32 Psychotherapist courses in Cheshunt delivered Live Online

Personal development groups for practitioners with Bárbara Godoy A playground for therapists to expand our perception to metaphor, as a way to connect directly with the experience of the other, guided by folklore and fairytales. "Supportive, thought-provoking, emancipating, grounding" Tuesday Evenings Group 6 pm to 7.15 pm  (UK Time) Friday Lunchtime Group 12.30 pm to 1.45 pm (UK time) Spring Term Phase One - 2025 22 and 29 April 6, 13, 20 and 27 May 3, 10, 17 and 24 June Autumn Term Phase Two - 2025 23 and 30 September 7, 14, 21 and 28 October 4, 11, 18 and 25 November Winter Term Phase Three - 2026 20 and 27 January 3, 10, 17 and 24 February 3, 10, 17 and 24 March Winter Term Phase One - 2025 24 and 31 January 7, 14, 21, 28 February 7, 14, 21 and 28 March Spring Term Phase Two - 2025 25 April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 May 6, 13, 20 and 27 June Autumn Term Phase Three - 2025 26 September 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 October 7, 14, 21 and 28 November Venue: Online (Zoom) Fee: £350 per term or £900 the whole year Bárbara Godoy M.A., Adv. Dip. Exi. Psy. Existential Psychotherapist Group Leader, Counsellour, Lecturer and Supervisor, MBACP & UKCP accredited, SEA Professional Member, Director of Therapy Harley StreetBárbara’s academic contributions in London since 2008 include 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 and designed therapeutic Group Work since 1997. She brought her earliest workshop: “Experiences” to large groups in The Netherlands, Italy, France, UK and Argentina. These awareness-intensive processes are a legacy of the human potential movement (HPM) of the 1960s, with techniques such as AUM Meditation Marathons, Psychodrama, Bioenergetics and Primal Feelings work. Organized by:

Peer Supervision for Clinical Hypnotherapists: Peer supervision for clinical hypnotherapists fosters professional growth through enhanced reflective practice, continuous learning, emotional support, feedback and validation, ethical guidance, networking, and professional accountability. - **Enhanced Reflective Practice**: Facilitates self-reflection, helping hypnotherapists identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement through peer discussions. - **Continuous Learning**: Expands knowledge by sharing innovative techniques, research findings, and emerging trends, promoting ongoing professional development. - **Emotional Support**: Provides a supportive space for therapists to share experiences and receive emotional support, addressing the emotional demands of the profession. - **Feedback and Validation**: Offers constructive criticism and fresh perspectives, aiding in skill refinement and improved clinical practice. - **Ethical Guidance**: Allows discussion of ethical dilemmas and collaborative solutions, ensuring adherence to professional standards. - **Networking and Collaboration**: Builds professional networks, leading to collaboration, referrals, and partnerships. - **Professional Accountability**: Encourages high standards and self-reflection through peer discussions, enhancing practice quality.

Become a META-Health professional with our 6 months intensive training! Do you want to learn the scientific background of body-mind-interactions and how to integrate this knowledge in your practical work with your clients? This course contains both self-study and live training in online classes and covers the META-Health Level 1 and 2 material. It will take 6 months including 24 live sessions, 2 hours each, mainly in a weekly rhythm. You will get preparatory videos, reading material and tasks that help to understand and integrate the content, while the group sessions focus on demonstrations, discusion of the material, and practical exercises for you. All the time, our trainers and tutors will support you and we’ll be a learning family with an active chatgroup. Altogether you should reckon approximately 5 hours per week.

This CPD accredited short course is for everyone who wants to work more effectively with their collaeagues. It will help strengthen personal competencies including listening and communication, understanding and engaging with different perspectives, and working together to create a positive culture in the office or on the shopfloor.

