(Founded in 1998 ) (Founded in 1998 ) Active Adaptation Counselling Based in the Grenoble - Isère area (France) Providing Counselling for Personal Difficulties Addressing Intercultural Professional Environments Bringing a positive Perspective to Adapting across Cultures Enhancing the Probability of Successful International Relocations Developing Tools and Strategies for Effective Intercultural Encounters

Quick ‘Bio’ Trudi Penkler Quick ‘Bio’ Trudi Penkler South Africa: South Africa: (B.Sc Psychology H.Ed Guidance and Counselling) (B.Sc Psychology H.Ed Guidance and Counselling) Red Cross / Nursing / Teaching / Counselling Red Cross / Nursing / Teaching / Counselling France: France: Voluntary Associations Voluntary Associations Founded ‘Active Adaptation Counselling’ / Intercultural Training Founded ‘Active Adaptation Counselling’ / Intercultural Training & Awareness Programmes / ( In progress - Master II Psychologie VAE) & Awareness Programmes / ( In progress - Master II Psychologie VAE)

Services Provided - for International Companies / Globally Mobile Professionals / Individuals with Personal Difficulties Services Provided - for International Companies / Globally Mobile Professionals / Individuals with Personal Difficulties Cross-Cultural Training Programmes / Workshops / Lectures Cross-Cultural Training Programmes / Workshops / Lectures Preview Visit / Welcome Orientation Preview Visit / Welcome Orientation Pre-departure Preparation Pre-departure Preparation Return Reintegration Return Reintegration Independent screening Independent screening Cross-Cultural Coaching / Mediation / Facilitation Cross-Cultural Coaching / Mediation / Facilitation Individual, Spouse and Individual, Spouse and Family Accompaniment Family Accompaniment (adjustment difficulties personal, medical, children’s (adjustment difficulties personal, medical, children’s educational or other specific educational or other specific needs) needs) Counselling: Clinical cases (psychological and emotional Difficulties) Counselling: Clinical cases (psychological and emotional Difficulties) Crisis Counselling Crisis Counselling Grief Counselling Grief Counselling

Adapting across Cultures Professionally Basic Assumptions Adapting across Cultures Professionally Basic Assumptions Mostly Internationally transferred professionals want to relocate in the first place Mostly Internationally transferred professionals want to relocate in the first place They are highly motivated and pro-active They are highly motivated and pro-active Relocation concerns are often personal rather than professional Relocation concerns are often personal rather than professional Most adaptation just happens - being prepared can make things easier Most adaptation just happens - being prepared can make things easier

Mission Statement Focus on Intervention for Companies Internationally relocating personnel do not immediately have the infrastructure and resources they had before at their disposal, especially if there are language difficulties to begin with. Internationally relocating personnel do not immediately have the infrastructure and resources they had before at their disposal, especially if there are language difficulties to begin with. Active Adaptation Counselling strives to bring some perspective to the challenge of adapting in a new culture, and so help to avoid intercultural misunderstandings, to safeguard a company's investment in its key people and to prevent early returns. Active Adaptation Counselling strives to bring some perspective to the challenge of adapting in a new culture, and so help to avoid intercultural misunderstandings, to safeguard a company's investment in its key people and to prevent early returns.

We do have the necessary resources within us to be able to cope with our lives. We do have the necessary resources within us to be able to cope with our lives. Sometimes - for whatever the reasons - we are unable to tap into our strengths and resources. Sometimes - for whatever the reasons - we are unable to tap into our strengths and resources. Working through our difficulties with qualified help in our own mother-tongue can be constructive in finding a way out of negative behaviour patterns towards more positive and functional ones Working through our difficulties with qualified help in our own mother-tongue can be constructive in finding a way out of negative behaviour patterns towards more positive and functional ones Adapting in our Personal Situations Basic Assumptions Adapting in our Personal Situations Basic Assumptions

Mission Statement Focus on Personal Counselling The counsellor strives to work with the client, developing a therapeutic relationship within which, the client’s cognitive, emotional and psychological experience of life’s demands becomes easier so that more functional and positive behaviour patterns may be established.

A bit about Workshops, Mediating and Cultural Awareness Programmes. A Tri-pronged Approach: Cognition - what we can know practical information / history / useful facts Cognition - what we can know practical information / history / useful facts Emotion and Understanding – what we can feel why things are the way they are Emotion and Understanding – what we can feel why things are the way they are Attitude and Action - what we can do Attitude and Action - what we can do being more efficient in the new situation being more efficient in the new situation

A bit about Workshops, Mediating and Cultural Awareness Programmes Not a list of do and don’ts “Useful information feeding” does not necessarily lead to comprehension and then translate into action ! “Useful information feeding” does not necessarily lead to comprehension and then translate into action ! A different approach A different approach Using resources we already have within ourselves Using resources we already have within ourselves Developing a deeper understanding of the culture we need to Developing a deeper understanding of the culture we need to operate in operate in In so doing, developing a deeper understanding of our own culture In so doing, developing a deeper understanding of our own culture Working towards socio-cultural competence Working towards socio-cultural competence

Examples of Success Stories in Situations Where little or no French was spoken Miscommunication in Intercultural management teams Professional demotivation and helplessness Preparation for performance evaluations Marital difficulties exacerbated by moving Severe sudden onset of medical difficulties Culture shock and adaptation in children (isolation / refusal to speak / traumatic incident recovery) Death and berievement (loss of a spouse in France) Two successful Adoption processes Cross-continental custody difficulties Substance dependency dificulties Post dramatic event - traumatic neurosis (rape / robbery) Regular Intervention as a Service provider for a corporate targeted International assistance program