Focusing as a therapeutic process model originated out of extensive research by Eugene Gendlin and Carl Rogers into what makes therapy successful. The research showed unequivocally that it wasn’t what the therapist did, but rather what the client did in therapy sessions that led to successful outcomes. What those ‘successful’ clients did in their sessions was to get in touch with a vague unclear inner referent or ‘felt sense’ in relation to a situation, and that giving time and space to it enabled it to unfold in a way that led to insight, therapeutic movement and psychological growth. Focusing then is the process of getting in touch with the felt sense of a situation, giving it time and space, and letting it unfold and ‘communicate’. It is the process of bringing into awareness aspects of a situation that were not previously in awareness, and thus gaining insight, self-awareness and a sense of a way forward.

The aim of this workshop is to give an introduction to Focusing, giving counsellors the opportunity to develop their counselling skills and knowledge in this area. Eugene Gendlin’s original formulation of Focusing will underpin the workshop, with Ann Weiser Cornell (Self in Presence and ‘parts’ language), Jan Winhall (Felt-Sense Polyvagal Method), and Dr. Kathy Maguire (Bio-spiritual Focusing) also being influential in its delivery. The workshop provides a balance of powerpoint and experiential learning; throughout the course of the day you can expect to engage with other participants in diads/ triads and small groups as well as the larger group. Participants are limited in number to 12 in order to create an intimate, safe environment where each participant is welcome to bring their own personal content and to experience the Focusing process for themselves. It is expected that the workshop will benefit participants both personally and professionally, giving them an insight into a powerful therapeutic resource, elements of which can be utilised immediately in their work with clients.

About Sara Bradly

Sara is a qualified Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapist and a recognized Focusing Trainer with the International Focusing Institute and the British Focusing Association. She is passionate about Focusing and eager to pass on her knowledge and enthusiasm for it. Sara’s experience in teaching Focusing includes co-tutoring on a post-graduate university course in Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, delivering multiple workshops for CAMHS, presenting at conferences including BACP’s CYPF conference in London, and the International Focusing Institute’s international conference on Focusing with children.

Sara is the director of Inner Focus Limited, a clinic based in Long Stratton offering counselling for adults and children, Focusing and Focusing workshops. In addition to her knowledge and experience in Focusing Sara brings with her over 10 years of experience as a person-centred counsellor, including past experience as a Personal Development Group Facilitator.

Price:

St Bs Counsellors £40

External practitioners £60

How does the erotic arise in the therapy; should we encourage it, discourage it, ignore it, work with it?  Is it to be feared, can it be explored safely, is it dangerous to take it up? And what are the ethical considerations?  Where is the line between seductively exploring it and repressively avoiding it, or disavowing our own sexual selves in the room or the sexual self of the other?  When we get it wrong, how do we repair the ruptures from misattuned, unethical, criminal interventions or enactments?

And why do we find it all so embarrassing?  And is this healthy, human?  Breuer was terrified of it, Freud hid from it, literally, behind his patient’s couch.  Unflinchingly, we will boldly explore the Do’s and Don’ts of addressing our clients’ and our own sexual fantasies, shame, histories, disavowals and enactments in the therapeutic setting, the acting in, together with the acting out when our client is not in the room, but in our mind.

Some pre-reading will be made available from the first Chapter of David Mann’s 1997 book Psychotherapy: An Erotic Relationship – Transference and Countertransference Passions.

The event will be interactive with time given to think about counsellors’ and psychotherapists’ clinical practice. The seminar will have an intersubjective, intersectional approach to thinking about Sex and Sexuality, and within a GSRD context of counsellor and client.

About your presenter:

Henry Adeane will conduct the training.  He is a Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and Visiting Lecturer.  He works for a few International companies – Sporting Chance in Liphook, UK;  www.sportingchanceclinic.com/; Matrix College of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Norfolk, UK;  www.matrix.ac.uk/;  Moka Care in Paris www.moka.care/; Compsych in Chicago www.compsych.com/; The Shrink Space in the US www.theshrinkspace.com/ and he has a busy, private therapy and supervision practice www.henrycounsellor.co.uk. 

He specialises in dual diagnosis, complex cases, forensic psychotherapy and the ethical treatment of addiction and personality disorder.

Cost

St B’s Practitioners: £40

External Practitioners: £60

This interactive workshop will explore the use of images, textures, words and miniatures when working with clients remotely or face-to-face. 

• Beginning with an introduction to working creatively there is an emphasis on keeping the client, counsellor and space safe.

• Then using a wide range of images presented in different formats we explore how to develop interventions which bring insight, motivation and empowerment to the client.  

• We’ll consider how texture can be used whilst online, and how this way of working can be vital for clients (and counsellors) who feel disconnected when working remotely.  

• Finally, we consider the power of words using 'others' such as miniatures and puppets. We’ll explore innovative ways of using these elements, both in person and online, to enable the client to articulate what might be challenging to say, or to find a way of expressing the unsayable. 

• In each session we reflect on best practice by considering assessment, contracting, note-taking (GDPR), setting policies, ethical frameworks and supervision. 

Presenter:

Sarah Hobday is an integrative counsellor and supervisor based in West Norfolk.  With over 20 years experience working in Early Years as a nursery nurse, her passion for working creatively with individuals and groups has continued in her therapeutic work with adults as a counsellor.  She delivers the Creative Interventions module at Waverley Abbey College and enjoys developing training material for practitioners working with clients remotely and in person. 

Location: St Barnabas Counselling Centre, Derby Street, NR2 4PU

Cost: St Bs Counsellors: £35; External Practitioners: £60

Light refreshments will be provided. Please bring own lunch or eating venues are located in close proximity to training venue.

Brief overview of topics to be covered: 

• Fear & reservations in doing this work 

• Catching risk and safety planning 

• Working with people who are actively using 

• Addiction through an attachment lens 

• Psycho-education tools

About the Presenter:

Richard Knight is a professional therapist working in private practice within London and the Norwich area. He has 10yrs experience in the delivery of clinical supervision for the palliative care team, inpatient and community teams in London NHS hospitals (Guy's & St Thomas hospital) and 18 years experience of working with addiction both with individuals and running community based recovery and support focused groups.  

Cost

St B’s Practitioners: £30

External Practitioners: £60

Facilitator:

Sue Chapman specialises in Jungian Sandplay as developed by Dora Kalff & Margaret Lowenfeld.   She has 28 years of experience working as an arts therapist both in London and in South Norfolk.    She is a Teaching Member and Final Case Reader for BISS, The British & Irish Sandplay Society and also ISST, The International Society of Sandplay Therapy.  Having taught and run sandplay training workshops for many years she is now partially retired but continues to mentor and supervise students through to final certification.  

Content:

She will introduce us to the depths of Jungian sandplay through an experiential presentation which explores the essential elements of sand and symbol and its application to clinical practise.  

Location: 

St Barnabas Counselling Centre, Derby Street, NR24PU

Date: Saturday 22nd July 

Time: 10.30am – 4.30pm

Cost: 

£25 for St Bs Counsellors (deadline for registration 22nd June 2023)

£45 for External Counsellors  

Maximum Numbers: 8-12

With a particular focus on the Resettlement.

Context (Challenges, Entitlements and Opportunities)