Workshop Session 1: 14.00 – 17.00  

(choose 1 workshop from 7 available)

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   1. When what we thought we knew seems no longer true

From rigidity to fluidity?

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Sheila Beare: PTSTA;CTA                

 

Our world seems ever changing, and things we perhaps thought were reliable are being challenged with new information and experiences, along with some events happening which perhaps were beyond our imagination. TA is continuously changing alongside this too. How are we responding to this?

 

In this workshop we will share experiences and explore together how we, and our clients, cope with continuous change. Do we become more rigid, chaotic or fluid? We will explore our own processes/responses then in accounting for this consider what we need in order to support our clients and ourselves during these times. 

 

Workshop outcomes: 

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​Greater awareness of their process in relation to coping with change, and an idea of what they need to support themselves and their clients in times of change. To go away with further questions to mull over rather than having concrete answers. To honour our needs and our differences in autonomous decision making.

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Biography:

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Sheila is an experienced Transactional Analysis UKCP registered psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer, working with individuals, groups and organisations. She has a thriving full-time practice based in Markinch, Fife which she has developed over the last 20 years. Sheila is a COSCA accredited Diploma and Counselling Skills trainer. As a trainer Sheila aims to bring what we read on the page to life.

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Level of prior experience required: Developing Level - Middle Years of Training

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Focus: Psychotherapy and Clinical

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Style: Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Experiential Work

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   2. Existential TA: Our human search for meaning and the development of the    

       adult self

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Rachel Cook:  TSTA / TTA / STA

        

In this workshop we will explore an existential approach to TA counselling and psychotherapy, acknowledging the adult's search for meaning in life. Drawing on her recent TAJ article, Rachel will offer a theory for the development of the adult self that can be used to understand our client - and our own existential life predicaments that may not originate in childhood.

 

Through Rachel's 'encounters for change' model and sharing clinical and personal encounters, we will explore together the different phases of an existential, relational psychotherapy encounter and the use and importance of self-disclosure. 

 

Workshop outcomes:  ​

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I would like psychotherapists, counsellors and trainees to be: 
1. Thinking about new developments in TA theory: the development of the adult self and an existential approach to TA.
2. Developing their practice in working existentially and co-creatively, thinking about diagnosis, contracting and treatment planning from a relational, co-creative and existential perspective.
 

Whilst it is aimed at psychotherapists and counsellors, all fields may benefit from thinking about their work from this perspective.

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Biography:

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Rachel Cook is Senior Academic Lecturer and Primary TA Tutor at Metanoia Institute, London, and has been an educator for 30 years.  She is passionate about relational training, supervision and clinical work, and has a busy private practice in Hampshire. Rachel enjoys the integration of classical TA with a relational, co-creative and existential perspective and strives to use her humanity, humour, integrity and authentic self in her life and work. She loves to write, having published several articles in the TAJ and being on the TAJ's Editorial Board. She is also a member of the UKCP's Professional Conduct Committee. 

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Level of prior experience required: None

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Focus: Counselling and Coaching; Psychotherapy and Clinical

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Style: Didactic Teaching; Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Clinical Demonstration; Experiential Work

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   3. The Turning Point- archetype or reality

Rising to the mental health challenges of the 21st century

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Geoff Hopping: TSTA / TTA / STA

 

We are living through extraordinary and challenging times that are having a huge impact on our own mental health and that of society. I want us to have a space to explore the history of the TA and how the ideas included in it , relate to our current society and its underpinning values.
I want us to reflect on the ways that we and our clients are often labelled and scapegoated for society's ills.

Krishnamurti said 'it is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society'.
So how do we position ourselves in this regard? What is the support we need to sustain ourselves and the people we care about  in the face of turmoil and crisis? Do we need to grieve the world we hoped for?

We will draw on ancient and modern wisdoms and consider what we may have lost touch with , what we yearn for and how to address and pay attention some of the emptiness that we endure as part of our modern way of living. 

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Workshop outcomes: 

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​To allow ourselves to gain a state of greater open mindedness and compassion. To embrace the present moment when we consider humanities turning point. To reflect  on our unique purpose and gain the support we need to bring it about. 

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Biography:

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Geoff is currently a director at the Link Centre. He is a TSTA (P), a psychoanalytically trained psychotherapist and a Jungian informed supervisor. He has experience of working in private practice, psychiatric hospitals, social work settings and a high security prison. More recently he was ordained as an Inter Faith Minister. He is passionate about social responsibility and exploring the interface between science and spirituality.

He is also passionate about his work as a trainer and manager which he considers to be an immense privilege and responsibility and believes that we all have a contribution to make  to  future generations.

He embraces the philosophy of social responsibility and is committed to brining this into all aspects of his work and life.

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Level of prior experience required: None

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Focus: Education and Training; Counselling and Coaching; Psychotherapy and Clinical; Organisational              

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Style: Didactic Teaching; Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Experiential Work

 

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   4. Celebrating Milestones

Temperament, Transition and Transformation 

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Cathy McQuaid: TSTA / TTA / STA

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Last year I celebrated a special milestone birthday. I experienced numerous events and activities and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The way I celebrated reflected who I am now, a far cry from who I was.

How do you celebrate such milestones whether they are birthdays, anniversaries, achievements, or life in general? How would you like to celebrate? In this workshop we'll explore how/why we choose to celebrate, or not. What gets in the way of celebrating in a way that fully embracing who you/we are.

