The director of the Unit against Violence against Women of the Government Delegation, Estrella Lamadrid, spoke at the first session of the workshop “The art of relating” organized by the Unit with the objective of promoting the development of personal and group strategies of emotional management as a first step towards a way of living and relating in a healthier and egalitarian way. The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Department of Social Rights, Social Economy and Employment, is aimed at 21 under-protected boys and girls under the guardianship of the Government of Navarre.
This is the second edition of this initiative, in which 23 children participated last year. The programme is structured around eight two-hour group sessions on a weekly basis.
During the two months of duration, group spaces of security, intimacy, confidentiality and freedom from judgment are created, guided by two professionals who accompany the approach of the topics treated. In a first stage, the content of the workshop is described, expectations are collected and a proposal of individual and group work is made. In the second phase, an experiential creative work is carried out by reference groups for deep and safe reflection. And in the third stage, feelings, fears and needs are put together, and strategies of assertive coping are generated.
Over the next few weeks, issues related to emotional well-being - self-assessment, self-esteem, emotional management -, social skills - assertiveness, active listening, empathy -, the identification and deconstruction of the ideals of romantic love and the construction of relationships and ties from mutual respect and gender equality will be addressed. All this with the objectives of reflecting on current relational patterns; strengthening personal skills that maintain well-being and healthy relationships; and acquiring new emotional management strategies that promote equal affective sexual relationships and away from sexist stereotypes and gender violence.