MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR LONELY WORLD!
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Feel unheard? You're not alone!
Technology is tearing us apart. Although we're more connected through the internet and social media, we're also lonelier than any other time in history. Ironically, we need to unplug from technology to connect with others.
Loneliness is an epidemic and a killer. Loneliness affects about 1:2 Americans and 1:3 Australians, and it's the equivalent to being a smoker or an alcoholic. In short, loneliness can take up to 15 years off your life.
Join me, Dr Paul Whetham, on a journey beyond loneliness. I've struggled with loneliness (even did my PhD on loneliness!), however, I've also seen the importance of reframing loneliness and learning that we've got the key to our own cage!
Why a Soul Talk Project?
Health services are so stretched that there are simply not enough paid professionals to deal with the tsunami of lonely people in the community.
The Soul Talk Project aims to transform loneliness in the community through the training and support of Community Connectors in Life Cafe Clubs.
Checkout our Healthy Minds Reading about social issues and personal growth, it provides the framework for the Soul Talk Project and explores the practical skills and services needed to transform lives and connect communities.
Tired of Small Talk? Try Soul Talk!
It's easy to gossip, compare or blame when the people concerned are not around (i.e. communication junk food, projection, time wasting). Soul Talk
takes a very different approach, equipping you with practical skills to connect with yourself and others in more authentic and kind ways. This is the core skill of the Community Connector.
A Community Connector is simply a skilled friend who comes alongside another to help shed light on their life adventure and connect them to other people and/or services in the community. Their aim is to transform loneliness in the community by fostering friendship, connection and belonging.
Impact a lonely world and become a Community Connector.... simply do our Healthy Minds Workshop below.
“I wish I’d learnt this earlier” – Tom
Why do Soul Work?
Believe it or not, psychology means 'Study of the soul'. To be a Community Connector requires having a good look at our own life first... inside and out. Why? Because we can’t take people further than we’ve gone ourselves!
Our Healthy Minds Workshop helps you to connect with yourself and others. Our 3 topics reframe loneliness and mental health as part of a quest where you find your personal passion, purpose and place, as well as make a more meaningful contribution to the community. If you sign up for all 3 topics (10-hours each, 1 topic per school term) of our Healthy Minds Workshop (30-hours total) you’ll receive our bonus Soul Talk E-Course (approx. 30+ hours).
Do you ever wonder if there's more to life? Life always has a way of asking simple questions that demand honest answers: What’s my life all about? What’s my place in the world? Who's my tribe? How can I make a difference?
Life Cafe provides an alternative to traditional mental health using a novel soul approach AND helps transform loneliness in the community through the training and support of ‘Community Connectors’ in Life Cafes.
“Life Cafe changed my life!” - Karen
About Us
Dr Paul Whetham Dip. Welfare, BA(Hons), PhD (Clin Psych)
Dr Paul Whetham has dedicated his career to the study of meaning-making, neuroplasticity and community education. He's a clinical psychologist who did his PhD research on loneliness and has over 30 years of teaching and counselling experience. Paul's lived and worked in residential community settings, written numerous books and co-edited Psychology textbooks. Previously, he worked at the University of South Australia as Director of the Counselling Program. Now he trains Community Connectors in community Life Cafes.
Life Cafe Club
Life Cafe Club was created to transform lives and connect communities. Health services are so stretched that there are simply not enough paid professionals to deal with the tsunami of mental health and loneliness issues in the community. Unfortunately, professionals are like ambulances at the bottom of a cliff. While this is important, putting a fence of 'Community Connectors' at the top of the cliff makes more sense. That's why Life Cafe Club provides a range of services including 1:1 Counselling as well as E-Course, Workshop and ongoing support for Community Connectors in Life Cafes.