The Associate
The newsletter for graduates and students of Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling
Thank you to everyone who replied to my e-mail enquiry about how you would like to receive The Associate in future. There were over a hundred responses with a small majority being in favour of receiving the newsletter by e-mail. There were plenty of suggestions and comments. The main reasons for preferring the electronic version were lower cost and eco friendliness. Those preferring hard copy valued receiving it by post, it being portable and readable at leisure away from a computer screen. Initially there did not seem to be a clear enough majority to make a decision either way. However, a former Chair of BCPCA pointed out that a motion was passed three years ago at the AGM for the newsletter to be sent out by e-mail. In view of this we have decided to send The Associate out in its present form. As always we would welcome your feedback and comments. As you will see, this is a packed issue. Even in electronic form we are going to try to limit ourselves to twenty pages but have spilled over by a couple of pages. This issue includes articles on Sex and Intimacy, Talking About Sex in Therapy, The Genesis of The Ecological Self Course, Advanced Integrative Psychotherapy, Online Counselling and Human Nature as well as interviews with Richard Mojel and Simon Smart. We hope you enjoy this issue and please keep those contributions coming in.
Richard Atkinson
Richard appears to be a rarity among those who settle in the UK from distant shores in that he doesn’t complain about the weather, even when given the opportunity to do so. He assures me that Wellington enjoys its fair share of inclemency at the other end of the globe, thereby dashing the preconception of all northerners that anywhere in or near the South Pacific is all sunshine, coconuts and pristine white beaches. Other than professional reasons, Richard also cites a wish to experience a different lifestyle as a reason for returning to Europe and a chance to enjoy those cultural pursuits on offer in the UK and Europe. “New Zealand”, he said, “is a long way away from anywhere!” Born in The Netherlands, Richard arrived in New Zealand with his family at the age of three so I imagine the tickets that brought him and his own family back to northern Europe around ten years ago probably cost a little more. Most recently, Richard was Managing Director of UCAS Progress, which is an operating division of UCAS Media. UCAS is an organisation which many of us will have had some kind of interaction with during our time as students or prospective students. UCAS Media purchased a company called S-Cool in Bristol where Richard was the Managing Director and appointed him as CEO of the combined organisations. His background also encompasses roles in HR Management, learning and training. Richard’s first introduction to BCPC was via his wife Evelyn who has just finished the Foundation Year and intends to begin psychotherapy training in the next academic year.
Given his own background, the involvement of his wife and also his own lay interest in psychology borne out of his time in HR and training, he saw BCPC as an organisation to which he could contribute. “It’s a really interesting organisation”, he said, “one with an interesting, eclectic mix of passionate people; a commercial entity of course, but an organisation with charitable, noble objectives which is trying to bring value and benefits to others. So as well as being able to contribute, it’s also a great way to meet new people and be introduced to new ideas.” Although he feels he has a lot to learn yet, he is clear about where he sees improvements might be made and where the opportunities lie within the organisation. Firstly Richard is keen to see the organisation drive increased benefits for both graduates and students while at the same time finding strategies to bridge the gulf that seems to exist between the two groups. “But we have to realise that each group has different needs”, he said. He feels it is important to offer tangible reasons for therapists to remain part of the BCPC ‘family’ both during their training and afterwards. Discussions are ongoing with current chair of the Association, Nick Medhurst and early signs are sufficient to provide some optimism. Richard also feels that the organisation certainly has scope to improve its administration and communication. Richard has a son, Rudi (21) and a daughter, Elleke (19). In his spare time (of which there is scant given his professional commitments) and when he not otherwise occupied in renovating their home, he enjoys photography and playing guitar.
Martin Phillips
Around 1970, the French artist JeanClaude Armen (1) was travelling alone in the Western Sahara. At a remote oasis devoid of other human presence he encountered a boy living among a herd of gazelles. The boy’s special bond with one of them suggested that she had been his foster-mother. He exchanged a varied range of messages with the animals through minute changes of head position and movements of the feet. To all intents and purposes, he a gazelle. He had an intense immersion in other flora and fauna, and appeared profoundly affected by the changes of the day, such as dawn or moonrise, which he would greet with a “rapt ecstasy”. Insofar as he had a self, it was a self. He did not feel himself to belong with humans, but with the creatures and landscape around him.
The Ecological Self: Therapy and the Human Bond with Nature
Images like this help us to understand the reality of the This is an aspect of the human psyche which doesn’t merely of itself as essentially connected to other life (for much science informs us of that pretty conclusively) but also feels, senses and is motivated by that connection as an essential element of identity. The gazelle boy demonstrates several things; that we do not automatically have to identify with the human species; that we can converse fluently with other-than-human life; that we can be thoroughly immersed in the natural world around us. Of course, in a sense, the gazelle boy had not chosen this way – the gazelle world was the only one he’d known since being accidentally left behind as an infant by his family group of desert nomads. However, many recent commentators on culture and psyche suggest that this capacity for bonding with other-thanhuman life also exists latently in modern humans, buried under their attachment to their own species, their participation in a world manufactured by that species, and their “rational” thought processes. Moreover, these same commentators consider that the realization of that capacity offers profound fulfilment, while its frustration triggers alienation and discontent; they also consider that this capacity is ripe for rediscovery. One example is the clinical psychologist Isabel Clarke(2), who had a powerful awakening of her ecological self when she became
involved in the Twyford Down protests, and in the process came to know the landscape as sacred with an immediacy that was utterly new to her. The experience is described in her book The re-emergence of such sensibility is partly triggered by a deep-rooted longing to reconnect, and partly by alarm at the plight facing the human race as its wastage of the planet makes the latter uninhabitable through global warming. People who become adept at communicating with creatures such as dogs and horses (rather than just dominating them), do so by learning how to think and react like one. This is even more vividly illustrated in the case of wild wolves, with Shawn Ellis (3), or wild bears, with Charlie Russell (4) in Kamatchka .The animal becomes a major aspect of those humans’ identities, this both answers a profound need in them, and serves a purpose in the world as the human mediates between his first species and his adopted one. This became vivid for me when, as a recreational horse rider faced with “difficult” equine behaviour, I sought to become more skilled in horse handling, and found that to do so I had to aspire to become a herd member and to converse as horses do. I learned a vocabulary very similar to the one Armen describes among the gazelles. Part of me became horse. Therapy has tended to focus on relationships between humans and processes within humans. Indeed, it can be argued that a pronounced anthropocentric strand can be detected in the writings of some leading theorists. For example, both Perls(5) and Rogers(6) regarded autonomy and independence as key ingredients of human maturity, and the latter saw this as an indication of mankind’s place at the top of the “evolutionary scale”. This model of human selfhood has received a growing number of challenges since at least the work of thinkers like Aern Naess (7) who was describing the “ecological self” in 1989. Among the more recent of these challenges are: the writings of David Abram (8)(drawing on the phenomenology of Merleau-Ponty and others) and Derek Jensen(9), on the mutual psychic interpenetration between human and nature; Jerome Bernstein’s , which described many
case histories of contemporary humans who experience transrational conversation with other-than-human life; the spring 2010 edition of the Jungian devoted to “minding the animal psyche”; Nick Totton’s published just this year. There are many more. Recent issues of have seen a controversy around the notion of “wildness” in therapy. Dr. Joanna North argued that humanity’s ability to organize and make itself safe from the dangers of nature was the key to its survival, . Others argued that this was the very outlook which had alienated human from nature and is undermining the quality of therapy. It is because of this growing debate, and because of the enormity of the eco-crisis and its accompanying psychological features such as grief and denial, that I have received the support of senior tutors at BCPC in offering the course on In tune with the humanistic/intersubjective/integrative ethos, a primary stage of this course will be biographical. We will investigate the assumption that everyone has a history of relationship to other-than-human life – even if that is a history of absence or distancing. My explorations so far suggest that for some people this can be a crucial element in their life story, but not necessarily fully recognized, and sometimes undisclosed to other humans. For some it is lost to memory or even pathologized. For some it is underdeveloped. But whatever the variations, tracing it offers a new perspective on identity, a new version of the life journey, and the possibilities of new paths in the future. This often opens up areas of mystery and wonder – although it may also uncover trauma, distress and alienation. Close childhood communication with another creature would be an example of the former, dog phobia a relatively clear example of the latter. In these histories, the response or attitude of human caregivers to the otherthan human connection is often seen to be deeply influential. A thorough exploration of this helps us to understand the possible orientation of clients, and the ways in which the nature connection can have varying significance within a therapy. One client of mine had a
key moment in emergence from depression when I supported her hesitant perception that her dog empathized with her suffering. Another requested me to hold in mind her intention to spend regular time outdoors, because she feared that otherwise her intention would be lost. Another originated a major project on inter-species communication and told me that my grasp of the significance of this enabled him to remain in therapy. Of course there are major questions about transferential aspects in these examples, but they also demonstrate the variety of ways the nature connection can appear in the content of sessions.
