Archived Workshop Courses

You can browse through overviews of the many courses we have run in recent years below:

  • Accordion Label

    Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions - online)

    An evidence-based intervention for childhood trauma

    Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is a powerful therapeutic technique that has recently been shown to be effective for adverse experiences and PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma (IREM Study. Katrina Boterhoven de Haan. PhD.2022). In this international, multi-centred, randomised clinical trial (RCT), ImRs was compared with EMDR. Researchers found no significant differences between these therapies for childhood trauma, both were found to be effective.

    Taster sessions introduce you to the theory, practice and growing evidence base for ImRs and an opportunity to experience the magic of Imagery Rescripting for yourself.

    The taster aims to introduce participants to:

    • The Origins of Imagery Rescripting
    • Recent developments – ImRs as a stand-alone treatment for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma
    • Personal experience of the Imagery Rescripting technique
    • Acts as a taster day for those who may want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCS in the Autumn 2024 intake

    Who is this workshop for?

    Those who might be thinking about joining the certificated practitioner training (Level 6) in the Autumn, 2024.

    The taster session is offered in two formats, face to face in a small group and online, mirroring how this therapy can be successfully used in a remote format.

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey

    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and former NHS Consultant Adult Psychotherapist (retired). Steve continues to practice on a private basis a day a week and teach. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy. He has completed the internationally recognised trainings in both individual and group schema therapy. He has had over seventy hours videoed supervised practice on imagery techniques with Dr Alessandro Carmelita, Past President of the Italian Society for Schema Therapy and inventor of the Mindful Interbeing Mirror Therapy approach.

    Please Note: Because of the experiential nature of the workshop, places are strictly limited to 6 persons..

    CPD Title: Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions)
    Date: Saturday, 13th April 2024
    Time: 9:30am - 1pm
    CPD Hours: 3.5
    Trainer: Steve Sharkey
    Venue: Online
    Fee: £40

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    Book Online

    Book Online

    Course:
    Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions - online)
    13th April 2024
    £40.00
  • The Hidden Nature of Sibling Sexual Abuse - Christiane Sanderson
    Course Completed April 2024 - reference only

    The Hidden Nature of Sibling Sexual Abuse: When Sexually Harmful Behaviour Masquerades as Consensual Sexual Experimentation

    It is estimated that one third of sexual abuse is perpetrated by children, with some as young as four engaging in sexually harmful behaviour. Overt peer to peer abuse is commonly seen in sexual harassment and sexual bullying, peer to peer sexual exploitation, and the use of sexual violence and rape in gangs. There is however a more nuanced, often unspoken type of sexually harmful behaviour which is usually under-reported as it masquerades as consensual sexual experimentation between children, especially siblings, step siblings and cousins.

    To fully differentiate between consensual sexual experimentation and sexually harmful behaviour it is critical to understand both typical and atypical sexual development in children and young people. This workshop will examine the nature and dynamics of sibling sexual abuse (SSA) by children and young people, its impact and long-term effects. We will distinguish between typical age-appropriate consensual sexual curiosity and sexual experimentation and atypical sexual behaviour which is non-consensual and sexually harmful. The aim is to enable practitioners to identify sexually abusive behaviour between siblings and help clients distinguish this from consensual sexual play. The workshop explores the role of grooming and examines how such abuse is normalised by being presented as consensual sexual exploration and experimentation. Strategies such as enticement through playing games that lead to sexually harmful behaviour and encouraging sexual activities with other children will be unpacked to provide a deeper understanding of how non-consensual sexual experimentation can make it harder for children, parents or adults in the child’s psycho-social world to legitimise this as sexual abuse and respond appropriately. To do this, the day explores how parents and primary caregivers can talk to their children in an age-appropriate way about sex and sexuality to help protect them from sexually harmful behaviour.

    The day will also examine how to work with adult survivors of sibling sexual abuse, facilitate disclosure and identify their experience as sexually abusive so that they can begin to legitimise their abuse and understand how it has impacted them to begin the journey of recovery and healing.

    Learning Objectives

    • Awareness of the range of sibling and peer on peer sexual abuse
    • Understand the nature of sexually harmful behaviour in children
    • Awareness he nature of typical age-appropriate consensual sexual exploration between siblings
    • Distinguish between typical and atypical non-consensual sexual behaviour between siblings
    • Acquire knowledge of the role of grooming and ‘normalisation’ of sexually harmful behaviour
    • Identify the long-term effects of sibling sexual abuse
    • Be knowledgeable about how to facilitate disclosure
    • Understand how to work with adult survivors of sibling sexual abuse and how to legitimise the abuse to facilitate recovery and healing
    • Awareness of the difficulties faced by parents and primary caregivers when sibling abuse is disclosed
    • Awareness of how to talk to children about sex and sexuality to help protect them from sexually harmful behaviour

    Facilitator: Christiane Sanderson

    Christiane Sanderson is retired senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton. With over 35 years’ experience working in the field of childhood sexual abuse interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse.

    She is the author of:

    • Counselling Skills for Working with Shame
    • Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma: Healing from Child Sexual Abuse
    • Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse
    • Introduction of Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma
    • Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 3rd Edition
    • The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse
    • The Hidden Taboo of Sibling Sexual Abuse: Working with Adult Survivors
    • The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence
    • The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths
    • Responding to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A pocket guide for professionals, partners, families and friends
    • Numbing the Pain: A pocket guide for professionals supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and addiction

    CPD Title: The Hidden Nature of Sibling Sexual Abuse
    Date: Saturday, 13th April 2024
    Time: 10.00 - 4.00
    CPD Hours: 5
    Trainer: Christiane Sanderson
    Venue: CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7EP
    Fee: £95 no concessions

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  • Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions)
    Course completed on various dates in 2024 - reference only

    Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions)

    An evidence-based intervention for childhood trauma

    Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is a powerful therapeutic technique that has recently been shown to be effective for adverse experiences and PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma (IREM Study. Katrina Boterhoven de Haan. PhD.2022). In this international, multi-centred, randomised clinical trial (RCT), ImRs was compared with EMDR. Researchers found no significant differences between these therapies for childhood trauma, both were found to be effective.

    Taster sessions introduce you to the theory, practice and growing evidence base for ImRs and an opportunity to experience the magic of Imagery Rescripting for yourself.

    The taster aims to introduce participants to:

    • The Origins of Imagery Rescripting
    • Recent developments – ImRs as a stand-alone treatment for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma
    • Personal experience of the Imagery Rescripting technique
    • Acts as a taster day for those who may want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCS in the Autumn 2024 intake

    Who is this workshop for?

    Those who might be thinking about joining the certificated practitioner training (Level 6) in the Autumn, 2024.

