A key aim running through all my training is to encourage practitioners to consider their own attitudes, beliefs, assumptions and current ways of thinking, and how these translate into their lives and work.
For many years I have been delivering workshops and training events for counsellors and psychotherapists, other healthcare workers and those in allied helping and healing roles. Many of these have been for training organisations (for example, counselling diploma courses), counselling services and organisations offering bespoke continuing professional development opportunities.
Most of my training has been designed for practitioners interested in learning more about subjects related to psychiatry and mental healthcare. Examples include psychiatric diagnosis, psychiatric drugs and various forms of what are typically referred to as psychiatric disorders. Often a key theme has been to understand the nature of the so-called ‘medical model’ and how this influences the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of caring activities.
Over the years I have subjected a good deal of psychiatric and mental healthcare practice to critique. I have highlighted and explored some of the key debates and alternative ways of supporting people experiencing mental distress, being well placed to do this given my experience as a psychiatrist and person-centred therapist. While straddling these two very different worlds, my focus has been on building bridges and to facilitate greater understanding and dialogue between different disciplines and roles.
In recent times, my training has become more experiential in nature. I am also keen to explore more philosophical and spiritual dimensions of care and healing. Part of this is to consider how we may keep relationship at the heart of what we do.
Training events have typically been whole-day or half-day, and adapted to the needs of organisations. My general style has been to deliver some specific content relevant to the workshop theme /subject, as well as to encourage reflection and learning from each other. My current preference is to provide in-person training rather than on-line.
Do get in touch if you would like to know whether I can offer something for your organisation and for an idea of what I charge, or any other information.