suitable for this as they express attitude or intention through movement or posture of powerfully mobile bodies, thus demonstrating the ways living beings respond to or comment on what they pick up from humans. They lend themselves readily to a relational range, including transference instances of I-Thou encounter (indeed Buber’s thesis and coining of this term was inspired by his contact with a horse).
I realize of course that not everyone likes them. So I should emphasize that course participants will not be required to complete horsemanship tasks or pressurized into close contact. We will Even more provocatively, focusing on this simply be using the horses as an example kind of of the assistance other-than human life can also has implications for give to the examination of relational issues. . One of these implications is that the intervention of nature into the conduct Individuals can then choose to adapt that of sessions can be welcomed and attended example to whatever context suits them in to as part of that process. Many therapists their own work. We will be supported in the equine-assisted work by Dawn Oakley have already embraced this concept – –Smith who has qualified in one of the even citing precedent from both Freud and Jung. Caroline Case (14) has described trainings in this field, and cares for this particular herd. a number of incidents in which she used the behaviour of birds, and even the interplay of leaves and wind, seen through I should emphasize that although I have an affinity with mammals, I assume that there her consulting room window, as catalysts is a wide variety of other individual of the process. affinities with nature, in course participants as with therapy clients. For other people it A research respondent of mine is may be with trees, insects, rocks, gardens, wholeheartedly committed to the contribution of her dog to her client work. places, birds, something undiscovered, or indeed instead of affinity there may be She routinely explores with clients the implications of choosing to have the dog in indifference or antipathy. This variety is itself one of the fertile areas of the room (or not), and uses the exploration. As well as following these transferential and other issues that arise threads, we will also consider prominent from this. She confirms the observations theorists in the field of ecopsychology and of other practitioners in this field that the ecotherapy, and their relationship to the animal responds very individually to each mainstream body of therapy theory. My client. On the course we will carefully consider the implications of the therapist’s hope is for students to consider new decision to include or exclude such “help”. options for their client work; but the priority is that whatever choices they make, they should become more able to We will also invite, therefore, the fully understand the implications of those commentary of other life-forms on the choices. This also offers a rich vein of individual and group processes which possible written assignments. unfold as we work. As we will be in an outdoor setting this may arise As I write, there is unrest across the spontaneously but we will also be using Middle East, partly triggered by steeply several structures to consciously initiate rising food prices, and twelve million this, using the nearby woodlands, people face famine in East Africa after the meadows and their inhabitants. worst drought in sixty years. An influx of We will also devote a section of the refugees into Southern Europe has already course to interplay with a herd of loose resulted from the former, which was itself horses, to experiment with the inclusion partly caused by the devastating fires in of a non-human being in a therapeutic last year’s Russian wheat fields. partnership, and to sample the reflective power of this. Horses are particularly
Global warming is already having a destabilizing impact and it behoves us as therapists to be aware of collective and individual affect; to consider, for instance, how far Joanna Macey’s(16) perception that “everyone is in grief” (for the planet) has substance. BCPC has already nurtured several steps towards a new paradigm for therapy which includes these perspectives. BCPC Graduate David Hamblin (17) published his article in 2007. Julie Walker wrote her qualifying dissertation on in the same year Another graduate, Miranda Carey, was one of the first English nationals to be trained by Linda Kohanov in equine assisted therapy. BCPCA (Glos) supported me in offering a talk on this theme a couple of years back (and two BCPCA conferences have offered me a forum for presentations on it). I also know of current students who also work from a shamanic background, or have trained in the use of companion animals in therapy, which suggests to me an impulse towards integration of such elements within counselling and therapy. There is much to discover here and the new course takes it all a step further. References: 1) ARMEN, Jean Claude - (1976) Gazelle Boy (London, Picador) 2) CLARK, Isabel (2008) – Madness, Mystery and the Survival of God (Winchester, O Books)
7) NAESS, Arne (1989) – Ecology, Community and Lifestyle (Cambridge University Press) p.p.164-165 8) ABRAM, David (1996) – ‘The Spell of the Sensuous’ (New York, Vintage) 9) JENSEN Derrick (2000) - ‘A Language Older than Words’ (London, Souvenir Press) 10) BERNSTEIN, Jerome (2005) – ‘Living in the Borderland’ (Hove, Routledge) 11) Spring Journal, Vol 83, Spring 2010, Minding the Animal Psyche (New Orleans) 12) TOTTON, Nick, (2011) – Wild Therapy (Ross on Wye, PCCS Books)
richardatkinson1963@btinternet.com
13) Therapy Today, 2011, see March, May, June. Nick Totton’s article on ‘The Wilding of Therapy’ and subsequent correspondence. 14) CASE, Caroline (2005) – ‘Imagining Animals’ (Hove, Routledge) 15) BUBER, Martin (2002) p.26 – Between man and Man (Abingdon, Routledge)
carolyn.bird@primex.co.uk
16) MACEY, Joanna, talk given at Confer CPD event, Landscapes of the Mind, September 2009 17) HAMBLIN, David (2007) – Place: The Lost Dimension in Psychotherapy (Self and Society Vol 34 Number 6 May – June 2007)#
3) ELLIS, Shawn (2016) – Wolf Within (London, Harper Collins) 4) O’KEEFFE, Suzie (2010) – Imagining Vital Signs: Psychological Responses to Co-existence: What Grizzly Bears Have to Ecological Crisis ( Teach Us, in Spring Journal Vol 83 Spring 2010 (New Orleans) How 5) YONTEF, Gary M. (1993) – Horses Heal Awareness, Dialogue and Process (New Natural Horsemanship Magazine. York, Gestalt Journal Press) p.56
l_secretan@yahoo.co.uk
6) ROGERS, C (1965/51) – ‘Client Centred Therapy; Its Current Practice, Implications and Theory’ (London, Constable) martin.phillips28@btinternet.com
‘experience-near’ position as a basic starting point. But often this is not the case with regard to sex.......how come? There can often be strong taboos around sex which can lead us counsellors and psychotherapists to marginalise it in the consulting room (ironic when it is so explicit in our culture). Perhaps also trainings are influenced by such taboos and Robert Johnson(1) there may be a kind of trauma response in this which leads us to avoid or minimise sex as an area of exploration. In terms of our training a Humanistic and Integrative position has often been constellated As a couples therapist it is hard to avoid sex, as it is often a presenting problem, to an authoritarian position and maybe it feels a bit easier (at least to considered to be abusive (e.g. Rogers the therapist!) if the problem of sex is over ‘locus of evaluation’ placing the authority the other side of the room residing in the for knowing in the ‘client’ can be seen as a couple. However this does not mean it is reaction to a Freudian ‘expert analyst’ who easy (for couple or therapist) to talk about has the authority ‘to know’ through the it, which is why on trainings to work with privileged information offered by couples there is usually quite a bit of countertransference and the knowledge attention paid to sex, actually on the imparted through ‘interpretation’). So we training itself, and through subsequent may have a tendency to identify more with CPD and supervision. This is not always the victim rather than the perpetrator in so on trainings to work with individuals such situations. One of the archetypal where any competence in this area is perpetrators in mostly down to the individual trainee and psychoanalysis/psychotherapy is the male their experience in therapy and therapist seducing the female patient. supervision. This perceived lack is why I Historically this dynamic has also been am writing this piece and why I have seen between charismatic humanistic developed a CPD workshop(2) to offer workshop leaders and participants. So some support in finding a way to talk there may be ‘constellations-type’ ghost in about sex. the system here?