    The taster session is offered in two formats, face to face in a small group and online, mirroring how this therapy can be successfully used in a remote format.

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey

    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and former NHS Consultant Adult Psychotherapist (retired). Steve continues to practice on a private basis a day a week and teach. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy. He has completed the internationally recognised trainings in both individual and group schema therapy. He has had over seventy hours videoed supervised practice on imagery techniques with Dr Alessandro Carmelita, Past President of the Italian Society for Schema Therapy and inventor of the Mindful Interbeing Mirror Therapy approach.

    Please Note: Because of the experiential nature of the workshop, places are strictly limited to 6 persons.

    CPD Title: Imagery Rescripting (Taster Sessions)
    Date: Saturday, 20th January 2024
    Time: 9:30am - 1pm
    CPD Hours: 3.5
    Trainer: Steve Sharkey
    Venue: CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EP
    Fee: £40

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  • Impact of Mental Health on Sexual Relationships & Intimacy - Dr Anna Preston
    Course Completed November 2023 - reference only

    The Impact of Mental Health on Sexual Relationships and Intimacy.

    Learning Outcomes:

    To understand how to recognise some of the signs of mental health, personality and neurodiversity issues within counselling.

    To understand the interplay between mental health issues/personality disorder/neurodiversity, relationships, intimacy and sex.

    To understand the perspective and experience of someone with lived experience of Bipolar Affective Disorder.

    To share ideas together about how to talk about this in therapy and support those who experience such difficulties. We will also consider the experiences and role of the other person in the relationship.

    Learning will be through a mixture of didactic teaching, use of breakout rooms for group exercises, and feedback to the larger group.

    Content of Teaching:

    The teaching/part of the teaching will be co-delivered by someone with lived experience of Bipolar Affective Disorder, reflecting on their experience of intimacy and relationships, and the impact that their mental health difficulties have had on this area of life.

    There will be an introduction to mental health diagnoses, neurodevelopmental disorders and personality disorders.

    We will look in more detail at how intimate relationships can be affected by bipolar affective disorders, trauma and some personality disorders/personality issues.

    With regards to neurodiversity, Autistic Spectrum Disorders will also be a focus for the teaching with respect to how intimate partner relationships and sex might be affected.


    CPD Title
    The Impact of Mental Health on Sexual Relationships and Intimacy
    Date
    Sat 25th November 2023
    Time
    10am - 4pm
    Trainer
    Dr Anna Preston
    Venue
    CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EP
    Fee
    £80 / £64 - student rate
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  • Disappointment, Embitterment, Entitlement, Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism - Steve Starkey
    Course Completed December 2023 - reference only

    Disappointment, Embitterment, Entitlement, Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism

    Workshop aims

    • gain an awareness of healthy and pathological forms of disappointment, embitterment, grievance, and entitlement
    • understanding narcissism in the context of early development
    • learn how to navigate through the self-defeating coping strategies of the narcissist
    • raise awareness of the feelings generated in the therapist – avoid colluding with the “victim” in favour of working with the “shadow”

    This workshop will look at the spectrum of relational difficulties associated with feelings of disappointment, embitterment, entitlement, grievance and introduce participants to the concept of narcissism.

    Misplaced feelings of disappointment and an inflated or excessive sense of entitlement are amongst the most challenging and at the same time common presenting problems that we are likely to face in practice. We delude ourselves into believing that if we offer a safe, caring, and therapeutic space, the client will resolve their sense of injustice, but instead the client’s problems begin to deepen, and in time, this may include a growing sense of disappointment, with us!

    Normal or healthy entitlement involves giving and receiving - rights are balanced with responsibilities. In contrast, excessive entitlement is associated with a lack of empathy or appreciation of the others point of view - arrogance and a pervasive sense that one has been wronged begin to dominate when life’s realities conflict with unrealistic, polarised, or magical thinking. When challenged by the therapist, underlying feelings of fragility may give rise to rage and a sense that one has been mortally wounded.

    CPD Title
    Disappointment, Embitterment, Entitlement, Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism
    Date Saturday, 9th December 2023
    Time 9:30am - 4pm
    CPD Hours 5
    Trainer Steve Sharkey
    Venue CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EP
    Fee £80 / £64 Student Rate

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  • Recognising and Working with Autistic Spectrum Condition within the therapy room - Cheryl Sieloff
    Course Completed October 2023 - reference only

    Recognising and Working with Autistic Spectrum Condition within the therapy room.

    Working with people who have Autism can be stressful and rewarding, but often confusing. Some clients with Autism don’t progress in the same way that neurotypical people do.

    As therapists, we sometimes feel that we can’t reach our neurodiverse client and are tempted to either end therapy due to lack of progress, lack of client motivation or lack of our own ability and knowledge with Autism.

    During this day’s workshop, we will spend the morning looking at What Autism is, what Autism is like for the sufferer, and how to get into the mindset of the Autistic Mind. During the afternoon, we will look at specific skills and techniques to reach our clients within the therapy room.

    This workshop will generally focus on using a Cognitive Behavioural Theory approach, our own insight, client discussion, and looking at a Neurodiverse person’s own personal experience of Autism.

    At the end of the day participants will have a clearer view of what Autism is, and the way the Autistic Mind works, plus and have some basic skills to work with clients in this area.

    Facilitator - Cheryl Sieloff

    Cheryl is a registered Counsellor and a member of the BACP. She has worked within the Prison Service as an Addiction Counsellor, plus has spent some time working within Eating Disorder Services and Domestic Abuse Services.

    Cheryl has an independent counselling practice working with individual adult clients and couples, and specialises in Autism, Trauma, and Addiction and Relationship issues. She uses an Integrative Approach, which includes, Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic, Person Centred, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, CBT/REBT, and Mindfulness.

    Cheryl’s Counselling Training was completed at Kent at Canterbury University in 2004 and went on to do an MSc in Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy Studies. She is a qualified supervisor and couples counsellor.


    CPD Title: Recognising and Working with Autistic Spectrum Condition within the therapy room.
    Date: Sat 21st October 2023
    Time: 10am - 4.30pm
    Trainer: Cheryl Sieloff
    CPD Hours: 5
    Venue: CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EP
    Fee: £80 / £64 Student Rate
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  • Relationality As Central to Counselling Outcome - Brian Fenton
    Course Cancelled Sept 2023 - reference only

    Relationality As Central to Counselling Outcome

    Positive client outcome is strongly correlated with the quality of the therapeutic relationship and subsequent alliance regarding client goals.

    That the evidence points away from manualised therapies is of particular interest for counselling and psychotherapy, as both disciplines employ methods designed to enhance the quality of therapeutic relationship.