A masterclass in devising therapeutic metaphors This inspiring online training day gives you powerful, non-intrusive ways to help distressed young people – and others – overcome difficulties in their lives – the skills you will learn can also be used with adults Accredited CPD: 6 hours Length: 1 day (9.15am - 4.00pm GMT) LIVE ONLINE – Join Pamela Woodford live online on Tuesday 18th June 2024 for this enjoyable, experiential CPD accredited training day – you will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, take part in exercises to practice the steps involved, come up with pertinent metaphors and create your own story. Limited numbers. BONUS RECORDING – you will also get a recording of the tutor sessions for a limited time afterwards to maximise your learning. >> If you can’t make this date please register your interest below and we’ll let you know as soon as a new date is available. Fantastic online training, engaging and thought-provoking throughout. The confidence Pamela has given me will impact positively on my everyday practice, I am truly inspired...PSYCHOTHERAPIST Why take this course Children’s natural affinity with stories gives us an incredibly powerful, non-directive way to help emotionally distressed and abused young people, who can sometimes be hard to reach in any other way. On this practical live training event you will learn how to tap into your own metaphorical brain to create therapeutic stories and metaphors ‘in the moment’ that are appropriate to each individual’s circumstances and experiences. Throughout the day Pamela – a master storyteller and highly experienced psychotherapist – draws on her own case histories, metaphor and story examples as she guides you through the steps involved in ‘thinking on your feet’ and creating a story yourself in the moment. By the end of the day you will have lots of new, innovative ways to engage with and help distressed children deal with the experiences they have had – whilst also offering them hope, understanding, and new ways of thinking and feeling about life and themselves. Indeed, you may well be surprised at how quickly positive psychological changes occur as a result of the stories you will create and tell ‘in the moment’. Stories also play a crucial role in child development – through the ways the different characters think, act and overcome difficulties, children gain important templates for understanding the world and dealing with the challenges and situations they will meet in life – both now and in the future. They are a wonderful way to help build resilience. Storytelling and the careful use of therapeutic metaphor are crucial elements of successful counselling and psychotherapy – they help bypass assumptions and rigid thinking to offer a new, broader way of looking at things, awaken innate resources and offer crucial hope – just what struggling children need… Wonderful, interactive online course. Pamela is a joy to listen to – I learnt so muchCOUNSELLOR What will you learn A clear understanding of how to address emotional issues in children Simple ways to calm and relax children – “it’s the way you tell ‘em” Tips for igniting your own imagination and creativity How to ‘think metaphor’ to find the right one for each situation A step-by-step guide to creating your own stories – the 6 steps for creating short stories with metaphors specifically tailored to quickly bring about positive psychological changes in children and young people Breathing life into inanimate objects and taking inspiration from nature – how to tune into your metaphorical mind Valuable experience in creating your own therapeutic story from scratch How to use your stories and metaphors The importance of paying attention to the words children use when telling you something Case histories which illustrate the effectiveness and flexibility of stories – and show why they are such powerful therapeutic tools, even with difficult cases How to find your own metaphors and connect them emotionally to distressing situations Using embedded suggestions in stories – exercise Different ways to use therapeutic stories, such as those in Pamela’s acclaimed Brighter Little Minds series, to develop emotional literacy The importance of incorporating all of our senses How to adapt stories to use with adolescents and adults Tips for thinking creatively ‘on your feet’ to come up with suitable metaphors and ideas there and then in the moment Flexible skills that can easily be adapted to working with adults Why subtly entwining a child’s interests into a story makes its impact stronger How to introduce a story or therapeutic metaphor naturally into your conversation Feedback on the story you create and time to ask questions of the tutor – a highly experienced and creative psychotherapist who has spent decades working therapeutically with distressed children and young people A greater appreciation of the subtle power of metaphor, imagination and embedded suggestions and how to use them to help the young people you care for Increased confidence in creating and telling therapeutic stories yourself A variety of story examples and ‘scripts’ Lots of new ideas from Pamela Woodford’s ‘treasure chest of healing spells’ to spark your own creativity Tips for improving your own storytelling abilities Such a helpful live online training day – the use of metaphor via story form is a powerful toolHEAD OF BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT SERVICE – EDUCATION Course Programme The ‘How to create healing stories for distressed children’ live online workshop starts at 9.15am and runs until 4.00pm. (GMT). 9.15am Join the Zoom meeting 9.30am What can go wrong for children? How stories can help 11.00am Comfort break and discussion 11.10am Using metaphor, relaxation, imagination and embedded suggestions 1.00pm Lunch break 1.40pm Setting the scene and creating the story 3.10pm Comfort break and discussion 3.20pm Sharing the stories you have created 4.00pm Day ends Who is this course suitable for? Anyone working with emotionally distressed children or young people, including: Psychotherapists, therapists and counsellors Teachers and educational professionals Childcare and healthcare professionals (and students) Foster carers Adoptive parents – and perspective adoptive parents Social workers Parents and carers Interested friends or family who wish to help a young person they know And anyone who would like to attend for personal reasons This 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.

