Hi,
Thank you for visiting my page and spending your time reading about the skills I share. It's funny for me to write about me because sessions or training are all about you. If it's a personal session, it's about helping you access your joys and your aims, especially at times in your life when perhaps this seems not so easy to do. When you are studying, it's about helping you learn the subject as easily as possible. So I am wondering what is important for you to know about me? These are the questions I am often asked, and I hope my answers help you.
What are sessions and courses like?
A frequent question is, 'What are sessions like?'. People who work with me usually say sessions were 'way more fun than they expected. And that they recognise 'how seriously I take my role, yet I am 'generous, honest and informal'. I have often been told, 'You are the real deal'. People have often said that initially, they 'were fearful of reaching out' and 'wanted to be sure they are working with a practitioner who is highly trained and ethical'. They said they were 'glad to feel in control' in sessions and found working where your information is private to you (content-free) useful. Other people have said they found it useful that they could 'share content/ details and feel safe'. People often say that working with me was a catalyst for their change. For the last twenty years, I have only worked with a small number of people each year, which means I can really focus on each individual. I also don't ask for reviews and rarely advertise because people generally book me via word of mouth. Students who train with me have said that they felt I 'give a huge amount' and am 'supportive throughout'. I am often told that 'I shine a light on things they had not noticed before and explain 'complex things in simple and memorable ways.
Do you have a coach, and who do you train with?
When I choose a coach, trainer, or colleague for myself, I look for someone who enjoys their life and knows things I don't know but would like to know. Professionals I have loved learning from or working with have included Richard Bandler, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi CBE RA, Kathleen and John La Valle, Mary Newcomb, Paul Mckenna, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, James R Shaw, Dr Ronald Ruden, Steve Mann and Eric Robbie. All of these people enjoy life and have questioned and observed life and contributed new ideas. They are all down-to-earth, kind and have broad interests. I also learn from all the animals and people I meet. I also aim to learn something new every day.
Me and Rosy
Speaking with Jessika Jake
What kind of skills do you have, and how do they fit together?
I am often asked, 'How is being a professional artist, inventor, author and animal trainer related to being a psychosensory specialist, coach and consultant?' Another common question is, 'Do I continue doing all these things?'. The quick answer is 'Yes, all the skills relate, and a day doesn't go by where I am not grateful for all my learnings'. And 'My main focus is on sharing how you can use Brain art and Brain Sculpture, and psychosensory processes like Havening. And yes, I also continue doing all of those things to a certain extent'. The longer answer looks at the unique skill sets I have developed and how they relate to the skills that can be helpful for you. The key skills of sharing how to shape your brain and providing support to 'brain artists and brain sculptors' are being able to


-
share ways of changing/learning quickly, easily and comfortably
-
create an open safe space where clients can explore any question or subject
-
share about neuroplasticity and how learning takes place
-
observe, listen and remember
-
recognise that everyone's experiences and understandings are different
-
think in many different ways and see as many choices as possible
-
share an enormous range of tools (and share knowledge about how to use them and what they are helpful for)
-
explain complex ideas or sequences simply
-
help work out which fears to respond to
Do you walk the talk?
When we hone the essence of these skills down, we see they relate to Brain Art, Brain Sculpture and QOCTU (Questioning, Observing, Calibrating, Tracking and Utilising ). All are important to me, and I believe they enabled me to engage well with animals and to become an author, inventor, artist, collaborative artist, coach, trainer and consultant. I first learnt about hypnosis and Eastern ideas about awareness as a teenager and NLP in 1980. I consider this life-changing and massively informed both my teaching and professional practice and how I choose to live. I think 'just doing for yourself' is important, for example, living as if exploring a beautiful meadow without leaving a mark rather than beating or following a track. However, it's also fun to take your own ideas seriously and aim for the best possible outcome. For example, others ridiculed my ideas in the 1980s and 1990s; however, I kept going, and my books were published by Thames & Hudson. They are now considered to be standard works, and these ideas are used worldwide. My eighteen inventions are made by the prestigious Swiss company Lascaux. They are sold worldwide, helping people make art safely and effectively. My own artworks have been awarded 'Sovereign Award for the best painters in Europe' (judge Sir Peter Blake). They have been collected by National Collections and HM The Queen, amongst others. Artworks (made by me in collaboration with high-profile artists such as WBG) have been collected by Tate, the Government Art Collection and The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Have you had bad experiences in life?
Yup, and I have also used these self-development concepts, methods and tools to recover from the knocks and bumps of life and enjoy life fully and richly.


What do you like?
I love all the senses and our internal and external world. I like to be engaged, cook, create gardens, sleep, be with family and friends, travel and learn.
​
What else do you do?
I have also worked as a riding coach and continue to help riders overcome PTSD. I have an interest in the benefits of communication and positive reinforcement. I have trained in classical, BHS, natural horsemanship and clicker training. I have developed ways of working and engaging with animals in more healthy ways for them.


