participants to find the person
who was on their right in the beginning circle. They pass their card/role
to that person after every presentation is complete.
Leader asks if there are any questions about their new role.
Step 10) Begin again with the next Presenter Card and everyone in their new role.
VARYING GROUP SIZES
In groups of 6 or larger the facilitator acts solely as the leader, without taking a card or participating in a role.
When working with more than 10, use two or more decks of cards, dividing the large group into subgroups.
Whether the group is larger or smaller, the number of cards is matched to the number of participants.
Once you become familiar with this feedback system you will begin to feel more freedom and flexibility. For example, depending on what you are presenting, the presenters may require more time, or you’ll know when to add another witness card vs. an artistic feedback card. Though the scribe is a valuable role you may choose to add another artistic feedback card instead of the scribe at times.
The most important roles are the Presenter, Artistic Feedback (choosing from the 4 modalities) and then the Witness. As soon as you have enough participants its best to get the witness card in there, because they are the keepers of the safe container.
Adding in either Phenomenological or Aesthetic Feedback makes the feedback multilayered and rich.
The beauty of a larger group gives you the advantage of having another participant keep the time so that you can more successfully guide the group. It’s also good for all group participants to get a chance to appreciate that role.
The larger group gives the advantage of having more Artistic Feedback, more witnesses and the luxury of a scribe!
SMALLER GROUPS
For groups smaller than 10 you will reduce the number of cards to be distributed to match the number in the group.
For example:
Group of 2
(Leader becomes the Time Keeper)
Presenter
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Group of 3
(Leader becomes the Time Keeper)
Presenter
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Witness
Group of 4
(Leader becomes the Time Keeper)
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback or Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Witness
Group of 5
(Leader becomes the Time Keeper)
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Witness
Group of 6
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Time Keeper
Witness
Group of 7
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Time Keeper
Scribe
Witness
Group of 8
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback (choose one from the 4 art modalities)
Time Keeper
Scribe
Witness
Witness
Larger Groups
Groups Larger Than 8
Depending on time constraints, the guide can choose to add more Witness cards or add more Artistic Feedback cards. Adding more ‘Artistic Feedback’ cards increases the presentation time 1-2 minutes per feedback person on average.
Whereas, adding more ‘witness cards’ does not add any more time to the presentation.
Example 1
Group of 9
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback Music/Sound
Artistic Feedback Poetry
Artistic Feedback Movement
Time Keeper
Scribe
Witness
Example 2
Group of 9
Presenter
Phenomenological Feedback
Aesthetic Feedback
Artistic Feedback Music/Sound
Artistic Feedback Poetr
Time Keeper
Scribe
Witness
Witness
WORKING WITH CLIENTS ONE ON ONE
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