The Happiness Lab enables delegates to explore what psychologists, doctors and faith leaders say will make people happier.
Based on a series of fly-on-the-wall documentaries, we follow twelve people as they explore the 6 course topics. As we observe their journey, space is created enabling us to engage in a conversation about our own happiness.
This resource does not offer a prescriptive answer, the purpose of the course is to help delegates conduct their own experiments and come to their own conclusions. We operate on the belief that happiness comes from living well, and that you live well when you exist as a spiritual person in a material age.
Happiness Lab themes
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The goal of this session is to learn the art of savouring – what it is; what its effects are; and how to begin to count our blessings by saying ‘thank you’.
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Understand what kindness looks like; think more deeply about how it is offered and received; and plan some acts of kindness.
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Define forgiveness and its boundaries; understand some of the skills needed to develop forgiveness; and to begin to think about how to put it into practice personally.
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Understand and act on the fundamental importance of relationships; what makes for good relationships; what might prevent them?
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How to understand ourselves as ‘whole beings’ (body, mind, soul, spirit); describe the influences upon us; and to encourage each of us to take responsibility for our body and soul.
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To explore coping strategies for when life is difficult; to identify what options are available; consider which ones we already employ when life is difficult.
experts
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Dr Roger Bretherton
Principal Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Lincoln, a Clinical Psychologist, who studies positive qualities of character like gratitude, hope and wisdom.
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Dr. Jonathan Layzell and Dr. Alyson van den Broek
Both GPs working in Gloucester having qualified from Nottingham in 1990. They met at University and have been married for over 30 years
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Dr Althea Pearson
A consultant counselling psychologist who has had her own private practice for thirty three years. She lives in Somerset and is currently writing her third book.
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Bishop Martyn Snow
Serves as the current Bishop of Leicester for the Anglican Church.
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Dr Martin Gibbs
A General Practitioner in the Forest of Dean since 1990. For 5 years until May 2015 he was the clinical lead for commissioning mental health and learning disability services for Gloucestershire.
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Dr Ewelina Dobrzynska
A Consultant Psychiatrist trained in General Psychiatry. She completed a Masters in Music Therapy and PhD in Social Psychiatry. Her interests include both medication-based treatment as well as psychological interventions for psychiatric disorders.
