What defines us?

Perhaps there are two things which define us as humans - our capacity to ask questions and our capacity to attach ourselves (to other human beings, to objects, to causes, to beliefs).

Some would argue that what brings many into therapy is the very basic question: what am I here for? An existentialist question. It may be dressed up in all sorts of disguises - for example, anxiety about career or other people - but at the root we want to understand why we exist.

​The other issue which brings many people into therapy is relationships, especially when they go wrong. We are tribal, we yearn for healthy relationships with others, but so often these are thwarted by how we initially attached with our first care givers (see work by John Bowlby among others).

Existentialism and attachment - two vast areas of study and for exploration. Here at SCPTI, we are offering the opportunity to get a taster for both aspects of the therapeutic work.

Existential Psychotherapy with Mo Mandić
2nd & 3rd July 2016 (early bird ends 5th May 2016) & 24th & 25th Sept 2016 (early bird ends 28th July 2016)
A central tenet of working existentially in a therapeutic setting is to engage with the client’s worldview. A worldview is a person’s own way of making meaning of their existence through the stance that they take towards the world and themselves. As such, the worldview is the human being’s way of stabilising their existence, giving it a feeling of solidity and security. However, life itself throws unexpected challenges and uncertainties in its way, such that the worldview becomes unsettled, unmoored, and disoriented, whether temporarily or on a more continuous basis. The existential approach engages with the client’s worldview in order to explore and clarify it, so that the client can find ways to deepen their understanding of the ways in which their worldview contributes to their unease and distress.

Mo Mandić is a UKCP-registered existential psychotherapist in private practice, based in London. His background training was completed at Regent’s University London, where he now works as a Lecturer on the MA Psychotherapy and Counselling programme.

Attachment in Psychotherapy – implications for practice - with Pete Lavender
9th July 2016 (early bird before 12th May 2016) & 8th October 2016 (early bird before 11th August 2016)
Much research and scholarly study has been conducted into patterns of human attachment and development (see Bowlby, Stern, Winnicott et al), and much has been written about its application to counselling and psychotherapy, (see Wallin, Holmes et al). These seminars aim to look at what these theories mean for us as therapists and how (do?) we apply them to our practice.

Pete Lavender is a Director of SCPTI, course leader, supervisor and has nearly 30 years’ experience working with clients in both private practice and general practice in the NHS.
Here are some appreciative comments from his recent seminar held at SCPTI looking at the Role of Shame in the Borderline Process:
‘Refreshing, exciting, informative – meaningful CPD which will support clinical practice.’ (Monika A)
‘The workshop was full of richness, making a difficult and sensitive topic very interesting. Fascinating and rewarding on a personal and professional level.’  (Paul C)
'Your workshop was timely, I was able to use some of what I had learned when I saw a client shortly afterwards. Due to what I had taken from your training, my client was able to say that our session was the most in-depth, difficult and powerful time he’d had with anyone since his recovery from addiction and trauma.' (Emily B)

Fees
Two day workshop: member SCPTI (early bird) £135/(non early bird) £165. Non-member (early bird) £175/(non early bird) £205.
One day workshop: member SCPTI (early bird) £75/(non early bird) £90. Non-member (early bird) £95/(non early bird) £110.

To apply: mailto:[email protected]