If I said to you when was the last time you (as client, therapist, supervisor, supervisee, trainee, tutor, couples therapist, couple) had a conversation in a session about a ‘ they/you had. You’d probably say or even ‘ , and you would Adam Phillips(3) probably consider it good practice (context allowing) to follow such a line of In the same way I think every relationship inquiry in some detail. Indeed ‘attunement’ needs to ‘make it up’ including supervisors (to be aware of/ask after or to notice in, and supervises and therapists and sometimes, minute detail what a person is clients.......we have to make a relationship feeling/thinking) would for most of us be a key technique/way of being in the together that can contain the often powerful material constellated in sex. consulting room. Then if I ask you when So how do we talk about sex? The short was the last time you spoke of a answer is ‘in the same way you talk about (a feeling, a fantasy, a body anything else’! So using our feelings, bodily sensation) in those same roles and sensations, ideas, fantasies etc. Why would relationships...........I imagine your we think of it in any different way? Of response might be or even ! course we often do, even though we I have often heard people describe the might sign up more generally to the experience of not being met in their sexual therapeutic value of ‘not-knowing’, of feelings. That a and it would therapist/supervisor/teacher has not been not stop us attempting to take up an able to respond to the expression of
sexual material in a facilitative, authentic congruent way (which might be, at least in part and for some, a trauma response as described earlier). This is poignant and tragic. That the hope for validation and response has been dashed and a retraumatising situation has been created. The one hoping for such a response might never go there again. Part of the tragedy of this is that, to the extent that it is a trauma response on the part of the therapist, it can be completely unintentional.
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Muriel Dimen(4) I guess the first step in any change process is realising there is something to change! The reason I created the workshop ‘Talking about Sex’ (*) was as a response to what I perceived as a lack in many counselling and psychotherapy trainings. On the day I ran in June 2011 there were trainees and graduates from various different trainings: Gestalt, Body Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Counselling and Humanistic and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and there was a fairly universal feeling that neither in original trainings nor in supervision since then has sex been talked about much. Now you might say that this bit of ‘research’ is a bit flawed as the research participants are obviously identifying themselves as wanting further support in this area by attending a CPD workshop about talking about sex! Well let’s give everyone a chance to think a bit about this for themselves. Sex therapist Peggy Kleinplatz articulates a profession: telling critique of
Although most of us are not primarily ‘sex therapists’ this list might provide a starting point for us to make a critique of own practice. If you go through the various areas Peggy covers, what would you say about your own practice in this regard?
‘Phenomenological Inquiry’........how sexy is that! Actually it kind of is. To be attended to with care, seriousness, playfulness, respect, warmth and humour in a way that acknowledges relationship and mutuality and is in the moment is about as good as it gets isn’t it? Again I would ask the question, if we are not entering into such an inquiry around sex in therapy, supervision and training............why not? I don’t mean that there aren’t good reasons, but are the reasons being illuminated by inquiry? I have found it really helpful to attend to the detail of my fantasies (sexual or otherwise) when with a client/couple/supervisee for it is often the detail that holds the grit that makes the pearl! It is the same for dreams is it not?
lesbian couple, holds for many gay and heterosexual couples alike. Many couples (if they find themselves in couples therapy or not) have not been able to this erotic play space. I also think it is an important perspective that can be useful for the ‘therapeutic couple’ in individual therapy i.e. therapist and client (regardless of gender/orientation). If we can co-create a ‘sex-affirmative’ relationship in the consulting room then we can at a stroke (!) help free ( , rooted in shame that require us to steer away from our (authentic/real/sexual) selves-in-relation-to-others to keep safe, whilst also opening up to what Thomas Moore calls As he says:
(8 I want to add to Moore’s phrase by saying ‘a whole cosmos’. I used the word ‘co-create’ just now (evoking Intersubjective-Systems Theory and Dialogical Gestalt (9)). From this point of view the issue of sex is a relational one i.e. whether it is possible to talk about sex or not in a therapeutic relationship (any relationship actually) is down to both client and therapist. Infact you might even argue that the therapist has more responsibility in this (in the same way that we might consider taking the risk and responsibility in disclosing something about our feeling state to try and encourage a feeling dialogue in the therapy.
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· Suzanne Iasenda(6) An important ‘oppression-undermining’ stance is being encouraged here (born out of a political awareness of the societal disapproval, even annihilation-throughdenial that Lesbian women can experience). The position Iasenda is encouraging therapists to take with a
Moore’s approach to sex as connected to soul encourages the use of a different language than an approach that sees sex as more materialistic, more functional. I encourage a use of language (in myself and whoever I am working with) that is constantly connected to, and viscerally emanating from, our vulnerability. There is a great temptation when we are anxious, nervous, frightened to become sure and confident. This ‘hiding in expertise’ can be devastating in the
consulting room, as the denied anxiety of the therapist can be left for the client to feel. Rather I would prefer that we constantly make an attempt at a co-constructed language (a la Bob Hobson (10)) that is inclusive and tentative. A use of words that attempts to acknowledge nervousness and shame and excitement and pleasure, therefore grounding the dialogue in body-process-relationality. In this way we might co-create a place of safety that has real healing potential and can be exported from the therapy into everyday life and relationships. This seed of sexual relatedness (‘home-grown’ and ‘hand-made’ not ‘imported from experts’) has a real chance to blossom in lives outside the consulting room. Now of course there are all sorts of questions around particular context (and power and gender) that need consideration with such interventions, but are these conversations even happening in supervision? I really hope so as otherwise we are closing off a potentially powerful area of exploration and therefore healing. I would be happy to dialogue with anybody in response to this piece. Address for correspondence: davidnslattery@btinternet.com
CPD 1 day workshop March 16th 2012 (details at www.relational-psychotherapy.co.uk)
1
3.