What motivates you to be a trainer, coach and consultant? Why not just make art or work with animals?
I like the collaborative element, and I think everyone would benefit from having access to information about shaping their brains, changing their responses, and achieving what they seek. I want to see this knowledge available for everyone from nursery school onwards.


How long do people work with you?
People I work with tend to have long relationships with me. Making art together for decades in some cases. In coaching or consulting work, people often get in touch when a totally new challenge arises. In some instances, I have worked with many generations of the same family over the years. When people work in a project style, I usually give a free future session which they can 'keep in their pocket' should something new occur, like a new job or challenge.
Where did you study?
I studied at Gray's School of Art, Robert Gordon's University, The Slade School of Fine Art at University College London and received a doctorate from The University of Sunderland for my work about generating international change in printmaking.


Where can I find out more about your academic change work?
You can read my PhD here.
The books are available in the library, on Amazon, or on my Thames & Hudson author page at this link.


Thames and Hudson/authors/carol-robertson


You can find more information about me at
www.havening.org
www.justbewell.com


Do feel free to get in touch and ask any questions I may not have answered here. See also short CV below.
Carol Robertson: Curriculum Vitae (brief version)
​
Lecturer (Neuroscience I and II) for the degree program at the European Institute of Integrative Health Sciences
Training and mentoring professionals in The Havening Techniques® internationally.
Creator and developer of QOCTU, ISI, V Scale, Brain Art and Brain Sculpture
Speaking at conferences about The Art of Havening, Brain Art,
Founder of Psychosensory Academy
Creative artist, co-founder and co-owner of Graal Press
Collaborative projects with trainers, chemists, publishers, galleries, and universities
Member of the prestigious international team JustBeWell. We help a wide range of clients from all over the world, of all ages and from all walks of life and with a wide range of aims. My clients have included other top coaches, businesses, charities, high profile authors, filmmakers, artists, celebrities, government officials, judges, business people, mums, carers, dads, grandparents and children. They wanted help with taking on jobs, being great parents, forgetting, excelling in sport, stopping stuttering, debilitating phobias, fear of flying, fear of winning, remembering, dyslexia, anxiety, resolving relationship difficulties, grief, exhaustion, sadness, relaxing, having more fun, and learning new skills.
Teaching sensory acuity and observation to children (with storytellers and architects)
Running a successful research and publishing studio
Being part of a team-leading a charitable organisation to international prominence
Designing and delivering international seminars for leading professionals
Designing and delivering academic and open-access courses (from entry to professional level).
Being part of teams designing new academic platforms and course structures
Collaborative projects with high profile artists
Co-author and illustrator of Intaglio: The Complete Safety-First System for Creative Printmaking: Acrylic-Resist Etching * Collagraphy * Engraving * Drypoint * Mezzotint, and Screenprinting The Complete Water-based System (Thames & Hudson).
Assisting Dr Ronald Ruden, Dr Steven Ruden and Paul McKenna
Assisting SNLP Master Trainer Eric Robbie
Assisting SNLP Master Trainer Eric Robbie and Ali Campbell
Assisting Gina Pickersgill in a virtual world
​
Training
Doctorate at The University of Sunderland
Two-year postgraduate study at The Slade School of Fine Art, University College London
BA Honours Degree in Fine Art, Gray's School of Art, Robert Gordon University (RGU), Aberdeen.
Certified Havening Techniques ® Trainer (Dr Ronald Ruden [creator of Havening], Dr Steven Ruden)
Psy-TaP Practitioner
Progressive Therapy Training International Advanced Meridian Therapy Training
Progressive Thought Field Therapy
Certified Havening Techniques ® Practitioner (Dr Ronald Ruden [creator of Havening], Paul McKenna, Deborah Tom, Dr Steven Ruden
Trainer of NLP (Dr Richard Bandler [co-creator of NLP], John and Kathleen La Valle)
Advanced Therapeutic Specialist of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (Eric Robbie, Gabriel Guerrero)
Licensed Master Practitioner of NLP (Dr Richard Bandler [co-creator of NLP], Paul McKenna, John La Valle)
Licensed Practitioner of NLP (Dr Richard Bandler [co-creator of NLP], P McKenna PhD, J La Valle, Michael Neil)
Neuro-Hypnotic Re-patterning (NHR) (Dr Richard Bandler [creator of NHR), John La Valle)
Hypnotic Practitioner as an application of NLP (Dr Richard Bandler, P McKenna, John La Valle)
EmoTrance Practitioner (Dawn Flockhart)
Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT), (Sonia Richards)
Trained with James Shaw (Tai Chi, Laing Gong and Qi Gong and author of Ride from Within)
Trained with Amelia Kincade (animal communication)
Trained with leading equestrians in a range of disciplines
Social networking and media platforms trainings and practice
Digital one-to-one trainings including virtual worlds.
“WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO. EXCELLENCE THEN IS NOT AN ACT BUT A HABIT.”