(Founded in (Founded in 19981998))

Active Adaptation CounsellingActive Adaptation Counselling

Based in the Grenoble - Isère area (France)Based in the Grenoble - Isère area (France)

Providing Counselling for Personal DifficultiesProviding Counselling for Personal Difficulties

Addressing Intercultural Professional Environments Addressing Intercultural Professional Environments

Bringing a positive Perspective to Adapting across Cultures Bringing a positive Perspective to Adapting across Cultures

Enhancing the Probability of Successful International RelocationsEnhancing the Probability of Successful International Relocations

Developing Tools and Strategies for Effective Intercultural EncountersDeveloping Tools and Strategies for Effective Intercultural Encounters

Quick ‘Bio’Quick ‘Bio’ Trudi PenklerTrudi Penkler

South AfricaSouth Africa: :

(B.Sc Psychology H.Ed Guidance and Counselling) (B.Sc Psychology H.Ed Guidance and Counselling)

Red Cross / Nursing / Teaching / Counselling Red Cross / Nursing / Teaching / Counselling

FranceFrance::

Voluntary Associations Voluntary Associations

Founded ‘Active Adaptation Counselling’ / Intercultural TrainingFounded ‘Active Adaptation Counselling’ / Intercultural Training

&& Awareness Programmes / ( Awareness Programmes / (In progress - In progress - Master II Psychologie VAE)Master II Psychologie VAE)

Services ProvidedServices Provided - for International Companies / - for International Companies /

Globally Mobile Professionals / Individuals with Personal Difficulties Globally Mobile Professionals / Individuals with Personal Difficulties

Cross-Cultural Training Cross-Cultural Training Programmes / Workshops / Programmes / Workshops / LecturesLectures

Preview Visit / Welcome Preview Visit / Welcome Orientation Orientation

Pre-departure PreparationPre-departure Preparation Return ReintegrationReturn Reintegration

Independent screeningIndependent screening

Cross-Cultural Coaching / Cross-Cultural Coaching / Mediation / FacilitationMediation / Facilitation

Individual, Spouse andIndividual, Spouse and Family AccompanimentFamily Accompaniment (adjustment difficulties (adjustment difficulties

personal, medical, children’spersonal, medical, children’s educational or other specificeducational or other specific needs)needs)

Counselling: Clinical cases Counselling: Clinical cases (psychological and emotional (psychological and emotional Difficulties)Difficulties)

Crisis CounsellingCrisis Counselling

Grief CounsellingGrief Counselling

Adapting across Cultures ProfessionallyAdapting across Cultures Professionally

Basic AssumptionsBasic Assumptions

Mostly Internationally transferred professionals Mostly Internationally transferred professionals want to relocatewant to relocate in the first place in the first place

They are They are highly motivated and pro-activehighly motivated and pro-active

Relocation concerns are often personal rather than Relocation concerns are often personal rather than professionalprofessional

Most adaptation just happens - Most adaptation just happens - being prepared can being prepared can make things easiermake things easier

Mission StatementMission Statement Focus on Intervention for CompaniesFocus on Intervention for Companies

Internationally relocating personnel do not Internationally relocating personnel do not immediately have the infrastructure and resources immediately have the infrastructure and resources theythey had before at their disposal, especially if there had before at their disposal, especially if there are language difficulties to begin with.are language difficulties to begin with.

Active Adaptation Counselling strives to bring some Active Adaptation Counselling strives to bring some perspective to the challenge of adapting in a new perspective to the challenge of adapting in a new culture, and so help to avoid intercultural culture, and so help to avoid intercultural misunderstandings, to safeguard a company's misunderstandings, to safeguard a company's investment in its key people and to prevent early investment in its key people and to prevent early returns.returns.

We do have the necessary resources within us to be able We do have the necessary resources within us to be able to cope with our lives.to cope with our lives.

Sometimes - for whatever the reasons - we are unable to Sometimes - for whatever the reasons - we are unable to tap into our strengths and resources.tap into our strengths and resources.

Working through our difficulties with qualified help in our Working through our difficulties with qualified help in our own mother-tongue can be constructive in finding a way own mother-tongue can be constructive in finding a way out of negative behaviour patterns towards more positive out of negative behaviour patterns towards more positive and functional onesand functional ones

Adapting in our Personal SituationsAdapting in our Personal Situations Basic AssumptionsBasic Assumptions

Mission Statement Mission Statement Focus on Personal CounsellingFocus on Personal Counselling

The counsellor strives to work with the client, The counsellor strives to work with the client,

developing a therapeutic relationship within which, developing a therapeutic relationship within which,

the client’s cognitive, emotional and psychologicalthe client’s cognitive, emotional and psychological

experience of life’s demands becomes easier experience of life’s demands becomes easier

so that more functional and positive behaviour patterns so that more functional and positive behaviour patterns may be established.may be established.

A bit about Workshops, MediatingA bit about Workshops, Mediating and Cultural Awareness Programmes. and Cultural Awareness Programmes.

A Tri-pronged ApproachA Tri-pronged Approach::

CognitionCognition - - what we can knowwhat we can know practical practical information / history / useful factsinformation / history / useful facts

Emotion and UnderstandingEmotion and Understanding – – what we can feelwhat we can feel why things are the way they arewhy things are the way they are

Attitude and ActionAttitude and Action - - what we can dowhat we can do being more efficient in the new situation being more efficient in the new situation

A bit about Workshops, MediatingA bit about Workshops, Mediating and Cultural Awareness Programmes and Cultural Awareness Programmes

Not a list of do and don’tsNot a list of do and don’ts

“ “Useful information feeding” does not necessarily lead to Useful information feeding” does not necessarily lead to comprehension and then translate into action ! comprehension and then translate into action !

A different approachA different approach Using resources we already have within ourselvesUsing resources we already have within ourselves

Developing a deeper understanding of the culture we need toDeveloping a deeper understanding of the culture we need to operate inoperate in

In so doing, developing a deeper understanding of our own In so doing, developing a deeper understanding of our own cultureculture

Working towards socio-cultural competenceWorking towards socio-cultural competence

Examples of Success Stories in SituationsExamples of Success Stories in SituationsWhere little or no French was spokenWhere little or no French was spoken

Miscommunication in Intercultural management teamsMiscommunication in Intercultural management teamsProfessional demotivation and helplessnessProfessional demotivation and helplessnessPreparation for performance evaluationsPreparation for performance evaluationsMarital difficulties exacerbated by movingMarital difficulties exacerbated by movingSevere sudden onset of medical difficultiesSevere sudden onset of medical difficultiesCulture shock and adaptation in children Culture shock and adaptation in children (isolation / refusal to speak / traumatic incident recovery)(isolation / refusal to speak / traumatic incident recovery)Death and berievement (loss of a spouse in France)Death and berievement (loss of a spouse in France)Two successful Adoption processes Two successful Adoption processes Cross-continental custody difficultiesCross-continental custody difficultiesSubstance dependency dificultiesSubstance dependency dificulties

Post dramatic event - traumatic neurosis (rape / robbery)Post dramatic event - traumatic neurosis (rape / robbery) Regular Intervention as a Service provider for a corporateRegular Intervention as a Service provider for a corporatetargeted International assistance programtargeted International assistance program