"Becoming a Thrive trainer was life changing for me"
Each month, we celebrate the valuable role our Thrive trainers play and share messages of thanks from the delegates they've supported.
Carla Barber-Doyle always knew instinctively that the social and emotional wellbeing of her students was crucial to their learning. Excited by an approach that aligned so closely to her beliefs, Carla became a Thrive trainer and hasn't looked back since.
We interviewed Carla as part of our Thank a Trainer campaign following her nominations from Kerry Lawn, Rebecca Wood and Tina Shaw.
Kerry is Lead Tutor at Lapwing Education, an alternative education provider for students in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.
Rebecca is a teacher at Brompton Hall School, a special school in North Yorkshire for learners with statemented needs or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
And Tina is a teaching assistant at Hallmoor School, an all-through (4 to 19) special school in Birmingham.
Read on to discover what Carla finds most rewarding about being a Thrive trainer and what Kerry, Rebecca and Tina enjoyed most about their training.
Thank a Trainer Interview: Carla Barber-Doyle
Q1. Please tell us about your career journey and what led you to becoming a trainer for Thrive.
Since I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a psychologist. However, when it came to university, I couldn’t afford the fees so I decided to study teaching as I could get a grant. The plan was to return to psychology once I had completed the four years of teaching required to pay back the grant. However, teaching grabbed me by the horns, and I loved it.
Instinctively, I knew the social and emotional wellbeing of my students was crucial to their development and learning and would spend time in every lesson checking in with them, asking about their ‘issues and tissues’ (as an English teacher I cannot resist a rhyme!).
After 15 years of teaching, I did go on to qualify as an Integrative Arts Psychotherapist, and although I worked with a couple of adult clients, I was still drawn to working with disaffected young people. In the roles I have had over the 25 years as teacher, SENCo, Assistant Head and Vice Principal in various settings, I have been able to counsel young people and work with them in an emotionally aware and engaged way. So, when I came across Thrive it was like WOW, this is exactly what I have been practicing and preaching for years.
Q2. How do you feel about being thanked by your course delegates for the role you’ve played in their development?
When I received the email about my nomination, it felt like being puffed up with helium and receiving a big hug at the same time! It definitely gave my ‘being special’ needs a boost. I love training - in itself, it is so satisfying and rewarding. However, having my passion and skills acknowledged is touching, humbling and affirming.
Q3. How does this nomination remind you of the impact you are having on the social and emotional development of children and young people?
When training, especially on Zoom, it can feel like you’re throwing stones into a pond, not really knowing how and where they are landing. This is a reminder that every stone has a ripple, and that the impact we have on delegates’ practice and way of being has a further and profound impact on the lives of the children and young people they come into contact with.
Q4. Why should people consider becoming a Thrive trainer? What’s been the most rewarding aspect for you?
If you want to do a job that doesn’t feel like a job, becoming a Thrive trainer is a must! You get to play, you get to have fun, you get to meet fascinating people from all corners of the country and you get to affect change. Becoming a Thrive trainer was life changing for me, and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity. I have not looked back once!
Q5. And finally, what advice would you have for someone on the fence about taking one of Thrive’s training courses or embedding Thrive in their setting?
If you have a seed of an idea of taking Thrive on in some shape or form, I would say, just plant it! Once it is in the soil, it does require care, time and attention, which can feel exhausting and overwhelming. But the seed will start to flower, and as it grows, reach out to the other gardeners out there to help you prune and fertilise your plant to reach its full potential.
Over to you
Each month, Thrive will be inviting you to thank a trainer who has consistently demonstrated a high degree of excellence and delegate care. If you've experienced Thrive training and you’d like to thank your trainer, please do so here. If you're already a Thrive Licensed Practitioner and interested in learning more about becoming a Licensed Trainer, click here for the detail and to book or here to book a 20-minute Discovery Call with Jo Glazier from our Member Services Team. These calls are designed to fit in around your schedule and to give you an opportunity to have your questions answered. We want you to spend your time, your money and your energy wisely so Jo won't sell to you - but she'll help you decide whether or not our transformational Train the Trainer course is a fit.
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