Light on Thinking is led by Dr Helen E. Lees

My expertise is in bringing together democratic manners, as inspired by alternative, democratic education and therapeutically inspired thinking about how people behave.

Why do people fight and fall out? Why do they fail to co-operate and hate or dislike or disrespect others, hiding their true feelings and operating in undisclosed ways? The answers lie in a compassionate overview of why we behave the way we do to protect ourselves from harm. To change a community from silences and in-fighting to calm, kind, co-operative cultures of effective action and joyful achievement, it is needful that people feel safe. They can only feel safe if they feel they are a transparently authentic part of the whole. For this, democratic manners are the secret for success.

I have researched how democratic manners work and published about the ways in which we can transform societies in this vein. I also have published research about forms of silence in education. See C.V. for details of experience and publications.

Combining my research in the domains of education and silence/s with my philosophical background (BA Hons and academic Philosophy for Education PhD) and my philosophizing connected to uses of therapy for well-being, I have formulated a way to transform environments. I focus on supporting people in realizing personal democratic interactions for equalized power within organizational contexts. The thinking involved in getting to such an environment is a fundamental part of the consultancy work as equalized power takes application of thought. Through thought comes light on why things are the way they are and how they could be for the better. The process of change involves education, experiment and a willingness to be humble and open to the other’s vulnerability and your own. Such a shift is not always easy for group settings but in the long term it brings the greatest safety and interactional enjoyment. This “turn” to the interactionally honest then can lead to transformative behaviours if, at the same time, democratic manners are introduced.

Research into the uses of democratic manners suggests it brings multiple positive benefits: of well-being, motivation, autonomy and curiosity; all a fundamental part of being well and staying safe. It is, however, a product of consulting for the transformation of an organization, institution or environment from silences and fear to open, safe, interactions. If you want to change into a such and healthy safe space, I can help.