Experiential Group Process. A playground for therapists to nurture the imagination, release inhibitions and mobilise therapeutic insights. Unlocking Our-Selves: The Seekers Experiential Group and Process Work with Bárbara Godoy A playground for therapists to nurture the imagination, release inhibitions and mobilise therapeutic insights “Supportive, thought-provoking, emancipating, grounding” Inspired by the most prominent world seekers from antiquity to date. This year’s programme will take us on a profound personal journey of enquiry by cultivating presence and activating aliveness in the group environment OPTION 1: Tuesday Evenings Group 6 pm to 7.15 pm Term 3: Eastern Mystics 17and 24 September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 October 5, 12, and 19 November OPTION 2:  Friday Lunchtime Group 12.30 pm to 1.45 pm Latin American Writers 20 and 27 September 4, 11, 18 and 25 October 1, 8, 15 and 22 November Venue: Online – Zoom - Fee: £300 (term) Bárbara Godoy M.A., Adv. Dip. Exi. Psy. Existential Psychotherapist Group Leader, Counsellour, Lecturer and Supervisor, MBACP & UKCP accredited, SEA Professional Member, Director of Therapy Harley StreetBárbara’s academic contributions in London since 2008 include 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 and designed therapeutic Group Work since 1997. She brought her earliest workshop: “Experiences” to large groups in The Netherlands, Italy, France, UK and Argentina. These awareness-intensive processes are a legacy of the human potential movement (HPM) of the 1960s, with techniques such as AUM Meditation Marathons, Psychodrama, Bioenergetics and Primal Feelings work.

This workshop offers an opportunity for asking all questions regarding Gestalt Therapy and the experiential use of some of the tools/experiments associated with it.  There will be an opportunity for an in-depth exploration of how to work with clients and your own process, with the use of some of the classic skills and tools offered within Gestalt Therapy. This could include some 2 Chair Work, working with a Sensation, Dream Work, Stones, Russian Dolls, Objects, Drawing and much more; guided and influenced by what you, the attendees, might want.  The Gestalt Cycle of Awareness will be covered (which some refer to it as a wave) – I refer to as the sea, because there are many waves in the sea at the same time. Some starting and some ending. All will be linked to the core emotions through the lens of my book - ‘The Penny Model’, to help make Gestalt Therapy more accessible and comprehensible. The session will be suitable for all practitioners; whichever modality you have been trained in.  Workshop details: Duration: 3 HoursTime: 2 PM (PKT)Date: June 17th 2023Location: Online (Zoom)Cost: 15,000/- PKR (Discount available of members of The Grower’s Circle)Certificate of Participation: Yes  About Stefan Charidge Stefan Charidge is the originator of The Penny Model, and the author of "The Penny Model: an explanation of where depression comes from and how to overcome it". Stefan is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor, and Supervisor by profession.