    In addition, both disciplines view forms of relationality as ‘loosely held protocols’. This workshop will highlight some pre-existing interventions which enhance the quality of relatedness. It will also endeavour to raise awareness in participants to some of the new thinking on relationality. That which is emerging from the research and philosophical underpinnings of what is broadly known as Relational therapy; where the therapists subjectivity is viewed to be at the heart of the matter. The idea is to have an exciting day of discussion and reflection.

    Facilitator

    Brian Fenton is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. He has a particular interest in relational psychotherapy and supervision and has authored and co-authored articles on both topics.

    Brian has worked as a Counsellor in Primary Care for 5 years, and then later as a Highly Specialist Psychotherapist in Secondary Mental Health care for 12 years. He currently has a private practice based in Whitstable Kent.
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  • Imagery Rescripting - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed July 2023 - reference only

    Imagery Rescripting – An evidence-based intervention for childhood trauma

    This experiential workshop introduces participants to Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) a powerful therapeutic technique that has recently been shown to be effective for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma (IREM Study. Katrina Boterhoven de Haan. PhD.2022). In this international, multi-centred, randomised clinical trial, ImRs was compared with EMDR.

    Researchers found no significant differences between these therapies for childhood trauma, both were found to be effective.

    With very few exceptions, schools of psychotherapy recognise the centrality and importance of helping a client to construct a ‘Healing Narrative’ although it may not be explicitly stated. To construct a narrative that ‘heals’ we have to connect with emotion, to ‘feel it’ as healing is not just a matter of thoughts and words - Imagery Rescripting seems to do this particularly well and then facilitates a corrective emotional experience.

    Workshop aims
    • The Origins of ImRs from Schema Therapy
    • Recent developments – ImRs as a stand-alone treatment for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood
    • Personal experience of the Imagery Rescripting technique
    • Acts as a taster day for those who may want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCT starting in the Autumn of 2023

    Who is the workshop for?
    Qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who want a taster of this powerful evidence-based approach, and/or those who might want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCT starting in the Autumn of 2023 (course details will be posted on the CCT website soon)

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and former NHS Consultant Adult Psychotherapist (retired). Steve continues to practice on a private basis a day a week and teach. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.

    He has completed the internationally recognised trainings in both individual and group schema therapy. He has had over seventy hours videoed supervised practice on imagery techniques with Dr Alessandro Carmelita, Past President of the Italian Society for Schema Therapy and inventor of Mindful Interbeing Mirror Therapy approach.
    S
  • Understanding Vicarious Trauma - Dr Anna Preston
    Course Completed May 2023 - reference only

    Understanding Vicarious Trauma

    The British Medical Association offers the following definition of Vicarious Trauma:

    ‘Vicarious trauma is a process of change resulting from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors.’

    Anyone who engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents, torture, and material relating to their trauma, is potentially affected, including doctors and other health professionals.

    Common signs of vicarious trauma
    • Lingering feelings of anger, rage and sadness about patient/client's victimisation
    • Becoming overly involved emotionally with the patient/client
    • Experiencing bystander guilt, shame, feelings of self-doubt
    • Being preoccupied with thoughts of patients/clients outside of the work situation
    • Over identification with the patient/client (having horror and rescue fantasies)
    • Loss of hope, pessimism, cynicism
    • Distancing, numbing, detachment, cutting patient/clients off, staying busy. Avoiding listening to client's story of traumatic experiences
    • Difficulty in maintaining professional boundaries with the client, such as overextending self (trying to do more than is in the role to help the patient/client).

    Experiencing any of these signs could indicate that you are suffering from vicarious trauma.

    This workshop aims to address the following:
    1. Introduction to Trauma
    2. Understanding the biology of Trauma
    3. Understanding the difference between PTSD, ‘Vicarious Trauma’, ‘Burnout’ and‘Compassion Fatigue’
    4. Understanding how Vicarious Trauma can affect us; what are the signs?
    5. Consideration of the needs of professionals, and supports available

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist previously working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire, also previously having been the Lead for a Personality Disorder Service in Surrey. I now work as an independent practitioner, trainer and expert witness. Since qualifying I have also worked in community mental health, secure forensic services, learning disability, and with people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I deliver a range of training packages to mental health professionals working both within and outside of NHS services. I work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
    S
  • Understanding the Spectrum of Domestic Violence - Christiane Sanderson
    Course Completed April 2023 - reference only

    Understanding the Spectrum of Domestic Abuse: From coercive control through to physical and sexual violence

    The level of reported cases of Domestic Abuse (DA) increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, with some DA charities recording a 66% increase in calls to helplines. In addition, the number of women murdered during lockdown has also risen above the average of two women a week murdered by their partner or ex-partner. While much of the clinical literature focuses on physical violence in domestic abuse (DA), there is increasing evidence that there are more subtle and covert forms of abuse in which power and control is used to coerce and emotionally abuse partners in intimate relationships. This workshop, which would be especially relevant for psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, aims to enhance our comprehension of the spectrum of DA, its impact and long term effects on survivors. It will also examine how, as practitioners, we can work effectively using the principles of the Power Threat Meaning Framework and Trauma Informed Practice, psychoeducation and stabilisation to restore control and to allow for the processing of the DA narrative.

    To understand the spectrum of DA the workshop will look at small subtle yet incremental forms of coercive and controlling behaviour such as ‘love bombing, ‘gaslighting’, thought control, deception, and lying to distort reality to gain control over the partner and make it hard to legitimise the abuse. The focus will be on the dynamics of coercive and controlling and emotional abuse and how the use of blame, shame and humiliation silences those who are being domestically abused.

    The workshop will also explore how these more subtle forms of abuse can precede a range of domestically abusive behaviours use of physical force, sexual violence, financial abuse, spiritual abuse and revenge porn, and identify those most at risk of DA. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the processes involved in DA such as grooming victims, the cycle of abuse, the role of dissociation and thought blindness that supports the trauma bond which binds the couple. The aim is to understand the role of attachment and fear of abandonment that underpins much of DA and how this manifests relationally both for the couple and practitioners working with DA. We also look at the importance of the therapeutic relationship in restoring relational worth, mitigating the de-humanising effects of DA and restoring autonomy and self-agency.

    Conceptualising DA within the complex trauma framework, we consider the processing of the DA narrative and the facilitation of post traumatic growth. By identifying the challenges of working with DA and introducing a range of therapeutic skills, practitioners will feel more equipped when working with survivors of DA and enhance their comprehension of the transformative effects of post traumatic growth for both clients and practitioners.

