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Last modified: 24 April 2011 Powered by Counselling Works Ltd.TM

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PERSON-CENTRED TRAINING COURSES and WORKSHOPS

On this page I describe some of the workshops, courses and seminars that I have developed. They usually consist of theoretical input, discussion, opportunities for the participants to reflect on their practice, and sometimes an experiential element that facilitates the participants’ personal exploration.

The format and final details of the events are developed in consultation with the organizer. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss a possible event or if there is something else you think I might be able to contribute.

1. Psychological disturbance

A person-centred relational perspective on psychological disturbance and difficult process

Interactive seminar. one day. 15-25 participants

I have a longstanding interest in how we can understand psychological disturbance from the perspective of person-centred theory and how we can integrate this understanding in our practice.

In this seminar we will explore the challenge of relationship in working with clients who are sometimes described as experiencing ‘difficult process’.

Psychological disturbance is not only about the client’s inner experience- it is also manifested and experienced in their relationships with others, including the therapist. To be able to be open to the client’s experience requires of the therapist not only an understanding of the client’s unique way of processing and expressing experience, it also requires a willingness to be present and open to our own experience in the relationship with the client.

The seminar is aimed at counsellors and trainees who have considerable experience of working with clients. There will be theoretical input and discussion, and participants will be encouraged to reflect on some of their own experiences in therapeutic practice.

2. Supervision

'A Relational Perspective on Supervision'

Working with the counsellor's developmental agenda in supervision

interactive seminar; 15-40 participants; one day

I have a particular interest in the concept of supervision as a relationship that supports counsellors in the development of their capacity to be fully present and open with themselves in the therapeutic relationship so that they can be open to all aspects of the client.

This seminar is open to anyone who is interested in supervision; it is probably most relevant to practising supervisors and experienced counsellors who are thinking about becoming a supervisor.

Background to the supervision seminar:

Supervision is accepted as essential for counsellors and psychotherapists. In the UK and Eire, counsellors are required to be in supervision throughout the time that they practice and it is considered to be unethical if they are not. Most counsellors value their supervision and accept its importance, but there are different views on the purpose and focus of supervision. Is it about protection of the client, development of the counsellor, safeguarding good practice, education? Should supervision be linked to the counsellor’s theoretical orientation? What is the responsibility of the supervisor?

These are some of the questions we may explore in this seminar.

My perspective is grounded in the person-centred approach and the potentiality model and for me supervision is a relationship that supports counsellors in the development of their capacity to be fully present and open with themselves in the therapeutic relationship so that they can be open to all aspects of the client. In supervision, the humanity that is at the core of the therapeutic encounter can be fully acknowledged and celebrated.

In this interactive seminar I will not teach ‘how to do person-centred supervision’. My aim is to present participants with a challenge: to encourage them to think about their supervision practice, in particular on the importance of the relationship between supervisor and supervisee, and to reflect critically on the predominant discourse about supervision as being about monitoring practice and protection of the client. How compatible is this emphasis with being open to the counsellor's experience, with a developmental perspective in supervision?

I have many years experience as supervisor, I have been director of a supervision course and I have written about supervision in ‘Person-Centred Therapy Today’, (Sage, 2000), in Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies (PCEP, 5.1, 2006) and in the ‘Handbook of Person-Centered Therapy’ (Palgrave,2007).

3. Existential Touchstones: meeting our clients through our humanity

Experiential workshop; one day; 15-30 participants

In this workshop we will explore the idea of existential touchstones, described by Dave Mearns as:

‘Life events and self-experiences that have given us glimpses of different dimensions of ourself and which we can enter to put us into a feeling state that is closer to our client’s present experiencing and thus act as a ‘bridge’ for us into a fuller meeting with our client’ (Mearns & Thorne, 2007)

I hope to explore with the group how we can derive strength from our own sense of existence and how this can contribute to the development of the counsellor’s capacity to meet clients more fully in their existential process.

This workshop day will consist of some theoretical input, experiential work and shared exploration and discussion in the group. It may be of interest to both students and experienced counsellors.

PDFof presentation “Existential Touchstones”

Reference:

Mearns, D. & Thorne, B. (2007). Person-Centred Counselling in Action. Third edition, p.147, London: Sage

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