On Retreat - the experience of a first time ‘retreatant’
Robert Johnson (1983:xi) New York: HarperCollins
2
Associate:
A CPD workshop: next running March 2012 details: www.relationalpsychotherapy.co.uk/CPD Adam Phillips 1996:95) London: Faber and Faber
BCPCA Glos - the BCPC Gloucestershire community
4. Muriel Dimen (1999:415) Psychoanalytic Dialogues (9) 5.
Green S. and Flemons D. Eds. (2004:192) New York: WW Norton and Co.
6. Suzanne Iasenza (2004:154) in ‘
7. 8. 9.
Jack Drescher and Ann D’Ercole (Eds) New Jersey: The Analytic Press (See 9) Thomas Moore (1998: xii) New York: HarperCollins is a re-visioning of psychoanalysis coming out of Self Psychology (Kohut), developed by Stolorow, Atwood, Orange, Brandchaft (and others) and ‘Organizing principles’ is a core theoretical idea, meaning the unresolved, unintegrated states or ideas that shape our experience. is influenced by the philosophy of Martin Buber, developed by Friedman, Hycner and Jacobs. An integration of these theories is explored in the bcpc Core Course ‘Relational Process’ (the booklist is available on the website http://www.bcpc.org.uk/training/courses/people/Core-StudyCourses/ although this is part of the psychotherapy training program, ‘Core courses’ are open to everyone).
10.
Robert Hobson (1985) London: Tavistock Publications
MA opportunity for BCPC counselling trainees with Bath Spa University
I really enjoyed reading Jen’s recent article about intimacy and was really struck by what she said about intimacy not ONLY being about sex. I completely agree with her that sex can be intensely intimate AND it can also be the opposite. So why is this? And could it be that sex can be a microcosm or short-hand for what the whole of a couple’s relationship means? Roger Horrocks in his book ‘An Introduction to the study of sexuality’ says that:
The experience of total merger and abandonment of ego as experienced in sex can be so blissful as it returns us to that early merged state with mother or father’s body. The seeking of this experience may also feel idealistic or romantic in some way. James Hollis in his book The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other states that all relationships begin in projection:
So can a sexual relationship be real then? Can it ever be more than a projection and a regressive desire for infantile fusion? Hollis says:
It is fascinating that the thing we most desire (to be intimately connected with another) is also the thing we most fear, in case of rejection or being overwhelmed. The dance of intimacy is so very subtle in this respect – we require it to be just right for us. And this is perhaps where the element of risk comes in; if we can open ourselves to the other and be fully there, the potential rewards are very great. Horrocks again:
He argues that we need to take back our projections and own them, if we are to love the otherness of the other. Horrocks says something similar:
Carolyn Bird
Introducing Your
Representatives
Jan Walker Kate Bowman
Adele Taylor Alexandra Darien-Jones Amanda Hawking Carolyn Bird Claire Hawcock Deb Cartwright Karen O’Connell Kate Hardenberg Maria Fender Martin Phillips Sarah Messenger Susanne Hart Thomas Buckley-Houston
Chris Mills responds to Jill Gabriel’s article in last term’s issue of Jill, you and I have had interesting ongoing discussions about this question over the years. I think it's great that you're bringing it into this public forum. What I'm drawn to is your statement about becoming 'rigid around this issue and (making) no exceptions to my rule.' Later you ask 'To what extent are my choices as therapist a reflection of my own experience within my family of origin?' The two examples you give of what led to this rigidity both include the word 'betrayal.' It seems that for you the idea that something a therapist does might lead to a client feeling betrayed presses a particular painful button. Reading about your ex-husband's experience with Robin Skynner reminds me very much of the interdisciplinary practice with divorcing couples that is now a strong focus of my work. Although every case is different, I see a recurring pattern that gets played out in response to the extreme pain and disorganisation of separation. It's a kind of regression into a moral absolute, where someone has to be bad and wrong and someone else good and wronged. Of course this parcel gets passed around and projected from one to the other, but I think the point of it is to achieve a sense of something solid and certain (if rather polarised) in a setting of extreme fear and insecurity where everything dependable has collapsed. I wonder in the case of your ex-husband whether Robin conveniently provided him with a place to put his sense of betrayal which, if not there, would have necessarily gone somewhere else. The same may also be true of the example you give about your group. For me, too, the word 'betrayal' is loaded. If someone accused me of having betrayed them, my first response would not I sense be to coolly and dispassionately consider whether this felt true from my perspective. I'd be far more likely to bristle with defensive anxiety about whether it might be true whether I might be guilty. To be guilty of anything is primitively dangerous for me in that it implies I might be unlovable. This certainly comes from my childhood, so maybe there's something similar for you. I have a couple of theoretical places of safety to go with this. The organisational consultant Barry Oshry maintains that we automatically feel certain things in response to certain systemic stimuli, and demonstrates it in his experiential workshops. Having taken part in one, I know that my understanding that I was engaged in a roleplay was unable to prevent me having all the fearful, paranoid, angry feelings he'd said I would - along with everyone else! In that sense maybe your ex-husband's sense of betrayal was his to have and to do what he could with, and not the responsibility of anyone else to cause, manage or mend. I'm also thinking of Winnicott's emphasis on 'failing the patient's way' - being unconsciously set up by a client to get things wrong so that the original getting it wrong can be worked through and recovered from in a different way . Of course this serves to just lead back to the vexed question of what our responsibility, our duty of care, to clients actually is, if not to be vigilant and careful. For me the answer to that is what you're doing here - talking about it. As you can see, I don't have an answer to your question, but for a long time I thought I did, which was to do it your way because I admired you. That felt pretty good. I can still admire you now without feeling I have to do it your way. That feels even better!
helped with the design of the new Psychotherapy & Counselling Service website and will also be helping out with the website for the BCPC South practice. I have never worked for an West Trauma Foundation. I also enjoy organisation like BCPC before with such strong ethical principles and values travelling, going to concerts and gardening. so it is quite refreshing. harmonise these principles with a robust business
Every day is different and I am always excited by what the next challenge or experience might be. Whether it be negotiating a business contract or member discount or having to change a light bulb whilst balancing on an office chair.
