During the workshop you will be invited to explore and discuss various aspects of mental health and psychotherapy practice and intervention. Themes will be drawn out and extended through facilitation in the group and experiential activities where you will be able to play with your ideas and develop your skills.
The workshop will include an exploration of ideas contributing toward underlying historical and contemporary developments in mental health. We will review advances in understanding embodied processes and the relevance of this research for theories of psychological development and psychotherapy.
The presentation of suffering in what is termed ‘mental health’ is at the heart of this workshop and though we may consider the use of medication alongside treatment planning and formulation, individual and shared suffering of persons, family and relationship will be the focus of this workshop.
Mental Health: Mystery or Mis-Story?
Themes represent general areas of exploration and do not constitute ‘fixed content’. You will be able to share your own interests and/or experiences within the group to develop your own themes and have an opportunity to begin to place your own views in context.
Structure and content of the workshop will be negotiated during the first morning when we meet and share our expectations. We will negotiate start and finish times as well as incorporating breaks between.
Please wear clothing suitable for play and comfort. You may also wish to make notes so please bring whatever you prefer for note taking.
| Theme 1 | Discussion may lead into an introduction to relevant areas for study such as philosophy and other influences on contemporary approaches. Wholistic and Medical models might be explored and integrated to ground emerging themes in therapeutic contexts. |
| Theme 2 | Further sharing of ideas may develop into discussion involving Neural networks including most recent concepts in understanding embodied systems and rhythms in relationship with sensory integration of environmental stimuli. |
| Theme 3 | May provide an overview of medications used in mental health. Drug effects and side effects. The use of neuroleptics, tranquillisers, sedatives and regularly prescribed anxiolytics and anti-depressants. Drug dependence and withdrawal may be discussed along with treatment planning for clients wishing to reduce, eventually to stop drug usage where appropriate. |
| Theme 4 | The use of classification of mental disorder with reference to DSM V and the World Health Organization Classification 11th revision (ICD11) Formulation and case examples could be utilized to explore clinical presentation of the most common expressions of suffering. The use of diagnosis and treatment interventions with emphasis given to social dimensions. |
| Theme 5 | May involve an exploration of ideas and assumptions contributing toward approaches in psychotherapy, counselling, and mental health. An attempt to integrate theme 1. philosophy, and themes 2. and 4. physiological and behavioural dimensions in mental health. Working with clients experiencing mental health, boundary issues in thinking, feeling and behavioural domains. |
These workshops have limited places, so places are allocated on a first come first served basis.