Essential trauma awareness training on the causes, symptoms and best ways to treat PTSD Join our expert tutor live online to deepen your understanding of trauma and our responses to it – recovery is possible… Accredited CPD Certificate: 6 hours Length: 1 day (9.15am - 4.00pm GMT) Excellent online trauma course! I've worked with complex trauma for over 5 years and there was still plenty for me to take away...KAT MARLOW, PSYCHOTHERAPIST Why do some people become traumatised and others not? What makes an event traumatic? Why are the symptoms of trauma so many and varied? What happens if someone freezes – or experiences a shutdown or dissociative response – during a traumatic event? Live Online Training – Join Ros Townsend on Tues 16th April 2024 to find out the answers to these questions, and many more… You’ll also have time to ask your own questions and benefit from the group discussions. Once you’ve booked you’ll receive emailed confirmation – you’ll get your Zoom link the day before the event. Limited numbers – book soon to ensure your place. BONUS RECORDING – the training is recorded, in case anyone experiences technical difficulties on the day, so you will also get a recording for a limited time afterwards to maximise your learning. This inspiring and helpful online course with Ros Townsend, a highly experienced psychotherapist and trainer who specialises in treating trauma, will give you a thorough, clear understanding of how and why we can be impacted by traumatic events, what is happening in our brains, what causes post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, why we respond in different ways (fight, flight, freeze or shutdown/dissociation), how to help someone who is suffering, when to seek professional help – and more. Why take this course Suffering from trauma, whether from a single incident or multiple events spread over the course of many years, can have a significantly detrimental impact on a person’s mental and physical health, and their quality of life. It can also greatly affect the lives of those around them. Since the Covid-19 Pandemic, more people than usual have experienced extremely stressful, distressing and/or frightening events, and many are finding that it has left them with symptoms of post-traumatic stress which can, in themselves, be very frightening. Recovery is possible – understanding is key Understanding what causes PTSD symptoms, how our brains and bodies react to distressing events and what makes us vulnerable to becoming traumatised, are all key to successful recovery. This knowledge creates a firm foundation on which to build successful coping strategies and clarifies what needs to happen to enable successful self-help and recovery. During the day you will also gain a clear understanding of how to spot the ‘early warning signs’ of trauma, before they go on to affect further areas of someone’s life, which red-flag signs indicate that it is time to seek professional help, and how trauma specialists are able to help people recover, from even the most difficult times, effectively – and lots more. Jam-packed full of essential information and important insights, real-life case studies and tips, this trauma course clarifies the different ways trauma can impact on people, leaving you better equipped to help support recovery and build resilience. It is an essential course for anyone who works with distressed people or who wishes to support someone they care for in their recovery from trauma, or for those simply wishing to better understand what they, or someone they care for, are experiencing. You will have plenty of time to ask questions throughout the day as the course is designed as a balance between structured learning, group discussion and activities (it is a live, expanded version of our shorter online course: Understanding Trauma). Ros is a brilliant teacher and presenter. She made the whole course interesting, engaging and informative as well as very supportive. She was also very patient with all our questions!GEMMA ROGERS, COUNSELLOR/COACH What you will learn A clear understanding of what trauma is – and the different survival responses we have evolved to help us deal with it What happens in our brains when we experience a traumatic event Why some people are affected by traumatic events, but not others What makes something ‘a trauma’ What symptoms may indicate that someone has been traumatised Why post-traumatic stress (PTS) occurs and the many different ways it can present The physical and psychological causes of post traumatic stress symptoms such as flash backs, hypervigilance, anger, poor sleep, poor memory, physical pain, difficulty thinking, digestive problems, low mood, apparent over-reaction to non-threatening situations Why PTS symptoms can develop years after a traumatic event The fight, flight and freeze response – its impact on our brain and body, and why it can be triggered inappropriately Why experiencing trauma in a passive survival state – such as freeze, shutdown or a dissociative state – can affect an individual particularly deeply How high emotional arousal impacts on our ability to think clearly Why our brains evolved this way Why some people experience trauma in a passive survival state such as freeze, shutdown or a dissociative state – and why we shouldn’t feel ashamed or guilty if we do The double whammy that comes with the ‘freeze’ response Why some sufferers experience ‘shutdown’ or dissociation as a result of trauma – and how this can lead to feelings of shame or guilt Why anger and other strong emotions can follow when someone comes out of a shutdown state during recovery from trauma How traumatic memories can stay ‘live’, keeping us on constant alert for danger ‘The straw that broke the camel’s back’: why one seemingly small event can tip someone into PTSD after years of exposure to other distressing events The importance of pattern-matching in understanding how our brains work Why post-traumatic stress triggers seemingly inappropriately extreme fear reactions The far-reaching impacts of unresolved trauma, including the development of co-morbid conditions and unhelpful coping strategies, such as addictions How unresolved trauma can lead to depression – the trauma / depression cycle Differences when treating single incident trauma, multiple trauma or ‘complex trauma’ When to seek professional help – spotting the ‘red-flag’ signs that you, or someone you care for, might need further support Where to find effective professional help An understanding of how the rewind technique works; its many advantages and applications The common elements of all effective treatments for post traumatic stress (PTSD) How we need to adapt traditional approaches to treating trauma for those experiencing shutdown or dissociative symptoms in the present Working holistically from the human givens approach The natural way we recover from distressing events What we all need as human beings to live emotionally healthy lives How to best employ self-help strategies to support your own recovery or to help others’ suffering from the effects of trauma How to build resilience and recover from symptoms How to access the ‘recovery zone’ Using breathing techniques with clients suffering from trauma Self-help strategies for improving your mental health and minimising traumatic symptoms A wonderfully informative course – I learned so much about traumaCOUNSELLOR Please note This live online training course is an expanded, live version of our shorter online course: Understanding Trauma. If you work with people with Complex Trauma, you may also like our attended workshops: Complex Trauma: Working effectively with challenging cases. Who this workshop is suitable for Anyone interested in understanding trauma and the many different ways it can present, the physical and psychological causes of post traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD), and what can be done to help – whether for personal or professional reasons. Anyone working with traumatised people including health and welfare professionals, such as: psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, school counsellors, student wellbeing officers, doctors, nurses, OTs, social workers, health visitors, youth workers, outreach, support workers, clinical psychologists, midwives, welfare officers, youth workers, hypnotherapists Anyone working with traumatised members of public services, such as: firefighters, police, paramedics and military personnel Family members of a traumatised individual who wish to understand more about how they can support their recovery or help them to access support Individuals wanting to understand more about their own experience of symptoms relating to trauma and learn more about what effective support is available – you will find the information on this course hugely helpful. Please note As the course deals with the subject of trauma, participants should be aware that discussion of specifically chosen examples of trauma and PTS symptoms will take place, for illustrative purposes, during the day. These will be generic examples for teaching purposes, however, and will not go into unnecessary detail or be voyeuristic or inherently distressing. Participants on the course will not at any stage be expected or put under pressure to discuss or disclose details of any personal experiences of a traumatic nature that they may have had. Course Programme The ‘Trauma: Patterns from the Past’ live online course starts at 9.15am and runs until 4.00pm. 9.15am Join the Zoom meeting 9.30am Introducing PTS 11.00am Comfort break and discussion 11.30am Understanding PTS 1.00pm Lunch break 1.45pm Red-flag signs – when to seek professional support 2.45pm Comfort break and discussion 3.00pm Self-help strategies 4.00pm Day ends This 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.