    Specifically, we will consider:
    • The nature and dynamics of DA, such as the role of charm and love bombing, gaslighting and deception is used to entice victims,
    • The nature of coercive and controlling behaviour, the use of thought control and thought blindness to distort reality that facilitates the trauma bond and the role of silence, secrecy and shame
    • The intergenerational transmission of DA through attachment and relational
    • deficits
    • The characteristics of male and female perpetrators
    • DA as complex trauma and its psychobiological impact
    • The long term effects of DA on partners, and children
    • Obstacles to leaving an abusive relationship
    • The importance of developing safety plans when leaving
    • The principles of the power threat meaning framework and trauma informed practice model when working with survivors of DA
    • The role of the therapeutic relationship in restoring power and control, autonomy, choice and self-agency
    • The impact of working with DA on practitioners and the role of self-care

    Biography
    Christiane Sanderson is retired senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton. With over 35 years’ experience working in the field of childhood sexual abuse interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse.

    She is the author of Counselling Skills for Working with Shame, Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma: Healing from Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse, Introduction of Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse, Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 3rd Edition, The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse; The Hidden Taboo of Sibling Sexual Abuse: Working with Adult Survivors and The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence, The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths, Responding to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A pocket guide for professionals, partners, families and friends and Numbing the Pain: A pocket guide for professionals supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and addiction
    S
  • Working with substance abuse - Adrian Hemmings
    Course Completed March 2023 - reference only

    Working with Substance Abuse

    Working with people with substances problems can sometimes be challenging. Their relationship with their substances is highly complex and often toxic. As therapists we sometimes split off to this aspect of our client’s life regarding it as outside our area of expertise and feeling overwhelmed by it. We may suggest that they go and see a specialist therapist. While this may sometimes be appropriate, working with someone’s substance use can also be integrating and rewarding.

    During this day’s workshop we will look at the psychosocial understanding of substance use, how this relationship is cyclical and how to work with client motivation.

    Clients will often say giving up or reducing their substance use was difficult but manageable, “it’s relapsing that’s the problem”. Because of this we will also cover relapse management and coping with craving.

    The workshop will be a mixture of theory, reflection on our own relationship patterns with substances, case discussion, videos and role-playing. At the end of the day participants will have a clearer view of their personal substance use and have some basic skills to work with clients in this area.


    Facilitator - Adrian Hemmings

    Adrian is a Chartered and HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and UKCP registered Psychotherapist. He worked as Research Fellow at the University of Sussex for twelve years and published extensively. He was Professional Head of Psychology for a primary care mental health team, chair of the BPS psychotherapy section and editor the section’s journal. He was also director of Sussex Alcohol and Substance use Service and external examiner to a number of university programmes. He has recently been a consultant for a study with the Centre for Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (University of Chester) developing a broader model of working in an IAPT service.

    Adrian has an independent psychotherapy practice and uses CBT and EMDR with clients with PTSD. He also works as a psycho-legal expert witness.

    S
  • Imagery Rescripting - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed February 2023 - reference only

    Imagery Rescripting – An evidence-based intervention for childhood trauma

    Please note places on this CPD are limited to 8 due to the experiential nature of the day

    This experiential workshop introduces participants to Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) a powerful therapeutic technique that has recently been shown to be effective for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood trauma (IREM Study. Katrina Boterhoven de Haan. PhD.2022). In this international, multi-centred, randomised clinical trial, ImRs was compared with EMDR.

    Researchers found no significant differences between these therapies for childhood trauma, both were found to be effective.

    With very few exceptions, schools of psychotherapy recognise the centrality and importance of helping a client to construct a ‘Healing Narrative’ although it may not be explicitly stated. To construct a narrative that ‘heals’ we have to connect with emotion, to ‘feel it’ as healing is not just a matter of thoughts and words - Imagery Rescripting seems to do this particularly well and then facilitates a corrective emotional experience.

    Workshop aims
    • The Origins of ImRs from Schema Therapy
    • Recent developments – ImRs as a stand-alone treatment for PTSD like symptoms arising from childhood
    • Personal experience of the Imagery Rescripting technique
    • Acts as a taster day for those who may want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCT starting in the Autumn of 2023

    Who is the workshop for?
    Qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who want a taster of this powerful evidence-based approach, and/or those who might want to join the certificated practitioner training at CCT starting in the Autumn of 2023 (course details will be posted on the CCT website soon)

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and former NHS Consultant Adult Psychotherapist (retired). Steve continues to practice on a private basis a day a week and teach. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.

    He has completed the internationally recognised trainings in both individual and group schema therapy. He has had over seventy hours videoed supervised practice on imagery techniques with Dr Alessandro Carmelita, Past President of the Italian Society for Schema Therapy and inventor of Mindful Interbeing Mirror Therapy approach.
    S
  • Understanding Vicarious Trauma - Dr Anna Preston
    Course Completed November 2022 - reference only

    Understanding Vicarious Trauma

    The British Medical Association offers the following definition of Vicarious Trauma:

    ‘Vicarious trauma is a process of change resulting from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors.’

    Anyone who engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents, torture, and material relating to their trauma, is potentially affected, including doctors and other health professionals.

    Common signs of vicarious trauma
    • Lingering feelings of anger, rage and sadness about patient/client's victimisation
    • Becoming overly involved emotionally with the patient/client
    • Experiencing bystander guilt, shame, feelings of self-doubt
    • Being preoccupied with thoughts of patients/clients outside of the work situation
    • Over identification with the patient/client (having horror and rescue fantasies)
    • Loss of hope, pessimism, cynicism
    • Distancing, numbing, detachment, cutting patient/clients off, staying busy. Avoiding listening to client's story of traumatic experiences
    • Difficulty in maintaining professional boundaries with the client, such as overextending self (trying to do more than is in the role to help the patient/client).

    Experiencing any of these signs could indicate that you are suffering from vicarious trauma.

    This workshop aims to address the following:
    1. Introduction to Trauma
    2. Understanding the biology of Trauma
    3. Understanding the difference between PTSD, ‘Vicarious Trauma’, ‘Burnout’ and‘Compassion Fatigue’
    4. Understanding how Vicarious Trauma can affect us; what are the signs?
    5. Consideration of the needs of professionals, and supports available

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist previously working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire, also previously having been the Lead for a Personality Disorder Service in Surrey. I now work as an independent practitioner, trainer and expert witness. Since qualifying I have also worked in community mental health, secure forensic services, learning disability, and with people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I deliver a range of training packages to mental health professionals working both within and outside of NHS services. I work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
    S
  • What’s the Schema? – Introduction to Schema Therapy - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed September 2022 - reference only

    What’s the Schema? – Introduction to Schema Therapy

    Please note places on this CPD are limited to 10 due to the experiential nature of the day

    Dr Jeffrey Young developed Schema Therapy in the 1980’s. Schema Therapy draws upon attachment, cognitive-behavioural, gestalt, object relations, constructivist and psychoanalytic approaches and blends these into a unifying conceptual and emotionally focused treatment model.
    Schema therapy places emphasis on relationships and affect, including transference. It links these with childhood development by using brief psychometrics and emotionally focused exercises that raise awareness of our schemas and coping styles. Schema Therapy is truly eclectic and yet its unifying framework does not overlap with any existing approach.

