Establish a wellbeing-centric culture at your organisation using the latest research and best practices.
This workshop is being run jointly by LMI UK and LMI Ireland and offers a framework and toolkit for setting and achieving personal goals in all all areas of your life.
I’ll share a case of visual hallucinations, showing how an existential-phenomenological approach helps understand their meaning and purpose. We aim to explore the lived experiences on irregular perceptions of reality with an open mind. Each Saturday includes: a live dialogue between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and an International Existential Therapist; a moment to share your thoughts and feelings with the teachers; and a final integration facilitated by Bárbara Godoy. This series of ten dialogues set out to explore the multifaceted dimentions and complexities associated with Existential Therapies. It attempts to engage with various interpretations of insanity through the lens of patients often painful, confounding, and deeply unsettling life experiences. Hallucination- between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Prof. Simon du Ploc “The phenomenon of hallucination has been a subject of debate for centuries. It has been suggested that its function was one of revelation or prophesy, and those who hallucinated were often considered to have a ‘sacred’ affliction. In recent times, their function, at least in the West since the Age of Reason, has been often been reduced to primary indicators of schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis. Lumped into the ‘core phenomena’ of schizophrenia, the concern is not so much what they are, or what they mean to the client, or even their content, but their treatment and control. I will present an excerpt from my own clinical practice with a client who presented with distressing visual hallucinations. This piece of work illustrates how approaching such irregular perceptions of reality from an existential-phenomenological perspective can provide a way of understanding their meaning and purpose within a client’s lived experience. I will suggest that such an approach also enables us to take a creative position regarding wider notions of sanity and madness, a position which enables us to navigate a path between, on the one hand, the medical model which typically focusses on reduction and management of hallucinations, and on the other hand, a Laingian view of hallucination as a route to ‘hyper-sanity’. Adopting such a path may enable us to work more confidently with clients when they present with unusual or disturbing perceptions.” Prof. Simon du Ploc. Prof. Simon du Plock is Senior Research Fellow at the Metanoia Institute, London. He was Head of the Faculty of Post-Qualification and Professional Doctorates at the Institute from 2007 to 2020, in which role he directed counselling psychology and psychotherapy research doctorates jointly with Middlesex University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Medicine, a Foundation Member with Senior Practitioner Status of the BPS Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy, and a Member of the BPS Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors. He has been a BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologist and UKCP Registered Psychotherapist since 1994. He has authored nearly one hundred journal papers and book chapters on existential therapy, and he has co-edited Existential Analysis, the Journal of the British Society for Existential Analysis, since 1993. He was an editor of the 2019 Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy. He has lectured and trained internationally, and in 2006 he was made an Honorary Member of the East European Association for Existential Therapy in recognition of his contribution to cooperation between West and East Europe in the development of existential psychotherapy. His clinical and research interests include phenomenological research methodology, clinical and research supervision, existential pedagogy, and working with issues of addiction and dependency. Prof. Ernesto Spinelli was Chair of the Society for Existential Analysis between 1993 and 1999 and is a Life Member of the Society. His writings, lectures and seminars focus on the application of existential phenomenology to the arenas of therapy, supervision, psychology, and executive coaching. