Colin Bull Practical Psychology

The current Psychology for Relationships course aims to offer U3A members an opportunity to apply established psychological principles to everyday life. Feedback from previous course participants indicated a strong interest in learning to manage difficult relationships. Consequently, Psychology for Relationships concentrates on the mental health and skills needed for satisfying relationships.

The course utilizes extensive notes and the experience of course participants to provide opportunities for learning. The course notes explain current, relevant psychological principles in everyday language. The participants discuss the validity of the notes by comparing and contrasting their experience with the psychological principles outlined. Opportunities are also provided for the participants to watch demonstrations and practise the relationship skills selected for the course.

Participants begin the course by examining psychological ethics. The participants then use these ethical principles to draw up guidelines for their own relating during the course. In the current program, the participants have elected to examine the mental health topics of anxiety, depression, personality disorders, Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder, Schizophrenia, counselling, and psychological maturity.

An afternoon tea break provides participants with the opportunity to get to know each other informally. After the break, relationship skills are studied and practised. The skills currently selected by the participants include listening, understanding, feeling, assertiveness, companionship, anger management, and problem solving. The participants have also elected to study the Eight Stage Healing Process. This program is designed to help people relate to individuals experiencing psychological difficulties.

No doubt, the course will continue to evolve as participants outline their needs for practical psychology.

Psychology tutor
Colin Bull trained as a Special Education teacher some 42 years ago. Early in his training he developed a strong interest in psychology. During his teaching career, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Macquarie University, and a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Sydney University. Recently, he also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology at Monash University, where he was urged to publish his research on the parental management of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. This research was published in the International Journal of Qualitative Health Research in May 20006.

Colin is married and has three daughters, two grand daughters and a grand son. He continues his interest in researching, writing and teaching the practical application of psychology.