In the trainings I deliver I have frequently been asked “what is the link between rage and shame?” Participants and myself have intuitively known that there is a strong relationship between them both. As a consequence I have been inspired to research the issue and have developed a model that articulates the connection between the two, and also a deeper understanding of how the therapeutic relationship can address these commonly presented, often perplexing, issues.

In this online interview I discuss a practice example of how a client may oscillate between rage and shame, the impact that this had on me as a therapist and how I worked with it.

In this event Beth presents her perspective on Congruence and demonstrates how she feels it has been misunderstood and therefore used inappropriately in therapeutic relationships. Beth’s commitment to rigorous theoretical thinking and it’s application in service of the client is both inspiring and deeply challenging!

When the IAPT (Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies) funding was announced it caused an initial ripple of delight- which soon became a dreadful shock as surgery’s lost their counsellors and CBT seemed to be the only choice for free on delivery ‘psychological therapy’ in the NHS.

Then Counselling for Depression (CfD) emerged and when I read the manual I was excited to recognise the person-centred approach throughout. It was then I decided to do my best to support its development as it was clear the funding allocated to it was temporary and unless it was taken up, the person centred approach in free on delivery services would not survive.

In recent years, Mick Cooper has been working with John McLeod to develop a ‘pluralistic’ approach to therapy, which Mick has described as a person-centred ‘metatherapeutic’ approach. That is, a person-centred way of thinking about the therapeutic field as a whole.

This dialogue will explore the concept of pluralism and its implications for person-centred theory and practice: introducing research and theory on client preferences, therapeutic goals, and ‘metatherapeutic communication’: talking with clients about the process and focus of therapy.

The world faces substantial challenges: from globalization to climate change and the planet’s limited resources, from religious warfare and terrorism to new ways of inter- and intra-national relationships and community, partnership and ‘family’ building – to only name a few.

This calls for a considerable change in the self-understanding of us humans. I am convinced that we have the potential to deal with the encounters ahead constructively, if we indeed understand and approach them as encounters, we have to face and are able to do so.

Today, it takes just an instant to be electronically connected to human suffering half way around the world. Amidst endless streams of variously sourced information, we absorb the world, and make choices in response. Amidst cynicism, corporate dominance and competing narratives, how is it possible to “be the change we want to see in the world?” What are we to do?  How is it possible for us to have hope for this hour in which we live?

Our theme, ‘Going Global’, can easily arouse anxiety and helplessness when we consider the scale of the challenges facing the world today. However, “we start from where we are”, even when that includes despair and panic, by endeavouring to approach our experience with compassion and acceptance. The Person-Centred community has much to contribute here and now, especially if we can reach out beyond the confines of therapy into the world.

Loading

Loading

Over the last decade the world of psychology science and practice has been changing. One mainstream development that person-centred psychologists need to be more aware of is positive psychology – the science of optimal human functioning and well-being.

The big idea of positive psychology is that we should be interested not only in distress and dysfunction but also in what makes life worth living. Does this sound like a familiar idea? It should.

As part of the preparation for Going Global 2013 Carol has agreed to participate in an interview with the same title as her presentation at the conference.

Carol invites us to engage with the question “How do we bring ourselves?” when we live in relationships and national groups that find themselves in crisis.

This online conversation is with Lynette Green and Max Hope. Lynette is a person-centred psychodramatist and Max is a person-centred educator.

During this online discussion, they talked about the benefits of using psychodrama as a tool for learning as well as their own views of person-centred education. They addressed the dilemmas of being open to being led by a group whilst also having their own agenda (in terms of content and method).

Giles has written and presented on the “Educator as Cultivator”, reflecting on his experience moving with his family from London to live and work on a farm and the steep earning curve he experienced.

Considering the role of cultivation in his own experience of learning, holding space in a way that supported him through the shame of conscious incompetence, was vital in sustaining his development.

Giles describes the need for the cultivator to be grounded in the learning relationship and be able to act courageously on our intuition that something “may be amiss”, while not intervening in a way that diminishes the learners energy and autonomy.

Peggy Natiello authored “The Person-Centered Approach: A passionate presence” as a challenge to those who practice the person-centered approach “to recognize and fully engage the philosophical belief system, the passionate style of living and the integrity that person-centeredness demands.” Her challenge extends to both therapists working one to one and those who would enter the encounter group experience.