Listening Training I Toronto/Virtual I Team

The Listening Centre

ABOUT THE LISTENING CENTRE

The Listening Centre started in 1978, using Listening Training - a program of sound stimulation and counseling - as the primary mode of intervention. This approach is based on the work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a French ear, nose and throat physician. Over the years under the leadership of Paul Madaule, the work has evolved to a unique way of providing listening training services.

Morana Petrofski and Rosalinde Pecino are both Listening Consultants who work in close Collaboration with Paul Madaule the founder of The Listening Centre.

ABOUT ROSALINDE PECINO: LISTENING CONSULTANT & COORDINATOR

When people meet me, they would never believe I was once a child immobilized by insecurity. Fearful, self-conscious and extremely sensitive, I often resorted to spending time alone, within the safety of my own imagination. It was my parents who truly saw me and believed I had something to say... just not yet a way of saying it. It wasn’t long before they made the move to enrol me in theatre arts classes. A decision which would ultimately change my life forever.

Theatre quickly became my life force, for it was in theatre that I found a way to express myself. After completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with specialised honours in Theatre, I immediately went on to complete my Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy with a Minor in Psychology. I had the opportunity to work with many populations during my studies, including immigrant children struggling with identity and women living with the effects of trauma. To witness these people re-discovering and embodying the parts of themselves they thought they had lost was fascinating and deeply moving. Time and time again, I saw the power it can have when one finds their voice and I became very interested in this re-Integration of the brain and the body. That is when I discovered The Listening Centre.

I have the honour of working closely alongside Paul Madaule, learning and experiencing the intricacies of Listening Training as well as the importance of accompanying the parents through the process of change. I know first-hand the defining role they play in the life and well-being of their child.

I am able to weave my Expressive Arts Therapy background into the work, which is rooted in meeting these children where they are at. As they progress through the program, I see them develop a better sense of themselves and the world around them, they become more curious and inquisitive, and start expressing themselves with more ease and joy. Through connection, laughter, imagination, creativity and play, I allow myself to be immersed in their world. I follow their lead, leave room for surprise and offer possibilities. By connecting with them in this way, the child has the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat, to lead instead of being lead, to experience personal autonomy. They get to discover their voice… and that is priceless.

ABOUT MORANA PETROFSKI: LISTENING CONSULTANT

Over 25 years ago I discovered The Listening Centre when a boy in my care attended the Centre. David loved to come to his sessions. With focus and ease gradually progressing, he started opening up and a wittier, brighter side of his personality began to emerge. He also started to seek out classical music at home! Who knew that music had such power?! Fascinated with what I observed, I enthusiastically joined the team at the Centre while I pursued my education. READ MORE

My training in Early Childhood Education and Psychology gave me the fundamental understanding of early development, but I always felt that these views were rather rigid and limiting. The results I observed with children going through their Listening Training program opened my eyes to the importance of well-developed listening skills as the driving force behind communication and learning. I was hooked!

In my position as Listening Consultant I keep marveling at the site of children discovering themselves in a new way: as happier, more present and aware, more in-tune and connected with the world around them and ready to engage with it. From there, true learning opens-up naturally. As I support the parents during the program I listen for the little breakthroughs and help them acknowledge and shed light on the way these are shaping their child’s perceptions. This support is particularly relevant when the road is a bit “bumpy” and some difficult behaviours may cloud the picture at times.

Years of teaching and supervising staff members has given me ample opportunity to share and reflect on my experience with Listening Training. Working with clinicians from other fields keeps me aware and open to the connections and convergences between our work and other Modalities. I welcome the opportunity for more collaboration in finding the best solutions to guide and support the children and their parents.

When it comes to supporting our families, I strongly believe in the old proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.”.

ABOUT PAUL MADAULE: OUR DIRECTOR & FOUNDER'S BOOK

I was a differently able person until I benefited from a program of sound stimulation that helped open my listening. I was 18 years old at the time, a lost soul and school dropout because of severe learning and socio-emotional problems. Dyslexia was the label put on me to explain what was wrong. This was more than 50 years ago and since I have become an expert and contributor to the advancement of the very method that had such a strong impact in turning my life around: the Listening Training program. READ MORE

My journey has given me access into the world of the differently able children. I can relate to how they sense, perceive, integrate, and interact with the world around. This viewpoint ‘from within’ allows me to act as their spoke person to convey to their parents what they are unable to put into words. This is to help them to better appreciate and connect to their child and not overly focus on their challenges, confusing behaviour, and labels. I learned over the years that parents are not only the

greatest advocates and ‘front line workers’ of their child, but they are also the most knowledgeable ones. As clinicians, the best we can do to effectively reach and help the child is to listen to the parents and team up with them.

At The Listening Centre we use this inside out approach to work with children, starting with respecting their own space through the process of change. The use of music, which is the main ingredient of the program, makes it easy and fun to engage them and get their attention…. all kids love music!! The thousands of children we have seen at The Listening Centre taught me that a lot can be accomplished while valuing the unique and the different. It is about ‘guiding them by being guided

by them’.

I am still, and will always be a differently able person, and thanks to the Listening Training program and perseverance, I managed to make my ability work for me and direct it to the service of others. Vive la difference!