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:
To achieve optimum performance and long-term success all organisations have to respond and adapt to the external environment. Similarly, all job specifications within an organisation are conditioned by the plans that need to be followed in order to change. This course addresses the ability you require in having the knowledge and understanding of your organisation’s objectives, strategies and plans as well as your knowledge of the external environment in relation to political, social, financial and market competitive forces that affect your organisation.
This course shows you how to apply various approaches and algorithms to solve business problems through AI and ML, follow a methodical workflow to develop sound solutions, use open-source, off-the-shelf tools to develop, test, and deploy those solutions, and ensure that they protect the privacy of users. This course includes hands-on activities for each topic area.
Course Overview This course is designed to equip participants with the skills and mindset required to drive innovation and change within their organisation. The course integrates intrapreneurial thinking, innovation strategies, and the theory of change to help participants create impactful initiatives that align with organisational goals. Participants will also learn how to navigate organisational dynamics and communicate change effectively. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes -Explain the principles of intrapreneurship and its role in fostering innovation. -Apply innovation strategies to identify and develop new opportunities within their organisation. -Apply the theory of change to plan and implement successful initiatives. -Overcome barriers to innovation and change in the corporate environment. -Develop and pitch innovative ideas that align with organisational goals. Format F2F or Virtual Delivery Mode Closed Cohort or Occasional Limited Public Schedule Duration 1 Day Target Audience Team leaders, innovation managers and employees in R&D or product development seeking to foster innovation within their organisation.
Target Audience Mid- to senior-level managers, team leaders, and executives who are responsible for performance management and seek to enhance their coaching skills to drive both individual and team success. Duration 1 Day Course Overview This course equips leaders with the skills and mindset to effectively manage and coach performance in their teams, using an appreciative and strengths-based approach rooted in Positive Organizational Scholarship. Leaders will learn how to foster high performance, address underperformance constructively, and promote continuous improvement. By leveraging the Leadership Tension Lens, participants will navigate the challenges of balancing individual and team performance with organizational goals, while maintaining a culture of positivity, resilience, and growth. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes Define Role of Performance Coaching in Leadership: Shifting from Supervision to Empowerment Apply Positive Organizational Scholarship: An Appreciative Framework for Performance Coaching Aligning Individual and Team Performance with Organizational Vision Apply Tailored Coaching to Individual Strengths and Development Needs Define a Culture of High Performance: Leading by Example and Setting the Tone Embed a culture of feedback and Continuous Improvement
The LMI Foundations of Success workshop introduces the concepts and practical tools used to help countless individuals within thousands of organisations, of all sizes and complexity in both the public and private sector, realise more of their true potential.
Course Overview This course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves and their organisation from cyber threats. The course covers the basics of cybersecurity, common threats, best practices for staying secure, and the importance of a proactive approach to protecting sensitive information. Participants will also learn how to respond to incidents and create a culture of security within their organisation. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes -Explain the fundamentals of cybersecurity and its importance in the workplace. -Identify common cyber threats and recognise suspicious activities. -Apply best practices for maintaining cybersecurity in daily activities. -Respond effectively to cybersecurity incidents. -Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness within your organisation. Format F2F or Virtual Delivery Mode Closed Cohort or Occasional Limited Public Schedule Duration 1 Day Target Audience All employees, including managers, remote workers, and executives, who need to understand the importance of cybersecurity to their organisation.
Target Audience Early career business professionals, graduates or anyone aiming to behave, communicate and orient themselves appropriately in professional settings. Duration 1 Day Course Overview Business etiquette refers to the set of manners and behaviors (also referred to as the hidden curriculum) that are accepted or required in a professional setting. How does one establish a personal brand that fits within appropriate organisational brand and culture? This course answers that and more. It equips learners to contribute to their organisation in a highly professional and mutually respectful manner, using effective communication methods that scaffold positive relationships and facilitate productivity. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes Explain the importance of business etiquette Define personal and organisational brand and explore their relationship Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally across all modes Apply social and emotional intelligence in professional relationship contexts Participate in and run meetings that are effective and professional Consider multi-cultural and other aspects of diversity during communication
Course Overview This course is designed to empower participants with the skills to set compelling goals for the future through the process of formulating and defining a vision. Unlike scenario planning and strategic planning, which focus on navigating uncertainty and creating pathways to various potential futures, future visioning is about defining a singular, desired future state and working backward to identify the steps needed to achieve it. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes -Differentiate between future visioning, scenario planning, and strategic planning. -Create a compelling and actionable future vision for their organisation or industry. -Apply vision backcasting techniques to map out a clear pathway from the future to the present. -Define the vision in concrete terms, aligning it with organisational goals and values. -Integrate the vision into the broader strategic planning process. Format F2F or Virtual Delivery Mode Closed Cohort or Occasional Limited Public Schedule Duration 1 Day Target Audience Managers, team leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs seeking to prepare themselves and their organisation for the future by improving their vision forecasting skills.
Course Overview Organisational adaptability is most likely to be achieved and ingrained into culture when it is effected at an individual level. This course provides a neuroscience-informed framework for individuals to develop mindset, skills, and habits that prefigure adaptability in response to changing business requirements and environment. This course is designed by highly qualified learning design experts, assisted and guided by a Doctoral & Masters level leadership team. Working closely with subject matter leaders with extensive domain experience, this course is built on sound academic rigour and applied real world experience. Run in a cohort-based, activity-led format, it goes beyond theory to provide practical methods and frameworks that you can immediately apply in your workplace. Key Outcomes -Explain the current organizational challenges that require adaptability -Identify strategies to personally manage adversity -Use outward thinking approaches to explore opportunities -Apply proactive and collaborative methods to embrace and manage change Format F2F or Virtual Delivery Mode Closed Cohort or Occasional Limited Public Schedule Duration 4 Hrs Target Audience Business professionals, leaders & executives aiming to enhance their own adaptability to complex or ambiguous contexts.