Since joining BCPC I have strived to improve relations, connections and communication between the office and the student/graduate body. We have hopefully made some headway towards this but there is still more work to be done. I would ask you all to work with us as we continue to improve and to also bear with us if on occasions we do I had been made redundant from my not quite get it right. We are a small previous job and because of my I would like to see more students from team and always endeavour to do the extensive management experience and diverse backgrounds. A diverse student best we can. the fact that it seemed like a rewarding community would bring together and worthwhile position to take up; I There have recently been comments different people, different cultures, applied and amazingly was offered the different languages, different about placement information being position. out-of-date and while I can fully ethnicities, different life experiences etc. When we come into contact with understand the frustration of not being those different from ourselves we have able to find a suitable placement agency to learn to interact together and this in it is difficult for us to keep up-to-date There are two things I like about with the comings/goings of placement turn helps us to learn and grow. BCPC. Firstly, I really enjoy meeting agencies. We are therefore grateful Working with people from different new people and helping them to make backgrounds enables us to learn and when students let us know if an agency positive changes to their lives. see things in different ways. To this closes down or stops taking placements Secondly, I really like the people I work end, we are planning a recruitment so we can then update our list with. They all share a passion for this accordingly. campaign next year specifically aimed work, and BCPC, and that makes it at broadening our student wonderful to go to work every day. The Placement Agency List that can be demographics. found on the website is the current list and is updated when we receive new information or new agencies. We are constantly adding agencies to our list The most challenging aspect of working Retired and living on a Caribbean island and carry out a Placement Agency at BCPC is balancing the business side basking in the sunshine. Audit on an annual basis, but in the with BCPC's values and principles. As meantime I would ask all students to Executive Director I have to balance please let us know of any changes that what is ideal with what is practical in a we may not be aware of. business environment. Being a psychotherapy and counselling organisation BCPC’s ethical values and My main interests are designing principles guide the way in which we websites and internet marketing, and run the organisation and sometimes it have in fact helped a few members of Carolyn Bird can be a fine balancing act to BCPC with their websites. I have also
After twenty years as a clinician in the NHS and in private practice I found I was in need of re-energising my practice. So, I began exploring and training in the various branches of energy psychology. I was interested by their claims to be able to alleviate psychological distress rapidly, gently and effectively The pioneering writings of Phil Mollon, psychoanalyst, psychotherapist and clinical psychologist proved to be a reassuring guide to the various modalities of these new and initially strange sounding approaches. Underlying all of them is the utilisation of energy to help to clear the impact of trauma. Although acupuncture has familiarised us with the therapeutic usage of energy, or chi, it is only in recent decades that there has been an interest amongst mental health practitioners in its therapeutic application to psychological problems. Of all of the energy psychology modalities I have found myself most drawn to Advanced Integrative Psychotherapy (AIT) . Dr. Mollon describes it as ‘one of the most comprehensive and impressive of all the energy psychology modalities.’ A forthcoming AIT introductory seminar in Bristol summarises AIT as follows: “ Advanced Integrative Therapy was developed by Asha Clinton, a Jungian Analyst in the US and is the first complete psychodynamic body-centred transpersonal and energy psychotherapy. It clears energetic blockages in the body’s energy system which arise from unresolved physical, emotional psychological and spiritual traumas, thereby dramatically accelerating and deepening personal growth. AIT works at the level of cellular memory, clearing the neural pathways of stuck traumatic energy, and providing profound and lasting relief from emotional pain and stuck relational patterns, including ancestral cultural and historical trauma. Through AIT’s simple and effective method for clearing trauma, people can overcome self destructive habits and negative beliefs and recover from the debilitating impact of sexual and other forms of abuse, as well as clear PTSD,
and strengthen weak ego states. Through clearing trauma, people can develop access to clear states of consciousness and awareness.’ Since doing the Basics training three years ago, I have been using AIT in my clinical work with impressive results. I find that clients readily engage with its conceptual framework and its treatment components and they often report with amazement how after treatment they experience significant relief. The search for and treatment of originating traumas and negative core beliefs behind current symptoms, troubled states and traumatic patterns of relating is a deeply collaborative one which contributes to a rapid and deeper engagement with clients. Trauma is at the heart of AIT’s conceptual framework and its treatment focus. Trauma is broadly defined and covers both situational trauma such as rape, and developmental traumas such as deprivation and abuse. AIT’s treatment methods utilise major energy centres in the body which are thought to both hold and release traumatic energy. In treatment, the client is directed to hold each energy centre whilst focusing on a particular trauma or an aspect of it. A key component of AIT and some other energy psychology approaches is muscle testing, through which it has proved to be possible to access the unconscious. The basic premise here is that the human body stores information including unconscious memory, emotions, physical sensations and cognitions, and that these can be accessed through muscle testing. In muscle testing the client is invited to hold out an arm whilst making a statement e.g. ‘An originating trauma behind my anxiety is my parents violent arguments when I was a baby’ The therapist applies pressure to the outstretched arm, to establish whether the arm muscle remains strong or weak. Muscles generally are found to test strong to truthful statements and weak to untruthful or negatively charged statements and in this way it is possible to find the
origins of traumas and traumatic patterns. Muscle testing is clearly a major departure from traditional talking therapies and initially requires a willingness on the part of the clinician to take a leap into the unknown. My experience with clients is that they are quite willing to experiment with this and also quickly become actively involved in the exploration and treatment of trauma and traumatic patterns which are impacting on them in the present. The rapid relief from previously distressing memories, images, or emotions leads to deeper engagement with the process. Although AIT has its own methodology, it is far from a ‘stand alone’ technique. AIT integrates psychoanalytic and Jungian theory, elements of CBT and behavioural approaches as well as its energetic treatment. As in traditional psychotherapy, the therapeutic alliance, the interplay of transference and counter-transference and the value of the reparative relationship are crucial. Particular attention is paid to assessing and building ego strength before beginning to work on the deepest traumas. Many AIT clinicians comment on an interesting phenomenon arising out of the energy treatment aspect of the work. It seems to enhance attunement between therapist and client. It is common for instance for new intuitions to arise during trauma treatment in the form of free association Clients also often comment with surprise on the ways in which memories, buried emotions and even physical sensations (like pain or
nausea) surface briefly into consciousness before clearing One of the attractions of AIT for me has been the sophistication of its theoretical framework and the ongoing opportunities for further development. Seminars taught by Dr Clinton are offered twice yearly in the UK as well as in the US and Germany. After the Basics seminar which is open to qualified mental health professionals there are further seminars covering topics such as Depths (working on Archetypes) Anxiety Disorders, Character structure, Psychogenic Illness, and Attachment. It is interesting also to hear from AIT colleagues in London that some insurance companies paying for private treatment require that their clinicians have an energy therapy training as part of their tool kit. Through AIT I have discovered a renewed energy and commitment to my practice. I have found it to be deeply rewarding both in terms of the richness of its theoretical integration, its sophisticated treatment methods and the satisfaction which comes from the relief of suffering.
www.seemorgmatrix.org Psychoanalytic Energy Psychotherapy. (2008) Dr Phil Mollon
The AGM for both BCPC and the BCPC Association (BCPCA) took place on Saturday November 19th. As well as a range of other measures discussed there seemed to be a theme of saying grateful farewells to many people as well as warmly welcoming new members who stepped forward to pick up the work going forward. For many people new to BCPC (and some of us not so new...) it can be confusing to exactly establish the roles and functions of the two organisations. In an attempt to allay some of that confusion another article will appear later in this newsletter. Chair of the Over-Arching Committee of the Association, Nick Medhurst, stepped down after two years and it was agreed that the association now stood in a much better health thanks to his unceasing enthusiasm and industry. He is replaced by Martin Phillips, a second year psychotherapy trainee who currently chairs the student sub-committee. His place as student representative on the Over-Arching Committee was taken by Claire Hawcock. Grateful thanks were also offered to Kate Hardenburg who steps down after two years of dedication as Treasurer, the financial baton being taken up by Anna Bennet. During the BCPC AGM there was a veritable queue of people wishing to give thanks and bid a fond farewell to Jane Purkiss who steps down as Head of Training after four dedicated years service in the role. A summary of other key decisions: Ÿ It was agreed that the single Association committee be re-constituted as three separate committees to better represent members comprising a student sub-committee, graduate sub-committee and over-arching committee. The over-arching committee would comprise a chairman and two members of each sub-committee. Ÿ In respect of the above, it was agreed that existing funds be split between the student and graduate subcommittees to reflect the actual contribution each had made with an amount also held by the over-arching committee to fund items which benefit both graduates and students. Ÿ A motion to reduce the psychotherapy graduate membership fee next year was referred back for further scrutiny in light of comments from the floor that the historic differential between counselling and psychotherapy graduates was no longer evident. Ÿ It was confirmed that the new BCPC Referral Service website was now up and running. Ÿ The search for new premises continues. Ÿ The organisation will be searching for a new Foundation Course Director early in the new year. Ÿ The trustees were all re-elected with the addition of Judy Ryde.