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as an APECS accredited executive coach and coaching supervisor. In 2000, he was the Recipient of BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession. And in 2019, Ernesto received the BPS Award for Distinguished Contribution to Practice. His most recent book, Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World 2nd edition (Sage, 2015) has been widely praised as a major contribution to the advancement of existential theory and practice. Living up to the existential dictum that life is absurd, Ernesto is also the author of an on-going series of Private Eye novels. Date and Time: Saturday 15 November from 2 pm to 3 pm – (UK time) Individual Dialogue Fee: £70 Venue: Online Zoom FULL PROGRAMME 2025: 25 January “Knots” with Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Bárbara Godoy 22 February “Healing” with Dr. Michael Guy Thompson and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 22 March “Difference” with Prof. Tod DuBose and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 12 April “Polarisation” with Prof. Kirk Schneider and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 3 May “Character” with Prof. Robert Romanyshyn and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 21 June “Opening” with Dr. Yaqui Martinez and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 19 July “Meaning” with Dr. Jan Resnick and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 25 October “Invention” with Dr. Betty Cannon and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 15 November “Hallucination” with Prof. Simon du Plock and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 13 December “Hysteria” with Bárbara Godoy and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli Read the full programme here > Course Organised by:
– the practical steps you need to know This live online suicide intervention training covers a wealth of essential information and strategies to help you help anyone you suspect may be thinking about or planning suicide, or who has survived a previous attempt… Accredited CPD Certificate: 6 hours Length: 1 day (9.15am - 4.00pm GMT) You never know when you may need these skills… Brilliant! I’ve been on previous suicide intervention courses over the years, but this is by far the best – great pace, very knowledgeable trainer...who brings real experience into the learning...SUE HASWELL Join Malcolm Hanson LIVE ONLINE on Tuesday 12th March for his essential suicide intervention training, delivered via Zoom. Book your place and we’ll send you the Zoom link the day before the event. BONUS Recording – the training is recorded, in case anyone experiences technical difficulties, so you also get a recording for a limited time afterwards to maximise your learning. Why take this suicide prevention course Suicide can be a difficult subject to broach and a daunting one to deal with – anyone working with distressed or depressed people wants to keep them safe, to give them the hope they need that circumstances can change for the better, and to provide the skills for coping until that comes about. When people can’t envisage an end to their difficulties, particularly in highly challenging times, a slump into depression can all too quickly spiral down into suicidal thoughts, plans and suicide attempts. The negative trance state of depression itself can beguile people into thinking that there is no other way out of their hopelessness. Thankfully, there is much we can do to help – as this indepth suicide intervention course shows. Tutor Malcolm Hanson has a wealth of experience at helping seriously distressed people get through difficulties which he draws upon as he takes you clearly through the steps to take when faced with anyone who feels suicidal. (He worked for 9 years as a psychotherapist in NHS primary care in an area of extreme deprivation, and for many more years since has seen patients referred by GPs, social workers, psychiatrists, police and probation officers for complex issues.) He has successfully helped clients experiencing multiple trauma (including veterans), chronic pain and terminal illness, clients struggling with uncertain asylum status or facing deportation, and also victims of human trafficking – a tragic range of circumstances in which even the most resilient may sometimes sink into despair. His compassion and understanding shine through this course as he shares with you what he has learnt, along with the latest psychiatric research and risk assessment strategies, to give you the knowledge and assurance you need to work confidently and respectfully with clients struggling to find reasons to stay alive. You will learn how to build in expectation of positive change from the start, have plenty of time to benefit from group discussions and will work through case scenarios with other attendees to help embed your learning. Suicide affects countless people, not only those directly involved, and is now the most common cause of death in men aged 17 to 34. The highest suicide rate is in men aged 45–49; in women, it is highest in those aged between 50–54.1 Join us for this practical online suicide prevention training to learn how you can help reverse this state of affairs… Book your place So much helpful and insightful information delivered in a way that was easy to listen to and take on board...STEVEN TESSEYMAN What will you learn Deeper insight into when and why different people consider suicide Crucial elements needed to build rapport with suicidal people Why most suicidal crises are surprisingly temporary How to normalise circumstances safely A model for running therapeutic sessions that best manages suicide risk Ways to use your own demeanour to instil confidence in the person who is feeling suicidal Effective information gathering to challenge unhelpful beliefs What to look for in their answers to your questions