Accessibility and What to Expect
I want you to have enough information about how my sessions and groups work to decide whether they are accessible for you.
This page explains what to expect when working with me online, including technology, cameras and sound, communication, breaks, and participation in group offerings.
Different types of sessions have different requirements, so you'll see those differences explained below.
A quick accessibility overview
All sessions and group offerings currently take place on Zoom.
Audio-only participation is possible in some offerings.
AAC and other communication aids are welcome.
Eye contact is not expected.
Stimming, fidgeting, moving around, looking away or lying down are okay.
You can take time to process before answering.
Questions can be repeated, rephrased or provided in writing.
Music is not used.
Sudden loud sounds are not intentionally used.
Videos, animations, flashing imagery and moving backgrounds are not used.
A support person can attend if we discuss their role beforehand.
Some of these arrangements are different for Parts Constellations. In particular, cameras are required and participation has some additional communication and presence requirements. These are explained in detail below.
Technology and joining online
Zoom
I currently use Zoom for one-to-one sessions, trainings, webinars and Parts Constellations.
Zoom allows participants to join using the Zoom app or through a supported web browser without installing the app. Depending on the type of session, joining using audio only or by phone may also be possible.
Captions and transcripts
Zoom provides automated live captions. I am currently confirming the caption settings on my account so that I can provide accurate information about their availability during my sessions.
Transcripts are not provided after sessions.
If your technology stops working
During a one-to-one session, if your internet connection stops working and it becomes clear that we cannot reconnect quickly, we can communicate by email and find another way to connect, such as by phone.
During a group offering, I am not generally able to stop the group to troubleshoot an individual participant's technology.
Recording and privacy
One-to-one sessions are never recorded.
Some trainings or group offerings may be recorded. If an offering will be recorded, this will be disclosed before you register.
If a recording will be shared with other people after the event, that will also be explained during the registration process.
Camera use
Camera expectations depend on the type of session you are attending.
One-to-one sessions
Your camera is optional during one-to-one sessions.
If you expect that you will regularly turn your camera off partway through a session, it is helpful to let me know beforehand. That means I can continue without interrupting to check whether you have intentionally turned your camera off or whether there is a technology problem.
Trainings and webinars
I encourage participants to have their cameras on because seeing participants helps me understand how the group is engaging. However, if you need to have your camera off, that is okay.
You can also turn your camera off during a training without needing to explain why.
Parts Constellations
Cameras are required during Parts Constellations. Witnessing the constellation is part of participating, and being able to be aware of the presence of participants is important to the way the group works.
You can briefly turn your camera off if you need to deal with something happening around you, but I ask that you turn it back on when you are able.
Sound and visual environment
Sound
Participants can mute themselves whenever they need to. During trainings and Parts Constellations, most people will be muted except when they are speaking.
I do not intentionally have multiple people speaking at once. Occasionally two people might accidentally unmute and begin speaking at the same time.
I do not use music, and I do not intentionally use sudden or loud sounds.
Visual stimulation
I do not use videos, animations, flashing imagery or moving backgrounds.
You can use Zoom's viewing options to reduce the amount of visual information on screen.
During a Parts Constellation, the video feeds of the people representing parts will be highlighted so that participants can focus on them. This means those participants will appear as large images within Zoom.
Communication and processing
You are welcome to take longer to answer a question or have periods of silence while you process.
You can ask me to repeat or rephrase a question, or to provide a question in writing. It is also okay to tell me that you do not understand what I am asking.
AAC and text-based communication
AAC and other communication aids are welcome in all of my offerings.
In one-to-one work, using chat or text to communicate is also okay.
During trainings and Parts Constellations there may be times when I ask participants not to use the Zoom chat so that I can manage my attention and the flow of the session.
Eye contact, movement and body position
Eye contact is not expected.
You are welcome to look away, move around, stim, fidget, lie down, or participate in whatever physical position works for you, except where a particular activity has a different participation requirement.
Bringing a support person
A support person can attend with you.
I will need to understand their role beforehand so that we both have a clear understanding of how they will be involved during the session.
What to expect in trainings and webinars
Trainings may include screen sharing, slides, breakout rooms and exercises with other participants. Slides are not generally provided before an offering.
Pair exercises usually have clear instructions. You may be invited to share or disclose something during an exercise, but exercises are consent-based and you can opt out.
There are opportunities for participants to ask questions, but I do not unexpectedly call on people to answer.
I sometimes invite someone to demonstrate an exercise with me before the group tries it. I generally ask people I already know well, and anyone who is invited can say no.
Breaks and leaving temporarily
My current longer events are around two hours and do not have a scheduled break.
If you need to take an unscheduled break during a training, please send me a chat message to let me know that you are stepping away.
Sessions may occasionally run a few minutes beyond the scheduled finish time in order to complete the closing activity.
What to expect at a Parts Constellation
Parts Constellations are group offerings and usually have between 5 and 25 participants. Because this format may be unfamiliar, the following is a step-by-step description of what you can expect.
Arriving and getting oriented
Everyone gathers on Zoom. I begin by explaining the guidelines, expectations and basic agenda for our time together.
Participants are invited to share their name, location, pronouns and any access needs in the chat.
Demonstration and pair exercise
I demonstrate an exercise with one participant.
Participants can then choose to go into Zoom breakout rooms in pairs to try the exercise. One person represents a part of the other person for approximately five minutes before the pair switches roles. I provide prompts that can be used to ask questions of the part.
When everyone returns to the main group, two or three participants are invited to share takeaways from the exercise.
The main constellation
The remainder of the session focuses on the constellation for the client. The client and I will already have discussed the issue we are working with and some of the parts that may be represented.
The client invites participants to represent particular parts. You can accept or decline an invitation to represent a part.
If you accept, you will be invited to stand if you are able and comfortable doing so, and to adjust your camera and lighting. Representing can also be done while sitting. Standing is requested where possible because movement and posture can be part of the experience.
The representatives' video feeds are pinned so that everyone can focus on them. I ask questions of the representatives, check in with the client, and invite the client to engage with the represented parts where appropriate.
Participants who are not representing a part witness the constellation.
Emotional intensity
There may be emotional moments during a constellation for the client or for people representing parts. Parts may also shift or transform during the process.
Communication while representing
Representing a part does involve communicating verbally. AAC or another form of auditory communication is welcome.
Finishing the constellation
At the end of the constellation, the representatives' videos are unpinned.
Everyone is invited to de-role. Representatives identify themselves and the part they represented, while witnesses identify themselves as witnesses. The client responds by thanking each person.
Participants are then invited to think about something they learned, noticed or were moved by and turn it into a sentence or phrase. Participants are invited to share these reflections aloud, popcorn-style, in the Zoom room.
At this point the event has ended. Participants are invited to unmute, say goodbye and wave before the Zoom room closes.
There is no further group debrief after the constellation. The client processes the experience themselves and/or with their therapist or practitioner afterwards.
Breaks during a Parts Constellation
If you are the client or are currently representing a part, leaving unexpectedly can significantly affect the process. If you need to leave or take a break, I need to know what is happening so that I can adjust the process.
If you are witnessing rather than actively representing, I ask participants to stay for the whole session where possible. If you need a break, I understand. Please do not send a chat message, because chat is not used during the constellation.