As communication mediums advance and become more widely available a greater desire to communicate goes hand in hand with these advances. Working in a field where communication is key we too must adapt to embrace these new forms of communication arising. It is with this in mind that I have ventured into the ever growing world of online counselling, a form of therapy that is becoming increasingly popular (particularly with the young) and widespread. Online counselling covers a variety of services now offered by a wealth of agencies ranging from personal support, to private counselling and psychotherapy and these services are deliverable in a number of ways. They can roughly be split into two forms: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous forms include Internet Relay Chat (IRC), which allows client and therapist to hold live one-to-one exchanges in a chat room setting, the time of which is agreed before hand, and moderated group chat. This is the internet equivalent of group therapy and allows users to interact with both a counsellor and peers, again live and arranged before hand. Asynchronous forms of online counselling are simply forms that are not conducted live in real-time. They include email counselling between client and therapist, which includes pre-agreed timed replies e.g. a reply within 48 hours, a reply within the week or on a set day each week. Another form of asynchronous counselling is the use of a message board on which the client can post a message which can then be read and answered by a therapist or peer at any time. Some agencies and websites charge for services like these, others do not and clearly each has its different benefits and drawbacks. They can also be used in combination with each other to suit a potential client.
One of the benefits that has been noted from studies into online counselling is the anonymity it affords and the loss of inhibition that goes with this. This can lead to the disclosure of intimate information much faster than it may be disclosed in a face-to-face session. Much of this is attributed to the lack of audio-visual information on offer that can give rise to assumptions about a client based on accent, ethnicity or appearance to name a few. The biggest drawback however is that online counselling can only offer a focus on the written text. This means that all the subtle bonds that develop between counsellor and client, like empathy and trust are harder to convey given that they can only be expressed with the written word instead of through expression, tone etc. Like anything that is written it can therefore be open to misinterpretation and misunderstanding, but can also be more useful in some ways conversely as it is a tangible record that can be re-read or reflected on in a way that a conversation between therapist and client cannot. This goes hand in hand with a primary concern about online therapy. That is the difference and potential difficulty of building rapport with clients. So much of the rapport built by therapists comes from visual clues that take place ‘In the moment’ between therapist and client particularly facial expressions and tone of voice to convey empathy and understanding. Both these are absent (with the exception of Skype) so building rapport is both more vital and more challenging. 100% of online counselling is delivered through text so the combination of body language and tone of voice do not convey as clearly the communication of either party within the therapeutic relationship. The typical action/reaction dynamics of face-to-face relating are absent, particularly if the therapy is asynchronous and there are long gaps between communications.
One suggested answer to a problem like this in cyberspace is to use emoticons (e.g. smiley faces ) within texts or to use different fonts to convey moods. The therapist can also mimic the style, phrase and language of the client as the client will find this familiar and should therefore feel more comfortable communicating in this way.
Young children are encouraged to ‘play out’ their emotions, feelings and experiences within a safe, virtual environment which can then be observed by the therapist. Many children are happier to partake in such behaviour online and their engagement has been shown in studies to have increased using such tools.
This may all sound overly simplistic but it communicates a willingness to adapt to a particular client and an attempt to mirror them within a virtual world. Returning these written responses to a client in an email demonstrates an ‘I understand you’ attitude in the same way feeding a client back their own term of reference in a face-to-face session does.
We can see the ‘rules’ of working online are very different from face-to-face counselling but that the techniques we use in a person-to-person setting can easily be adapted to serve us online. Ultimately the internet is just another tool we as practitioners have at our disposal, one that is proving increasingly popular with a new generation who are more at ease revealing themselves online. It will only continue to get more popular and we must be ready to face the new challenges and advantages new technology can offer us.
One of the biggest dangers of web-based therapy is the issue of confidentiality. Emails create a virtual paper trail that if not properly encrypted or protected can be accessed far more easily than a file of notes kept in a locked cupboard. It is vital a therapist practising online is technologically minded enough to put these security measures in place to protect client materials and identities. The increase in net use has given rise to what has become known as the ‘net generation’, that is young people expressing themselves via web-based technology, and it is this demographic that seems to benefit most from the increase in online therapy that is taking place. The internet represents a new way of communicating with younger clients as it is a medium they are all too happy and capable of engaging with. The idea of child-friendly online therapy has been taken a stage further with online games being created that have therapeutic applications.
Sources Ÿ Adlington, J. (2010) “Rapport In Cyberspace”, , July, Vol. 21/Issue 6, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, Leicestershire. Ÿ Barker, M. Vossler, A. Langdridge, D. (2010) , Sage Publications Ltd, London , Ÿ Brown, K. (2009) “Online Self-Help”, April, Vol.20/Issue 3, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, Leicestershire Ÿ Dobson, L. (2010) “The Net Generation”, , May, Vol. 21/ Issue 4, British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy, Leicestershire
Luke Secretan
After two busy years as chairman, Nick Medhurst has stood down and The Association is without doubt in a much healthier position thanks to his stewardship. When I began training with BCPC I confess I was confused as to what it actually was, hence my preference of calling it and naming this newsletter For those equally confused you will find on the next page my attempt at a depiction of the organisation. The Association represents both students and graduates. A small portion of training fees is earmarked for its activities and in the case of graduates, payment is separate and voluntary. One key objective is to foster a feeling of community among those of us who study or studied here. With around 300 members it is a resource to be used for the benefit of all. For example, networking seems to be particularly key in this profession. But also it allows a forum for discussion, support and professional solidarity. What do we do with the money? Effectively we use the money to do what the membership wants us to do. But of course you need to tell us what you want or we might make decisions and spend your money without really knowing if this is actually what you want . So I urge you to get involved. Let your voice be heard by contacting your representatives. In the case of graduates for example, there is a hefty pot of money sitting unused and therefore unhelpful. We students – sadly - are slightly poorer! But nevertheless we are taking actions which will include financing student attendance at CPD events, purchasing additional books for the library and delving into software that gives easier access to students who find it difficult to access written texts. Involvement is the key, so step forward. There is always a need for volunteers to help with events, write articles for the newsletter and offer other expertise. step forward; to not want For me, stepping forward feels like part of my own personal development and training. It is all too easy for me to to take the risk of putting up my hand; to simply withdraw into comfortable isolation. Imagine yourself in open group, wanting to make a difference, to show yourself, to be heard and seen and yet perhaps too nervous, worried or apathetic. But having the courage to step forward and be seen in a supportive, safe environment can be such a liberation so I would urge you to take this opportunity. Feel free to mail me any time with your thoughts.
Own budget for items benefiting both groups; ratify major decisions; formulate strategy and philosophy Chair: Martin Phillips
Own budget derived from fees
Own budget derived from fees
Ÿ Organises BCPC Conference Ÿ Provides administration for the Association
Ÿ Organises the BCPCA Conference Ÿ Organises AGM jointly with BCPC Ÿ Creates
newsletter
Ÿ Creates ad-hoc working committees to deal with specific topics (eg. Disability access)
set out with a simple vision that all people no matter what their circumstances can access natural spaces, with guidance and support that opens them to their gifted possibilities and radical interconnections with the natural world.
people can find a way to participate with full body, mind and soul in their own, the human community and the earths life.