    Workshop aims
    • Introduction to the Schema and Mode models
    • Raise awareness of personal schemas through experiential work.
    • Acts as a taster for those that may wish to train in Schema Therapy
    • Enhance your assessment skills by thinking “What’s the Schema?”

    Who is the workshop for?
    All mental health professionals. Participants will be asked to complete some psychometric questionnaires prior to the start of the workshop.
    Important: The workshop is not suitable for individuals in crisis or in need of therapy

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and former Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He has completed the internationally recognised trainings in both individual and group schema therapy. He completed post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.
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  • BPD, ICD-11 and the Role of Trauma: Dr. Anna Preston
    Course Completed July 2022 - reference only

    BPD, ICD-11 and the Role of Trauma: Developments around Diagnosis and Treatment

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    1. Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder and link with Trauma
    2. Understanding developments around ICD-11 diagnosis (Complex PTSD) and the potential impact of these
    3. Understanding the differences between BPD and Complex PTSD
    4. Overview of treatments for BPD/ CPTSD
    5. Working with people with BPD/CPTSD in counselling
    6. Exploring the importance of non-judgemental listening when working with trauma
    7. Understanding the perspective of someone with personality disorder/CPTSD (co-facilitated by an expert by experience)

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist previously working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire, also previously having been the Lead for a Personality Disorder Service in Surrey.

    I now work as an independent practitioner, trainer and expert witness. Since qualifying I have also worked in community mental health, secure forensic services, learning disability, and with people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I deliver a range of training packages to mental health professionals working both within and outside of NHS services. I work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
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  • Fragmented Minds : Dissociation - Christiane Sanderson
    Course Completed September 2021 - reference only

    Fragmented Minds: Dissociation, Dissociative Identity Disorder and Psychosis

    Repeated and systematic trauma and the distortion of reality seen in childhood sexual or physical abuse can lead to chronic dissociation in childhood which often persists into adulthood. While dissociation is normal and in essence an adaptive response to complex trauma it can lead to a range of dissociative disorders in adulthood, including depersonalisation, derealisation and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

    This training day will examine the nature of dissociation and how it manifests in practice and how it differs from psychosis and schizophrenia to understand differential diagnosis and treatment. It will highlight the need for accurate assessment and formulation, and how best to work with survivors suffering from dissociation or DID using a trauma-informed practice model that emphasises stabilisation, boundaries, pacing, processing the trauma, working with different parts of the personality to aid integration as well as the challenges for practitioners.

    The training day will be of interest to counsellors and psychotherapists, health professionals such as GP’s, psychiatrists, clinical or counselling psychologists, community mental health teams, social workers, safeguarding officers and those in the criminal justice system such as police, probation and prison offices, as well as solicitors.

    Topics covered include:

    • What is dissociation and its link to childhood abuse and complex trauma
    • The role of dissociation in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • The continuum of dissociation from everyday dissociation to DID
    • How dissociation differs from psychosis or schizophrenia
    • The symptoms of dissociation in depersonalisation, derealisation, dissociative fugue and Dissociative Identity Disorder
    • The triggers to dissociation and its impact on functioning
    • The role of grounding, stabilisation and integration
    • The challenges faced by practitioners when working with dissociative disorders
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  • Working Creatively with Clients - Dr Margot Sunderland
    This course has been cancelled for Sept 2021 and is here for reference only

    Working Creatively with Clients

    “ It is always difficult for the right brain to speak when only your own or someone else’s left brain is listening” (Dan Siegel)

    This audio-visual presentation is designed to inspire delegates with a wealth of ways of working creatively with clients. With up to date scientific research on right and left brain different takes on the world, Dr Sunderland will discuss how when we engage the client’s right brain in therapy, we often get to the place “where deeper stuff sits” ( Bessel Van der Kolk). Actively encouraging the use of images and metaphors in the therapy room often brings a profound level of discourse and a far more direct route to the unconscious. The therapist’s use of images and metaphors will also be explored as well as enhancing practice with emotion cards, sandplay therapy, art images, the big empathy drawing, and many different ways of “show me as well as tell me”. Dr Sunderland will also provide moving case material with both teenagers and adults to illustrate her talk.

    Facilitator – Margot Sunderland
    Dr Margot Sunderland trained originally as a Gestalt Psychotherapist (UKCP) and then went on to train in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy.

    She is one of the founding Directors of The UKCP member organisation The Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (HIPC) a college of 30 years standing which runs Masters Degree courses in Arts Psychotherapy (HCPC and UCKP reg). For 10 years she worked as a psychotherapist in residential homes for traumatised teenagers where she says without the use of the arts it would have been so much harder to connect. She is author of over twenty books in child mental health, which collectively have been translated into eighteen languages and published in twenty-four countries. She is also author of books and cards for working creatively in therapy with adults, namely Draw on Your Emotions, Draw on Your Relationships, The Emotion cards and the Relationship cards.
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  • Destructiveness - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed July 2021 - reference only

    Destructiveness

    ...Inflicted by oneself upon oneself

    (Note this course approach has been updated)

    One of the most difficult things we encounter in practice are clients who appear to be invested in their own destruction. These clients leave us bewildered and confused, pushed and at the same time pulled as their plea for therapeutic help, which is usually sincere, is matched by another conflicting side of the personality which will render us a powerless spectator in the drama of their failing lives and in extreme cases may even take pleasure in it.

    Self-destructiveness is all around us and comes in many guises, ranging from simple ‘bad choices’ at work or in romance, to ‘risking it all’ by jeopardising one’s health, or a behaviour which contravenes the law and risks imprisonment, to name a few of the many manifestations of destructiveness. Where and how should we position ourselves with clients who concern us, what therapeutic stance should we take and how do we avoid being pulled into advice or action which is almost always doomed and may even exacerbate the dynamic ‘cat and mouse’ dynamic that is often present? In this workshop, we will review relevant theory on aggression and destructiveness and link these with early human growth and development.

    Workshop aims:

    • Introduction to theories which may explain human destructiveness
    • Consider how destructiveness may manifest in the therapeutic relationship
    • Explore what may be a helpful therapeutic stance?
    • Become aware of unhelpful counter transference reactions

    Who is the workshop for?

    All mental health professionals who want to understand destructiveness in clinical practice.

    Facilitator:

    Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist with a small private practice and a former Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He completed post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.

