33 Inspiring Insights from Guildford’s Counselling Students: How the Grid Society Workshop Transformed their Inner Critic Perspectives

We had the privilege of hosting a powerful workshop with second-year counselling students from Active Learning Guildford, led by competition winner Maggie King, who brought incredible insight and energy to the session.

Titled "Confront the Grey Voices: Overcome Your Inner Critic," workshop focused on challenging inner critics—the Grey Voices—while empowering participants with tools for self-reflection and personal growth.

Delivered by Grid Society in partnership with Counselling First and the CPCAB. (Click here to learn how this unique partnership was formed)

We were humbled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees highlighting the transformative impact of the Grid Concept and the strategies introduced.

• Yes! It went with our college course so well and will build my confidence hugely!

  
  

• Yes, really great self-development work.

  
  

• Yes - interesting and simple way of looking at mental health.

  
  

• Yes l, helped to explore my own thoughts. It allowed me to put some perspective on them.

  
  

• Yes very helpful. Thank you. It's brought my awareness to how I talk to myself in a negative way without consciously considering how damaging and limiting this behaviour is.

  
  

• Yes. Acknowledging my grey voices & writing them down was cathartic.

  
  

• Yes. I’ve been thinking about the unhelpful aspects of my inner monologue recently. The workshop provided a really useful model to help challenge my grey thoughts.

  
  

• It made me see a way I can combat great thoughts more clearly.

  
  

• The workshop was amazing and I feel that I learnt so much about how to manage grey thoughts and spend more time and energy focusing on turning them into green and orange.

  
  

• Gave me a better understanding myself.

Attendees left with actionable insights, eager to apply the strategies to their daily lives and professional practices:

• I will always categorise my thoughts into grey, green and orange.

  
  

  I will look at the grid periodically to ensure I’m keeping on track.

  
  

• By saying my orange affirmations every day.

  
  

• Noticing the grey more and confronting it.

  
  

• Keep using and practising the Grid method to improve my self-esteem and self-confidence which will in turn enhance my life.

  
  

• I will keep sections such as “your validations” - I have never collected together so many nice things people have said about me, and it is very affirming to see!

  
  

• I will work through the handout and use it to challenge a pervasive grey thought that I have. I would then like to look at your other material.

  
  

• I will use the template to keep track of the way I’m feeling maybe add them to my journaling process colour-coded with percentages next to them so I can reflect back.

The Grid Concept stood out as a simple yet effective framework for managing thoughts and emotions. Here’s how attendees described it:

• A very simple yet powerful tool.

  
  

• I will be using it to encourage reluctant clients to open up.

  
  

• Would be good to use it not only for self (self-awareness) but also in counselling sessions with clients.

  
  

• It was a really good way of taking control of my grey voice.

  
  

• Thank you, I found this concept very useful.

  
  

• Amazing tools to use for myself and my clients.

• It gave me a visual perspective into my thoughts.

  
  

• Very enlightening.

The feedback wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging our facilitators:

• As a hearing-impaired participant, I really appreciated how clear the presentations were, voices were at a good volume and given forward facing so I could lip read.

  
  

• Great presenters.

  
  

• Just thank you to the two lovely ladies. Appreciate it.

  
  

• Very well facilitated.

  
  

• The ladies who took the course were so lovely, clear, kind and inspirational! Thank you

  
  

• Fantastic facilitators.

  
  

• Articulately delivered. Very clear workshop.

  
  

• "Thank you for being so approachable and making the session engaging."

  
  

• "The energy and positivity of the presenters made it so much more enjoyable."

  
  

• "Just thank you for an inspiring and practical workshop."

We feel truly honoured to have had the opportunity to facilitate this experience and are deeply moved by the thoughtful feedback shared by participants. It’s humbling to know that the tools and strategies introduced during the session have resonated so deeply, offering not only personal insights but also practical applications for professional growth in counselling settings. To everyone who attended: thank you for your openness, enthusiasm, and engagement. Together, we’re creating a space for growth, reflection, and empowerment.

Are You a Counsellor Looking to Enhance Your Practice?

Our "Grey Voices, Inner Critic" workshop, tailored for counsellors, is coming this March in partnership with Counselling First. Leave your details here to stay updated and secure your place. Transform your practice with actionable tools!

Let’s make gridmoves!