The organization was born several years ago on the Gower in Wales walking on the wild beaches of Llanmadoc. We recognized and embraced the healing and This can be done in a walk through a wonderful resource of the natural world garden observing the dance of love and as counsellors and psychotherapists as between flowers and bees, a short walk in well as outdoor leaders we saw how we a park sitting under a great oak that has could weave the worlds of therapy and felt the winds of centuries or wandering nature together. We recognized it as a through our precious wild places powerful force, mysterious in its unfolding, surrounded by the awe inspiring majesty magically creative and awe-inspiring. How of our world and cosmos. The could we refuse to honour and organisation offers help to those who want acknowledge its gift to us all? to be reminded of how these wanders can open us to the Healing, Wholing and As therapists we had been witness to the Souling of ourselves and support us in our amazing and sometimes immediate deepest enquiries into being a fully natural positive impact that nature has on people and matured participant in our planets in their process of healing and recovery, unfolding. through to the deeper transpersonal unfolding of the souls journey. To support When we see the destruction of bio those in transformation is always an diversity and wild habitats across the honour, challenge and delight. world, it becomes clear that we are the ones 'bleeding at the roots' as D. H. So we decided to offer this support and Lawrence wrote. guidance to those that are intrigued, called or even sceptical, to find what most of us So this needs to be addressed not only are struggling to stay in relationship to: through politics, social enterprise, green Our unique place on our planet and a economics, cultural change but also by reconnections to ourselves and to our further deepening the connection within other than human world. ourselves to the land, so we may see how we individually evolve our vital role in the Through this so many things are possible. future of our planet. For example we become and continue to deepen into our natural wild selves. This We presume that everyone at some time in their lives has awoken to the wonder of the natural world around them. This could be a moment by a lake, an early childhood memory of a beach, the sound of a stream, the wind in hair or the wonder of looking into the eyes of another human and seeing emerging self can transform our often such universal depth reflected back. This traumatic human story. As we become awakening and re-awakening again to the whole we begin to once again remember vast wonder of nature through our senses and hear the quiet whispers of our soul. and understanding, is what Human Nature This not only benefits ourselves but of sees as its mission in its therapeutic and course our communities when be bring transpersonal work on the land. the boon we find to them. We are determined to help reassign social This boon will be part of a discovery of and personal resources towards this awakening to ecological self (the self that is ones own unique part in the unfolding story of earth. Through this maturation we connected beyond the boundaries of our gift our families and communities with psyche and bodies to the earth adults and elders able to offer their gifts community), so that more and more
and support others in discovering their own. And of course we fall more deeply in love with the other that human world, again and again. Which brings us into a sense of guardian ship to the bio diversity of our creative earth that so needs our protection now. We offer three levels of support for people, the first is for Health and Well-being and we see this as supporting particular groups and individuals to, perhaps for the first time, begin to connect to the natural world. This can be through walks in nature, bush craft skills, outdoor work, using your senses in nature (mindfulness) etc. The second level is Eco therapy where we work with a group or individuals in a therapeutic alliance. We support them not only within the container of the human to human relational field but bring into this the relationship to the natural world and what this offers and stirs in their healing and development to maturity. The third level is Nature and Soul where we dive into the mysterious realm of the transpersonal in nature. We use a variety of nature-based practices for this including mindfulness, self-made ceremony, Bill Plotkins map of the psyche and bodywork. Through this the individual can come into contact with what is emerging in their depths and how this relates to their full participation in the unfolding and support of the earth community. Courses vary - we offer a days introduction at Tyntesfield, just outside Bristol, a National Trust Estate set in a 1000 acres of woodland inhabited by badger, deer, squirrel, and a vast kingdom of birds. We do weekends and retreats in the wild hills, forests and magical lands of waterfalls in South Wales. In order to avoid barriers to participation we work on a donation basis after fixed costs are shared. We are also planning a training programme for nature-based practice to begin in September 2012. This will be aimed at those working in nature with groups but also those who wish to use the outdoors therapeutically. As stated above the vision is that all people no matter what their resources or support can access wild natural spaces with support and guidance. We are excited by what is unfolding and hopeful that we all can hear the calling of the earth at this important time in human cultural development. Thank you to all the teachers that have helped us along the way through their direct teachings and writings, including Bill Plotkin, Geneen Haugen, Joanna Macey, Brian Swimme, David Abram and Thomas Berry, amongst others.
Trauma to Creative Fire By Silke Kuball In another dimension Feeling your presence alight in every atom around me. The air become ether - ablaze with fire. Thoughts beyond my thought, feelings beyond my feelings, awareness beyond senses. Time Past present future coexist and even the time that never was unheld potential all here alive. There you live here I meet you. A stormy embrace. Overcome with awe. The immaterial suffused by you. Here is death and rebirth- all at once. My Soul. Here doest Thou meet me. This treasure I cannot touch or verbalisenor can it be fixed. It comes as grace and yet feels more real than any other moment I live. The infant's yearning, the trauma, the reenactment, fate, destiny, karma all come together to weave one colourful tapestry on which I rest, my eyes feast, my Soul drinks deeply. Creativity springs forth, playfully, like a balloon captured on a string, pulled in, admired, then floating again. Pulling into sight the beauty behind all, the immaterial made visible, the intangible brought into the world. Let me stay with you here -
BCPC Graduate Counsellor June Hall discusses the repercussions of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease for both her practise and her creativity as a poet.
I thought, seeing such unusual compassion shining in my GP’s eyes as she organised a brain scan for me the following day. It turned out I didn’t in fact have a brain tumour and a battery of other tests followed. When I asked the consultant later: “ and he said “ I already knew it was.
connections with the stillbirth I have written about in the title poem of BTW:
The year was 1997 and I had graduated from BCPC as a counsellor two years before, and had built up a private practice. While at BCPC I had been through a very intense therapy which had included a premature ending that was extremely painful and challenging as well as life-changing and unexpectedly loving. Now I decided – much as the thought horrified me - to close my practice and take a year’s sabbatical in Provence to see if I could live a more relaxed life that would help my health and enable me to come to terms with a chronic illness, (1) and learning to be kinder to myself:
I decided to have a small practice and to offer short-term work only so that if the PD got worse suddenly (which it could well do) I would not be letting clients down. Also I felt this would leave me freer to have holidays as I wanted and not, for instance, have to carry clients through the long summer break. And it would enable me to take my writing seriously and make good space for it.
(2) What brought me into counselling in the first place was the stillbirth of my first son, Philip in 1987 and that was the event that originally created a huge urge to write poetry (most of it still in the cupboard). In the sunshine of the South of France poetry flowed and led eventually to two volumes, THE NOW OF SNOW, Belgrave Press, 2004) the epigraph of which is from Thich Nhat Hanh: , and BOWING TO WINTER, Belgrave Press, 2010 where it is from Shoyroku:
On our return from Provence I had to choose what to do about counselling.. For me the counselling process had
(3)
This short-term work, some of which is working with employee assisted programmes (EAPs), has turned out to be an amazingly rich experience of surprising depth and pleasure which has complemented my writing, just as my writing has provided a healthy alternative outlet for my creative energies. For the past 13 years the PD has not been particularly evident and on the whole I have not wanted to burden clients with it, though I have not actively sought to hide it, and it has come into the open with the few clients for whom it has mattered. During these years I have – without knowing it - been evolving a short-term approach of my own and I am now at another turning point. The PD is becoming more obvious physically and facing this fact brings new challenge to live in the present and decide my priorities. As I wrote in TNOS:
(4.) I want to broaden my therapeutic range so that I can go on working. This will involve, I think, being more up-front about the PD and acknowledging anew my age and
stage as represented in by my hair:
References:
and is cut in
from THE NOW OF SNOW; from THE NOW OF SNOW;
(5) Excitingly – it might also mean beginning to supervise others doing short-term work with individuals or couples. This idea came to me through my peer supervision group of some 15 or more years, who felt, from their experience of me, I had something to offer as a supervisor. My individual supervisor added her belief that I had developed a shortterm model (often 6 to 8 weeks) which might be of use to others at BCPC. Supervision could be offered shortterm for a particular short-term client so it would or could go on alongside the usual supervision and last only for three or four sessions. It might also possibly be offered to two counselling supervisees sharing to bring the cost down and increase the learning. I feel it might also be useful to psychotherapists since they sometimes have less training or experience in short work. Space here is limited so I will leave you simply with a flavour of the key words/phrases I carry in my head. Of course you know them already but some of you may not believe they can work together in such a short time:
from THE NOW OF SNOW
and Psychotherapy field was demonstrably thriving in NW London.
