Just Listening: an ethical approach to offering Justice and Connection through listening in all relationships 

Just Listening is a practical and philosophical approach that supports people in distress and strengthens relationships by offering justice through listening.  

Designed for staff across health, social care and the voluntary sector, this immersive workshop will be delivered in-person over three mornings, once per week, and combines theory, reflection and practice to foster trust, compassion and human connection.  

What are the benefits? 

• Develops connection between the listener and person sharing their story                                  
• Reduces distress and empowers the person in need of support                                                             
• Supports staff wellbeing through shared understanding and collaboration                                        
• Improves service quality 

For the person listening: it offers an ethical way to listen to others. This approach helps reduce the emotional burden and the feeling of needing to fix others. As a result, it supports wellbeing and job satisfaction. It also encourages a sense of mutual understanding in both work and personal life. 

For the person being listened to: it creates space to be heard without the listener offering judgment or interruption, which can reduce emotional distress and increase connection and engagement in relationship. 

Community members in distress who have regular access to Just Listening can more readily return to their families, workplaces and communities once they have been heard. 

Professionals trained in Just Listening experience greater job satisfaction through more effective practice and increased connection with clients, patients and colleagues. 

Dates

We are running five cohorts of the in-person Just Listening training. Each cohort will have a session on one morning per week – 9am to 1pm – for three consecutive weeks in April/May. 

Cohort one: April 20th, April 27th and May 11th

Cohort two: 21st April, 28th April and May 5th

Cohort three: 22nd April, 29th April and May 6th

Cohort four: 23rd April, 30th April and May 7th

Cohort five: 24th April, 1st May and May 8th

Frequently asked questions

Q. Will this training be emotionally demanding? 

A. The training invites reflection and attentive presence, and is carefully facilitated to remain contained, ethical, and supportive throughout. As an experiential programme, it may involve engagement with emotionally significant topics (including suicide), which some participants may find intense at times. 

Q. How do I contact you with any questions?

A. Email us at hcl.justlistening@nhs.net

Q. How can I find out more about Just Listening?

A. Visit healthcarecentrallondon.co.uk/just-listening/ or read the following resources: Just Listening Report, Just Listening Model, Research paper: Giving justice to listening: exploring the impact of a novel dialogical approach to mental wellbeing on healthcare staff