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  • Understanding Vicarious Trauma - Dr Anna Preston
    Course Completed June 2021 - reference only

    Understanding Vicarious Trauma

    The British Medical Association offers the following definition of Vicarious Trauma:
    ‘Vicarious trauma is a process of change resulting from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors.’

    Anyone who engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents, torture, and material relating to their trauma, is potentially affected, including doctors and other health professionals.

    Common signs of vicarious trauma

    • Lingering feelings of anger, rage and sadness about patient/client's victimisation
    • Becoming overly involved emotionally with the patient/client
    • Experiencing bystander guilt, shame, feelings of self-doubt
    • Being preoccupied with thoughts of patients/clients outside of the work situation
    • Over identification with the patient/client (having horror and rescue fantasies)
    • Loss of hope, pessimism, cynicism
    • Distancing, numbing, detachment, cutting patient/clients off, staying busy. Avoiding listening to client's story of traumatic experiences
    • Difficulty in maintaining professional boundaries with the client, such as overextending self (trying to do more than is in the role to help the patient/client).

    Experiencing any of these signs could indicate that you are suffering from vicarious trauma.

    This workshop aims to address the following:

    1. Introduction to Trauma
    2. Understanding the biology of Trauma
    3. Understanding the difference between PTSD, ‘Vicarious Trauma’, ‘Burnout’ and ‘Compassion Fatigue’
    4. Understanding how Vicarious Trauma can affect us; what are the signs?
    5. Consideration of the needs of professionals, and supports available

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist previously working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire, also previously having been the Lead for a Personality Disorder Service in Surrey. I now work as an independent practitioner, trainer and expert witness. Since qualifying I have also worked in community mental health, secure forensic services, learning disability, and with people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I deliver a range of training packages to mental health professionals working both within and outside of NHS services. I work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
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  • Entitlement & Narcissism - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed March 2021 - reference only

    Entitlement & Narcissism

    Misplaced feelings of disappointment and an inflated or excessive sense of entitlement are amongst the most challenging presenting problems that we are likely to face in practice. We delude ourselves into believing that if we offer a safe, caring and therapeutic space, the client will resolve their sense of injustice, but instead the client’s problems begin to deepen, and in time, this includes a growing sense of disappointment, with us!

    Normal or healthy entitlement involves giving and receiving - rights are balanced with responsibilities. In contrast, excessive entitlement is associated with a lack of empathy or appreciation of the other’s point of view - arrogance and a pervasive sense that one has been wronged begin to dominate when life’s realities conflict with unrealistic, polarised or magical thinking. When confronted, underlying feelings of fragility give rise to a sense that one has been mortally wounded. These are all narcissistic traits, and when it comes to working with these clients, we find that their defences are often rooted in disappointing, un-boundaried, or overly permissive early relationships.

    This workshop will look at the spectrum of psychological difficulties associated with feelings of disappointment, entitlement and grievance and introduce participants to the continuum of narcissistic difficulties ranging from mild to the more severe, narcissistic personality disorder.

    Workshop aims
    • gain an awareness of healthy and pathological forms of disappointment and entitlement
    • understanding narcissism in the context of early development
    • assessment - identifying clients with narcissistic tendencies
    • learn how to navigate through the self-defeating coping strategies of the narcissist
    • raise awareness of the feelings generated in the therapist – avoid colluding with the “victim” in favour of working with the “shadow”

    Who is the workshop for?
    All mental health professionals looking for an introduction to narcissism and strategies for practice.

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve combines NHS work with a small private practice. He completed post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.

    Title: Entitlement & Narcissism
    Date: Sat 13th March 2021
    Venue: CCT Training Room, 27/28 Roper Close, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EP
    Online: If Covid conditions don’t allow face to face, a Zoom invite will be emailed out the week before
    Time: 10am – 4pm
    Fee: £75.00 (£52.50 Student Rate)
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  • Developments in diagnosis and treatment of BPD - Anna Preston
    Course Completed September 2020 - reference only

    Developments in diagnosis and treatment of BPD

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    • Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder and Trauma
    • Understanding developments around diagnosis and the impact of these: ICD; the recognition and identification of Complex PTSD
    • Overview of treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder
    • Working with people with BPD in counselling

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.


    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I have also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service. I deliver a range of training packages to mental health professionals working both within and outside of NHS services. As well as working for the NHS I work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
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  • The Web of Shame in the Therapeutic Space - Christiane Sanderson
    Course Completed July 2020 - reference only

    The Web of Shame in the Therapeutic Space

    Please note that this CPD will take place remotely on Zoom, and invitations will be sent to participants in the week preceding the training.

    Shame is like a virus that infects the soul and yet remains largely hidden. As a social emotion shame regulates social behaviour and is often shrouded in secrecy and silence. It will explore when healthy shame can become chronic, or toxic and its crippling effect on individuals, in particular those that carry the burden of intergenerational shame and are raised in shame prone families, or who have histories of abandonment, prolonged or systematic emotional, physical or sexual abuse, neglect or exposure to domestic violence.

    This workshop will examine the complex nature of shame, its origins and function. It will distinguish between healthy shame and chronic shame, shame and guilt and its relationship to hubristic and authentic pride. It will explore the impact of chronic shame and long-term effects, and identify the various defences against shame such as withdrawal, attacking self, avoidance and attacking others and their link to self-harm, addictions, repugnant obsessions, perfectionism, narcissism, grandiosity, rage and violence. The focus will be on being able to identify not just clients’ shame but also practitioner shame and how this impacts on the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic process Awareness of practitioner shame and their defences against shame is critical in being able to work through shame and minimise the risk of re-shaming clients.

    Alongside enhancing awareness of shame in both client and practitioner in the clinical setting, the focus will be on how to release shame and build shame resilience through a range of therapeutic techniques and strategies as well as experiential exercises. Emphasis will be placed on creative, right brain-based exercises such as the embodiment of shame, unpeeling the masks of shame, use of nesting dolls, and re-apportioning shame as well compassion focused exercises to promote healing, restore authentic pride and build shame resilience.

    Facilitator
    Christiane Sanderson is a senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton. With over 30 years’ experience working in child sexual abuse interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse (and trauma), she has run consultancy and training for parents, teachers, social workers, nurses, therapists, counsellors, solicitors, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Committee, the Methodist Church, the Metropolitan Police Service, the NSPCC and the Refugee Council. She is the author of Counselling Skills for Working with Shame, Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma: Healing from Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse, Introduction of Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse, Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 3rd Edition, The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers and The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence, The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths, Responding to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A pocket guide for professionals, partners, families and friends and Numbing the Pain: A pocket guide for professionals supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and addiction all published by One in Four.
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  • Disappointment, Entitlement & Grievance; An Introduction to Narcissism - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed May 2020 - reference only

    Disappointment, Entitlement & Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism

    Misplaced feelings of disappointment and an inflated or excessive sense of entitlement are amongst the most challenging presenting problems that we are likely to face in practice. We delude ourselves into believing that if we offer a safe, caring and therapeutic space, the client will resolve their sense of injustice, but instead the client’s problems begin to deepen, and in time, this includes a growing sense of disappointment, with us!