“Meaning-Fullness” critiques traditional psychiatric diagnosis, advocating for an existential/phenomenological approach to mental health. 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. Meaning- between Prof. Ernesto Spinelli and Dr. Jan Resnick “Meaning-Fullness aims to develop an alternative approach to traditional psychiatric diagnosis of psychopathology through an understanding of the existential vacuum and a phenomenology of language and the body. There is a growing epidemic of mental un-wellness even though there has never been so many psychiatrists and psychologists available. This contradiction demonstrates how a bio-medical approach is far too limited at best and a radical mistake, at worst. Through the use of theory, philosophical discussion and case studies, Meaning-Fullness seeks to elaborate how mental disturbance and emotional suffering, traumatic and dissociative experience, emptiness and meaninglessness, can be understood differently and then worked with in psychotherapy. When an existential/phenomenological perspective informs the therapeutic relationship, terms like treatment, healing, cure, recovery, growth and development, can be seen in a different light from the standard narratives and take on a wholly different meaning.” Dr. Jan Resnick. Dr. Jan Resnick is a senior psychotherapist, supervisor, and author. He has a PhD in Psychology (Psychoanalysis). As founder and Director of Training, he ran a Nationally Recognized and Accredited Registered Training Organisation called The Churchill Clinic for 18 years which became the largest such organisation in Australia for conferring post-graduate qualifications for training Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists. He was the Founding President of the Psychotherapists & Counsellors Association of Western Australia where he later received an Outstanding Achievement Award after serving 10 years on the Management Committee. He was an Editorial Advisory Board Member of the national journal Psychotherapy in Australia for 20 years and currently, an Advisory Board member of Blue Knot Foundation (formerly ASCA – Adult Survivors of Child Abuse). He is accredited by the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists to supervise psychiatry registrars in psychotherapy and has taught in the Advanced Psychotherapy Training Program. He has presented at many conferences including last year in Valencia, Spain for the International Association for Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, also for the Mental Health Practitioners Network of Australia, and 3 times for the RANZCP Psychotherapy Section bi-national conference. He runs a supervision group for Psychiatrists practicing psychotherapy for the past 15 years and supervises Developmental Paediatricians at the State Child Development Centre in West Perth. He has presided over 4 mental health charities and has over 100 publications including two books. His book based on his clinical work as a couples’ therapist is How Two Love, Making your Relationship Work and Last. His latest book published by Karnac Books (Oxford) is called Meaning-Fullness, Developmental Psychotherapy and the Pursuit of Mental Health, an existential/phenomenological and relational approach based on his clinical work over more than 47 years. 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 19 July 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:

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: