Episode 32: Childhood Connection and Empathy for a Harmonious Society with Robin Grille
Robin Grille is a Sydney-based psychologist in private practice and a parenting educator. His articles on parenting and child development have been widely published and translated in Australia and around the world. Robin is the author of three books: ‘Parenting for a Peaceful World’, ‘Heart to Heart Parenting’ and his newest title: ‘Inner Child Journeys’. Robin’s work is animated by his belief that humanity’s future is largely dependent on the way we collectively relate to our children.
Robin’s experiential, skills-based and informational parenting courses have helped many people to embrace parenting as a transformative, personal growth journey. Drawing from 28 years’ clinical experience and from leading-edge neuropsychological research, Robin’s seminars and courses focus on healthy emotional development for children as well as parents; while building supportive, co-operative parenting communities.
In this episode, we talked about:
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Robin Grille was always interested in human behaviour and although disillusioned by a lot of academia, he returned with a passion following his own personal growth
As guitarist with stage fright, he explored counselling, which opened up an interest to understand himself and relationships
In the 1980s in Sydney there was an explosion in the human potential movement, that sparked his interest in psychotherapy
“When people in a room are intentionally vulnerable with one another, it creates belonging, closeness and realness”
Robin initially immersed himself in body-centred psychotherapy including bioenergetics vegetative therapy and biodynamic massage, related to our body structure and how we breathe and move. He found this interesting because it is connected to how we relate to one another
Robin experienced high school in Australia as a shame-based culture
Permission to show your heart, let go of control. It was immensely liberating and healing
One of the drivers for him exploring psychology was following a personal family tragedy
The importance of community
Western Psychology is the psychology of the individual - we’ve lost the thread of connection
“It’s a cliche to say ‘it takes a village’, but it’s not a cliche, it’s a must”
It’s a system that brings up a child, not just a mum and dad. At least 4 people are needed, to strengthen and support
Interrelationships with one another and with nature
The general evolution away from violence towards children over the last century
To create a violent society, you have to treat children badly
Conflict doesn’t have to be violent, it can be very creative
“War is a psychological issue”, Alice Miller
We change the culture by rejecting the authoritarian and over-medicalised styles of parenting and old-fashioned styles of education
Democratic nations don’t go to war with one another- there’s a peace dividend within democracy
empathy and heart-centred
s permanent in terms of wounding. Repair is possible
“Human beings are breathtakingly resilient”
Every family has conflict
“We don’t thrive from perfect safety. We thrive from risk and experience, and sometimes from pain”
Our wounds give us our wisdom
Leonard Cohen “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in”
Resources
To find out more about Robin Grille’s work, his books, articles, and seminars visit: robingrille.com
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