    Normal or healthy entitlement involves giving and receiving - rights are balanced with responsibilities. In contrast, excessive entitlement is associated with a lack of empathy or appreciation of the other’s point of view - arrogance and a pervasive sense that one has been wronged begin to dominate when life’s realities conflict with unrealistic, polarised or magical thinking. When confronted, underlying feelings of fragility give rise to a sense that one has been mortally wounded. These are all narcissistic traits, and when it comes to working with these clients, we find that their defences are often rooted in disappointing, un-boundaried, or overly permissive early relationships.

    This workshop will look at the spectrum of psychological difficulties associated with feelings of disappointment, entitlement and grievance and introduce participants to the continuum of narcissistic difficulties ranging from mild to the more severe, narcissistic personality disorder.

    Workshop aims
    • gain an awareness of healthy and pathological forms of disappointment and entitlement
    • understanding narcissism in the context of early development
    • assessment - identifying clients with narcissistic tendencies
    • learn how to navigate through the self-defeating coping strategies of the narcissist
    • raise awareness of the feelings generated in the therapist – avoid colluding with the “victim” in favour of working with the “shadow”

    Who is the workshop for?
    All mental health professionals looking for an introduction to narcissism and strategies for practice.

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey

    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve combines NHS work with a small private practice. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and managed a Department of Health sponsored residential community for clients with severe and dangerous personality disorder. Steve is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.
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  • Compulsive use of Internet Pornography - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed March 2020 - reference only

    Compulsive use of Internet Pornography

    The use of sexually graphic material is not new, although the way it is accessed is now very different; Al Cooper (1997) an American psychologist coined the phrase the “triple-A engine” to describe how the Internet provides easy Access and Affordability and when combined with (apparent) Anonymity the experience is effectively ‘turbocharged’ (Cooper et al, 2002) giving rise to the observation that internet pornography is said to be the “crack cocaine” of pornography (Turpin, 2006).

    Increasingly, clients with problematic online sexual activity are seeking the help of counsellors and psychotherapists ‘when the behaviour has become frequent, compulsive and distressing, and appears to jeopardise or impair other intimate relationship, or to impinge upon the individual’s working life’ (Wood. 2007).

    Authorities differ on how best to define and characterise excessive or problematic use of internet pornography. Treatment models also differ with current trends suggesting the presence of an addiction, where compulsive behaviour is strengthened by the most powerful reinforcement known to psychology, an orgasm. In contrast, traditional models stress that the compulsive use of virtual sex is often underpinned by disturbances in the personality, depression and destructive wishes; these theorists take issue with the notion of addiction which is seen as oversimplified.

    In this workshop we will attempt to understand the states of mind that might give rise to problematic pornography use.

    Aims

    • Recognise problematic online sexual activity
    • Paraphilias (child pornography) and the Internet
    • Problematic online sexual activity - addiction or perversion?
    • Assessment and treatment models

    Facilitator

    Steve Sharkey is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member and past Treasurer of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy (IAFP).


    Title: Compulsive use of Internet Pornography
    Summary: 1 day training presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Sat 14th March 2020
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
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  • Science & Counselling for Sleep Problems - Kirsty Vant
    Course Completed Feb 2020 - reference only

    Science & Counselling for Sleep Problems

    This workshop is for counsellors and psychotherapists who are interested in finding out more about the science of sleep and how sleep difficulties might affect their client’s experience and the potential impact for therapy.

    The workshop will cover:

    • The science of healthy sleep
    • Common sleep problems
    • Relationship between mental health (including trauma) and sleep
    • Overview of treatment options (therapy and medication)
    • Working with dreams
    • Opportunity for case discussion


    Facilitator

    Kirsty Vant originally trained as a nurse at Guys and St Thomas’s hospital and went on to specialise in public health nursing, becoming dual qualified as a school nurse and health visitor. After 20 years’ experience working with children and families, Kirsty trained as a counsellor and developed a special interest in sleep, completing the Solent NHS Trust sleep practitioner course and later the Edinburgh Sleep Science course in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi).

    Kirsty is a director of two companies; Snapdragon, which delivers psychological services to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and families, and The Insomnia Clinic for Kids, which provides resources and therapy for children with insomnia. She is currently studying for a Masters in research at Goldsmiths, part of the University of London.


    Title: Science & Counselling for Sleep Problems
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Kirsty Vant
    Date: Sat 22nd February 2020
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
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  • Anger and its Many Faces - Steve Sharkey
    Course Completed Jan 2019 - reference only

    Anger and its Many Faces

    The concept of basic emotions (joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, disliking, and liking) dates to the first-century and continues to be the subject of hot debate amongst psychologists. However, the inclusion of anger as a basic or primary emotion (Greenberg & Safran, 1987) is widely accepted.

    A primary emotion is an emotion that we experience in response to any internal or external event. Secondary emotion is an emotion or feeling we can have about the primary emotion, which is where difficulties arise if we have self-critical and/or unconscious beliefs about our emotions, such as “anger spoils” or “my anger may have hurt her feelings.” When suppressed, anger may be turned in upon the self in the form of depression, or enacted on the body through self-harm.

    Anger is a component of the natural survival response (fight/flight) when we feel threatened, but for many clients it can be problematic when it is felt too intensely, is felt too frequently or is expressed inappropriately. Aggressive and intimidating behaviour has many payoffs. One payoff is being able to manipulate and control others through aggressive and intimidating behaviour. This includes the therapist, who may unwittingly limit the work to the victim within the client, avoiding confronting the darker shadow (C Jung) side.

    This workshop will look at the spectrum of psychological difficulties associated with the emotion of anger. We will briefly review related concepts of grudge, grievance and rage drawing upon psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural theories and practice.

    Who should attend? – qualified and unqualified counsellors and psychotherapists who wish to deepen their understanding and practice with anger.

    Aims
    To introduce participants to:
    • Anger as a basic emotion and healthy response
    • Aggression in human growth and development
    • Destructive forms of anger and aggression - unconscious reactions to working with anger
    • To learn new and innovative skills in working with anger

    Facilitator
    Steve Sharkey is a Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and Forensic Psychotherapist. He managed a residential therapeutic service for patients stepping down into the community from NHS medium and high security (Department of Health DSPD Programme). He has a small private psychotherapy practice.