The workshop will be creative and experiential. Come along with your curiosity and desire for fun.

 

Workshop outcomes:

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1.To explore whether/how participants celebrate themselves and their achievements.
2. To begin a conversation to identify any blocks to self-celebration
3. To identify at least one way the participants will celebrate themselves in the next 12 months.

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Biography:

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Cathy McQuaid is a trainer, supervisor, psychotherapy training consultant and researcher. Her interest in research and training led to her first book What You Really Need to Know About Counselling and Psychotherapy Training: An Essential Guide published by Routledge in 2014.

 

Her most recent research project has resulted her latest book Understanding Bereaved Parents and Siblings: A Handbook for Professionals, Family and Friends published in May 2021. In addition to writing and researching Cathy runs a supervision and consultancy practice in the North-West offering research, clinical and training supervision along with various CPD training courses and workshops. 

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Level of prior experience required: None

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Focus: Psychotherapy and Clinical

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Style: Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Experiential Work

 

 

   5. Stop moaning, Start Playing and have extra - ordinary life

Use of play and joy in the transformation and change  

 

Alex Piotrowska:  TSTA / TTA / STA

        

Jaak Panksepp, known best for his work on animal emotions and coining the term affective neuroscience, identified the play circuits in our brains as birth hardware. Play and ability to be free in self-expression leads to creativity and social connectedness

How do we utilise these needs of our clients to enhance widely understood process of change and how it can lead to personal wellbeing and community with others.

We will cover 
- How We Play, Time structure and play
- What Are Your Play Personalities?
- Interventions: Play Therapy and Playful therapy
- Playful Leadership in organizations

 

Come have serious fun.

 

Workshop outcomes:

 

Understanding Theories of  affective neuroscience, and  role of a play in human development ,  Experiences of personal style of Play in Action. Skills of creating a playful interventions in all areas of application of TA.

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Biography:

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I am a  therapist, coach, trainer and supervisor helping others to utilise their own potential  I work online and in London, I run several trainings programs online in Polish, Russian and English specialising in Family and Systemic Approach. I am believer that life is a mystery and we can make the most of living it to the fullest on many planes available to us. there is no coincidence but Co creativity in our lives. I work systemically looking always on the wider picture and taking into account what is not seen yet

 

Level of prior experience required: None

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Focus: Education and Training; Counselling and Coaching; Psychotherapy and Clinical; Organisational                

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Style: Didactic Teaching;Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Clinical Demonstration; Experiential Work

 

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   6. Did I jump, was I pushed, or is it destiny?

Am I living my vow, or someone else's?

 

Enid Welford: TSTA / TTA / STA      

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My focus is the relational aspect of script: Does the child decide,  are we 'scripted' or is script co created? We will look at historical TA approaches to script, from Berne until the present day. We will experiment with some theories and explore whether our theoretical beliefs change how we work with script issues.

We will also consider ancestral influences, how trauma or other issues may influence the formation of script for some descendants. 

Finally, I will offer a way of understanding and working with recalcitrant scripts which I have recently been offering to my clients.

 

Workshop outcomes:

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​Attendees will understand different approaches to script, and be able to see how they can be applied differently. They will see script can be relational and co created. They will have a new tool to use in working with script decisions.

 

Biography:

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Enid Welford is a trainer and supervisor based in South Manchester. She is passionate about Psychotherapy and constantly seeks to find new ways to resolve dilemmas with clients. She has spend many years exploring the interface of TA and Family Constellations, always weaving these approaches together in her work.

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Level of prior experience required: Advanced Level - Towards CTA and beyond

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Focus: Education and Training;Counselling and Coaching; Psychotherapy and Clinical; Organisational           

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Style: Didactic Teaching; Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Experiential Work

 

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   7. Social Dreaming:  A Space beyond Boundaries

 An enquiry into our true identity

 

Martin Wells:  TSTA / TTA / STA  & Adena Franses: CTA

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Social Dreaming is a group process that allows us to share our personal unconscious associations in a way that reveals the collective unconscious. As we move beyond the individual into the collective, beyond the known into the unknown, we have the opportunity to become aware, on a profound level, how all experience is shared and therefore unites us as human beings. Individual identity dissolves as the source of what inherently connects us all is experienced.

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Workshop outcomes:

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​A deep understanding of our place in the collective unconscious and the impact on organisational culture.

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Biographies:

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Adena is a Certified Transactional Analysis psychotherapist, a clinical supervisor, trainer and qualified mental health nurse with over thirty years clinical experience in private practice, within the public health sector (NHS) and primary care service. In 2001, she moved from the UK to Granada Spain, where she has a psychotherapy and supervision practice working with individuals, couples and groups. Adena is particularly interested in working with group process and in Social Dreaming, which offers us the possibility to move beyond the individual into a shared, collective experience.

Martin Wells is a TSTA who has also been studying and practising meditation for over 40 years. He worked for over 30 years in the NHS in the UK, as a consultant psychotherapist and teacher of mindfulness from a non dual perspective. He is the author of three books: 'Sitting in the Stillness', 'No one Playing' and 'Lost for Words'.

 

Level of prior experience required: None

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Focus: Education and Training; Counselling and Coaching; Psychotherapy and Clinical; Organisational

                 

Style: Discussion and Small Group and Pairs work; Clinical Demonstration; Experiential Work