I was one of the graduating students at the BCPCA Conference in May 2011 but sadly none of my family could attend this event. I decided to explore the Middlesex University Graduation day held in July when my sisters could share this special occasion with me. I remembered hearing that a few BCPC students had attended this event in previous years, but how to organise this wasn’t much talked about within BCPC. I discovered that all the arrangements for the day could be made on line through the Middlesex University website – all I needed was my Middlesex Student ID number (obtained from the BCPC Office) which allowed me to book my place, hire my academic dress and organise my graduation photographs. Each Graduate could invite two guests to join them (with additional tickets sometimes available if there are spare places).
I
Early on the morning of 20th July I was on the London Underground negotiating a route to the Middlesex University Campus in Hendon. When I anxiously arrived at Hendon Central I wondered how I’d ever find the Campus in time (fantasies of walking the wrong way, being late or missing the event altogether were vividly present!) I need not have worried. When I emerged from the Underground I was met by a group of Middlesex students, who having identified me as a lost soul needing assistance, took me and other graduates to a bus stop where we were picked up a few minutes later by a mini-bus that took us to the University Campus about 10 minutes away. On arrival we were met by more smiling Middlesex students in their bright red T-shirts who guided each of us seamlessly through the process of Registration, Robing and Photography and finally to our seats in the Graduation Marquee. I was delighted to find myself sitting next to a BCPC PMQA graduate and fell into an animated discussion with both her and other graduates sitting around us. We shared our training experiences in organizations like the Karuna Institute, the Minster Centre and Metanoia. There were about 800 graduates in the Marquee who came from all walks of life and a wide range of countries around the world. I had a sense that ethnic and social diversity in the Counselling
With a roll of drums we stood up for a procession of University staff and the Graduation Ceremony of the School of Health and Social Sciences began. My name was called and I walked across the stage to receive my academic scroll (in reality a blank piece of paper as I had already received this earlier at the BCPCA Conference!) then watched with fascination as a variety of other therapists, psychologists and mental health workers received their awards. The feeling of being part of a worldwide, International society of therapists and health practitioners was intense and I felt immensely proud of my place and role in that community. The ceremony ended with a drinks reception where graduates and guests chatted and laughed in the warm sunshine as we shared our diverse and different training perspectives and celebrated our individual achievements. The warmth of everyone I met at this Middlesex Graduation day (staff, students, graduates and guests) was powerfully moving – I felt truly welcomed as an honoured member of the Middlesex University community. Why you might ask, would you want to attend a Middlesex Graduation as well as the BCPC Diploma Ceremony? In my experience both these ceremonies celebrated different aspects of my BCPC training journey. The BCPC graduation ceremony enabled me to celebrate the experiential-based emotional journey I had travelled with my fellow trainees while working towards becoming a robust and selfreflective psychotherapist. The Middlesex Graduation ceremony focused more on my personal academic achievement in gaining the enquiring mind and study skills needed to demonstrate the knowledge base that underpins my clinical practice. The two journeys are not, in my view, mutually exclusive pathways but compliment each other. By attending both ceremonies, and celebrating these two different aspects of my professional training, I feel I‘ve been more able to acknowledge and fully integrate my development as a well-rounded Humanistic and Integrative psychotherapist.
If you are graduating from MA study in the coming year (or in the future) I warmly encourage you to consider the possibility of experiencing both the BCPC Diploma Ceremony and the Middlesex University Graduation
Richard Sale
Simple Sites for Therapists
I am an experienced Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach and Mentor
Sites made for therapists by a therapist
I am a BCPC graduate, UKCP registered, member of BACP and EMCC
Would you like a web site but aren’t sure about the first step?
I have some availability in central Bath and central Bristol: daytimes and evenings I offer a free introductory/exploratory meeting to BCPC students You can phone or text me on 07525 943580 or email me at richard_sale@me.com
Mike Thompson Builder (In training with BCPC)
I am offering a service aimed specifically at therapists, and will create a simple web site a few pages with pictures and text - at an introductory rate of £99 with no further charges. Having done that I’ll explain how you can update it yourself. For further information please visit simplesites.me.uk or contact me by post – Simple Sites, Leabrink, Fownhope, Herefordshire, HR1 4PJ
Lee Coombes BA (Hons).
Over 30 years experience in all aspects of property maintenance and refurbishment
Dip Hip, MA accredited by BCPC Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring (Laminate, Solid timber,
and registered with UKCP
Ceramic)
Tiling Painting & Decorating General Repairs & maintenance (including plumbing and electrics)
Working with individuals and couples
Discounts to BCPC students Professional advice freely offered
Tel: 07912 219588 E-mail: mikethompson26@gmail.com
WWW.Psychotherapyinbath.co.uk
Talking About Sex In the Consulting Room 1 day CPD workshop with David Slattery
Quiet location in St Andrews. Close to ‘Many of the men and women who consulted me over the years came with sexual concerns, which eventually were revealed as containers of the central mysteries of the person’s life.’ Thomas Moore (The Soul of Sex)
A workshop for counsellors and therapists who want to develop their ability to ‘be’ with clients when talking about their sexual lives. Through experiential exercises, biographical work, case examples and demonstration we will consider together: What sex is, what function/meaning it can have, dynamics of power (control and surrender), sexual fantasies and most importantly how to talk about all this!
Gloucester Road amenities. Suitable for counselling, psychotherapy, small groups. Available at £6 an hour or £18 for a 4 hour block. Ffi contact Jon Hastings on 01453 831315 or 07971 799338 and at jonrhastings@gmail.com
Venue: The West Wing, Nr Stroud. Date: 16th March 2012 Time: 10am to 4pm Cost: £75 (inc. lunch and refreshments provided by David Frost) Booking: www.relational-psychotherapy.co.uk
Diploma Course
Three stage modular training is for counsellors and psychotherapists (either qualified or in the later stages of training) who are interested in developing their practice by training in ‘relational couples therapy’. Stage 1:
‘Learning to Practice’ for those new to couples work.
Stage 2:
‘Working with Couples’ if you have some experience/training in couples work but would like some more support/resourcing of your practice.
Stage 3:
‘Advanced Practice’ if you have over 250 hrs of practice and would like an opportunity to consolidate/develop your practice in an experienced group.
Tutor: Venue: Phone: Website:
David Slattery West Wing, Nr Stroud 01453 832215 www.relational-psychotherapy.co.uk
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