June Master Class in Solution Focused Groupwork


The central tenet of delivering effective Parents Plus Groups is skilled group facilitation, and in this masterclass, we aim to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become an effective group facilitator.

Solution Focused Groupwork is an innovative and powerful approach to supporting people towards positive change that builds on their existing resources, skills and strengths. Delivered by Prof. John Sharry and Fred Ehresmann, two leading experts in the field, this masterclass will introduce participants to the theory and practice of a strength-based approach to groupwork and will teach practical skills in the following areas

Establishing client-centred goals to drive the group forward
Solution-focused group facilitation
Harnessing group dynamics to create positive change
Managing group challenges such as dominant members, conflict or scapegoating
Monitoring group progress to ensure progress

The masterclass is suitable for Parents Plus group facilitators who want to enhance their practice as well as all professionals who work with people in groups, in mental health, education and community settings who want to create transformational change through the power of group work

The Masterclass takes place on 15th June 2023 (9am – 1pm) and costs €125*  ( Price includes a digital copy of the professional textbook Solution Focused Groupwork RRP 35*) 


Through the comprehensive session and interactive training, you will learn how to create an atmosphere of trust and respect in your group, build and maintain positive group dynamics, and effectively communicate with group members to achieve group goals. Our trainers will also share their wealth of experience in managing diverse groups and provide you with best practices for overcoming any challenges that may arise during group facilitation.

We are confident that this Master Class in Solution-Focused Groupwork will be an excellent opportunity for you to enhance your professional skills, knowledge, and competence in group facilitation.
The event will provide you with valuable insights and an opportunity to network with other professionals in your field. We look forward to welcoming you to the event and engaging with you as we explore this critical topic together.

Masterclass Leaders

Prof. John Sharry is  founder  and clinical director of the Parents Plus Charity, and an adjunct Professor at the School of Psychology in University College Dublin. He  is the best selling author of fourteen solution-focused and positive psychology books including Solution-Focused Groupwork, Becoming a Solution Detective and Counselling Children Adolescents and Families that have been translated into ten languages including Japanese, Chinese and Arabic. He is the developer of the award winning Parents Plus and Working Things Out Programmes and a leading innovator in the field of strengths based approaches to mental health services delivery.

Fred Ehresmann is a Senior Trainer and programme leader for Parents Plus. He also works as a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health at the University of the West of England, specialising in children and young people’s mental health, and also as He has developed a number of trainings in solution focused practice for a wide variety of contexts including specialist CAMHS, Children’s Safeguarding, Family Support Teams and Schools, He worked for 25 years as a Practitioner and Manager in Health, Social Care, Education and Third Sector settings basing his work on the principles of Solution Focused Practice that he learned while training with Brief in London over a number of years.