How to broach the subject of suicidal thoughts A structure for difficult conversations The ability to reframe unhelpful beliefs Methods of risk assessment that do not risk losing rapport Advances in psychiatric research on suicide risk management and the implications of this for psychotherapy and counselling How to use language of influence Effective means to address beliefs about being a burden How to set realistic and empowering goals How to make best use of the client’s own resources The importance of addressing emotional needs How to create a safety plan Strategies for client safe self-management between sessions The power of guided imagery for working with suicidal clients Powerful insights and hope from real case histories How to take care of yourself – and more… Malcolm is a wonderful communicator: so clear, measured and thoughtful ... it was a pleasure and privilege to learn from himMATTHEW HOPKINS Course Programme The ‘How To Reduce Suicide Risk’ live online course starts at 9.15am and runs until 4.00pm. 9.15am Join the Zoom meeting 9.30am The important first steps for suicide risk management 11.00am Comfort break and discussion 11.30am Working with what the client brings 1.00pm Lunch break 1.45pm Rehearsing the safety plan 2.45pm Comfort break and discussion 3.00pm Putting what you have learned into practice 4.00pm Day ends Who is this suicide awareness and prevention course for? Psychotherapists and counsellors All mental health and welfare professionals – including GPs, social workers, the emergency services, pastoral care and outreach workers – and anyone else working with people with suicidal ideation Anyone concerned for personal or HR reasons – the training contains a lot of key, helpful information which is presented in a clear, easy to understand way, even though it is primarily geared towards carrying out therapy effectively with suicidal clients Anyone working with young people, such as teachers and youth workers, will benefit from this live online suicide intervention course Anyone who may come into contact with people who are very distressed, whether through their paid or volunteer work, will also learn essential live-saving information. Please Note This course is not a substitute for therapy. Reference 1. www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2019registrations The one certainty in life is that circumstances ALWAYS change... This online suicide awareness and prevention course has been independently accredited by the internationally recognised CPD Standards Office for 6 hours of CPD training. On completion of this training you’ll receive CPD certificates from the College and the CPD Standards Office.
Hysteria’s history, rooted in Greek myth, evolved into a Victorian belief of a “wandering uterus” leading to disturbing medical practices. We aim to explore the lived experiences on irregular perceptions of reality with an open mind. Each Saturday includes: a live dialogue between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and an International Existential Therapist; a moment to share your thoughts and feelings with the teachers; and a final integration facilitated by Bárbara Godoy. This series of ten dialogues set out to explore the multifaceted dimentions and complexities associated with Existential Therapies. It attempts to engage with various interpretations of insanity through the lens of patients often painful, confounding, and deeply unsettling life experiences. Hysteria- between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Bárbara Godoy “In this talk, I will compare the Histerical patient to the ancient Greek myth of Persephone, the goddess who traversed the boundaries between the world of the living and the underworld. Just as Persephone’s cyclical descent and return mirrored the changing seasons, hysteria was seen as a condition where emotions and experiences defied easy classification. This notion of transgressing boundaries became a cornerstone of early psychoanalysis. In Victorian times, hysteria took a decidedly bizarre turn. Here, the culprit was believed to be a mobile womb, an organ capable of throwing into disorder and confusion. This “wandering womb” was blamed for a variety of ailments and behaviours, particularly any expression of female desire out-of-wedlock. In a truly disturbing reflection of these beliefs, legal rulings based on this theory emerged. In some cases, women diagnosed with hysteria could be forced to undergo a hysterectomy.” Bárbara Godoy. Bárbara Godoy M.A., Adv. Dip. Exi. Psy, UKCP accredited Psychotherapist and Supervisor, MBACP and SEA – Director of Therapy Harley Street. Bárbara’s academic experience in London since 2008 includes lecturing and researching on the theory and practice of Phenomenological Existential Therapy on Doctorate, MA and professional courses at the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, Regent’s University and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling directed by Emmy van Deurzen. Bárbara has facilitated therapeutic Group Work internationally since 1997. The question about the meaning of Being-Woman was the topic of her thesis completed in 2005 and evolved into two main Women’s Groups: “Nine muses” and “Four Seasons” which she leads in addition to her individual private practice. Currently, as the clinical director of THS, Bárbara leads a team of over 20 professional practitioners in the area of Psychological services and Wellbeing consultancy. Bárbara is also the founder-director of THS’s Personal Development and CPD Programmes. Prof. Ernesto Spinelli was Chair of the Society for Existential Analysis between 1993 and 1999 and is a Life Member of the Society. His writings, lectures and seminars focus on the application of existential phenomenology to the arenas of therapy, supervision, psychology, and executive coaching. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as an APECS accredited executive coach and coaching supervisor. In 2000, he was the Recipient of BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession. And in 2019, Ernesto received the BPS Award for Distinguished Contribution to Practice. His most recent book, Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World 2nd edition (Sage, 2015) has been widely praised as a major contribution to the advancement of existential theory and practice. Living up to the existential dictum that life is absurd, Ernesto is also the author of an on-going series of Private Eye novels. Date and Time: Saturday 13 December from 2 pm to 3 pm – (UK time) Individual Dialogue Fee: £70 Venue: Online Zoom FULL PROGRAMME 2025: 25 January “Knots” with Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Bárbara Godoy 22 February “Healing” with Dr. Michael Guy Thompson and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 22 March “Difference” with Prof. Tod DuBose and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 12 April “Polarisation” with Prof. Kirk Schneider and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 3 May “Character” with Prof. Robert Romanyshyn and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 21 June “Opening” with Dr. Yaqui Martinez and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 19 July “Meaning” with Dr. Jan Resnick and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 25 October “Invention” with Dr. Betty Cannon and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 15 November “Hallucination” with Prof. Simon du Plock and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli 13 December “Hysteria” with Bárbara Godoy and Prof. Ernesto Spinelli Read the full programme here > Course Organised by:
Phenomenological explorations for existential seekers. Ten live dialogues between Prof Ernesto Spinelli and International Existential Therapists which clearly illustrate their journey intertwined with the method of the investigation. We are looking to highlight the role of the researcher as an existential seeker. Workshop – Reflections on Existence through a Phenomenological Method. The two-hour practical module where participants, inspired by the previous presentation and dialogue, explore and elaborate on their practice and research with the guest teacher and Bárbara Godoy. This process ends with the opportunity to experience oneself in a clearing. Here we can reflect on how our research is affecting, disturbing and inspiring our own relationship with Being. TIMES AND DATES: Ten Saturdays 2 pm to 5 pm (UK time) 27 Jan. “Placebo” with Prof Ernesto Spinelli and Bárbara Godoy 24 Feb. “Reflexivity” with Prof Carla Willig and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 23 March “Homecoming” with Prof Robert Romanyshyn and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 27 April “Ungraspable” with Dr Todd Dubose and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 18 May “Homelessness” with Dr Greg Madison and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 22 Jun. “Psychedelics” with Dr Yaqui Martinez and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 20 Jul. “Anxiety” with Prof Kirk Schneider and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 26 Oct. “Intentionality” with Dr Betty Cannon and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 23 Nov. “Vulnerability” with Prof Simon du Plock and Prof Ernesto Spinelli 12 Dec. “Enacting” with Bárbara Godoy and Prof Ernesto Spinelli Full course (including dialogues): £600 (2 pm to 5 pm – UK time) BOOK HERE > Venue: Online Zoom
This workshop equips participants with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively intervene and support individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Participants will learn to recognise the signs of suicidal ideation, confidently engage in supportive conversations, and create practical suicide-safety plans as part of a first aid approach.
Digital Wellbeing Training
Introducing the the modality of Non-Violent Communication (NVC), also known as Mindful, or Compassionate Communication, this 2-day modular workshop will explore how we express ourselves and how we hear others - how we can increase our ability to create meaningful connections, both with others and with ourselves, even in disagreement, and how we can empower our clients to do the same within their own relationships.