    Title: "Anger and its Many Faces”
    Summary: 1 day training presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Sat 11th January 2020
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
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  • Using Transactional Analysis in Practice
    Course Completed December 2019 - Reference only

    Using Transactional Analysis in Practice

    This one-day workshop will focus on using Transactional Analysis in practice. Prior understanding of TA is required.

    TA practitioners aim to create a type of relationship that encourages intimacy and self-reflection, with an aim to promote change within the client. We will look together at how we as practitioners can work towards supporting clients to break free from self-limiting Script and co-dependent relating. There will be a menu of concepts for us to consider using in practice, including: Contracts, Scripts, Ego-states, Transactions, Strokes, Games and the Drama Triangle.

    We will consider how different schools of thought within TA might intervene differently using these core concepts. There will be room for some joint discussion on client work, so feel free to arrive with a client in mind.

    The intention of the day is to have an experience where we can explore together how TA can be of use to you in your clinical practice.

    Facilitator – Brian Fenton
    Having worked as counsellor and psychotherapist since 1996 Brian has gained extensive experience. Aside from facilitating a private practice from home providing psychotherapy and clinical supervision, Brian has in the past worked in different settings including
    • primary care - 5 years as a GP counsellor
    • secondary care in the NHS for 12 years as a highly specialist psychotherapist and
    • 15 years as a psychotherapist working with young people within the care system.
    As well as offering counselling and psychotherapy Brian also provides clinical supervision and psychotherapy training to counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.

    Title: Using Transactional Analysis in Practice
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday 7th December 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
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  • Working Effectively with People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
    Course Completed November 2019 - Reference Only

    Working Effectively with People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    • An introduction to Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including Asperger’s Syndrome
    • Understanding peoples’ experiences of ASD
    • The differences between males and females in presentations with ASD
    • Myths and misconceptions in ASD
    • How do we spot ASD?
    • Working with people with ASD in counselling; challenges and creative solutions

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator - Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS
    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I have also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.


    Title: Working Effectively with People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Anna Preston
    Date: Saturday 9th November 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
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  • Mentalising Skills for Mental Health Professionals
    Course Completed October 2019 - Reference Only

    Mentalising Skills for Mental Health Professionals

    Mentalising refers to our ability to attend to mental states in ourselves and others as we attempt to understand our own actions and those of others on the basis of intentional mental states. Mentalisation Based Psychotherapy (MBT) is an evidenced based psychotherapy developed by Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Anthony Bateman for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is now being developed for wider application with depression, families, and eating disorders.

    This workshop conducted over two days will introduce participants to Mentalising skills that can be used with a range of clients and patients in many contexts. The workshop, is suitable for any mental health professional interested in integrating some MBT skills into their therapeutic practice.

    You will learn about the theoretical foundations of Mentalisation and then proceed to develop some MBT skills through case discussion, clinical demonstration, videos, and role play. Active engagement with the workshop is encouraged as the capacity to generate and develop curiosity about one’s own mind (client and therapist) and the minds of others, is central to this approach. Reading material and a participant skills manual is included as well as CPD certificate.

    Important - this Skills workshop is not an alternative to the Basic Training and Practitioner Level MBT Trainings offered at the Anna Freud Centre London. It acts as a taster for those considering or wishing to undertake these trainings. Participants must attend both days of this workshop to benefit.

    Facilitator – Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder. He has undertaken MBT training to advance and skills trainer levels at the Anna Freud Centre, London.

    Title: Mentalising Skills for Mental Health Professionals
    Summary: 2 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 12th & Saturday 19th October 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £150 (£105.00 Student Rate)

    CPD Hours: 10
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  • Sexuality in the Consulting Room
    Course Completed September 2019 - Reference Only

    Sexuality in the Consulting Room

    A one-day reflection on the challenges of sexuality and sexual attraction in the consulting room.

    Brian Fenton is a Relational Transactional Analyst. Working relationally recognises that there are two grown up people involved in the recovery of any client’s situation, and that both therapist and client are potentially changed in the therapeutic work. We impact and affect each other.

    From this, relational therapists strive to develop mutuality, or what is known in TA as Adult-Adult relating. Put simply in therapy we have a ‘real‘ relationship between two grown up people, and a ‘symbolic ‘relationship i.e relating which involves types of transference (ie Parent-Child transactions). Sexual attraction then has different meanings depending on where it is coming from.

    Sexuality is within all normal relatedness but is particularly challenging in the consulting room in relation to ethical considerations regarding power imbalances triggered in the therapeutic setting, and in relation to our duty of care towards the well-being of our clients.

    Careful thought is required in therapeutic work regarding self-disclosure. This is especially so when the subject matter is sexual in nature. We will consider the role of personal therapy for practitioners in supporting them develop their own confidence in their own erotic internal world, and also highlight the importance of supervisory relationships where the therapist has a safe space to explore their reactions to certain clients.

    The day will include exploring common themes and concerns which arise for therapists, and there will be space to bring case examples for us to consider together.

    Facilitator – Brian Fenton
    Having worked as counsellor and psychotherapist since 1996 Brian has gained extensive experience. Aside from facilitating a private practice from home providing psychotherapy and clinical supervision, Brian has in the past worked in different settings including
    • primary care - 5 years as a GP counsellor
    • secondary care in the NHS for 12 years as a highly specialist psychotherapist and
    • 15 years as a psychotherapist working with young people within the care system.
    As well as offering counselling and psychotherapy Brian also provides clinical supervision and psychotherapy training to counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.

    Title: Sexuality in the Consulting Room
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday 14th September 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Working with Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
    Course Completed July 2019 - Reference Only

    Working with Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

    Recent media attention has focused on historical child sexual abuse (CSA) especially by celebrities, establishment figures or through child sexual exploitation yet the majority of CSA occurs within the family which is typically under reported. Current research indicates that only 1 in 8 survivors of CSA in the family report their sexually abusive experiences, often many years later. In addition, survivors and clinicians are often not able to recognise the link between a history of CSA and a range of mental and physical health problem such as emotional dysregulation, addictions, self-harm and suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, sexual health and relational difficulties, and personality disorders as well as persistent somatic complaints, chronic pain, auto-immune disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome. The danger of not being able to identity the relationship between CSA and presenting symptoms is that CSA remains undetected which can lead to misdiagnosis and pervasive mental and physical health problems. It is critical that practitioners in a wide range of mental and physical health settings have a good understanding of the impact and long-term effect of CSA and how this manifests in a range of clinical settings so that they are able to respond appropriately.

    This seminar aims to enhance awareness of CSA, its impact and long-term effects on survivors and how to work with them using the principles of safe trauma therapy, psycho-education and stabilisation to restore control to allow for the processing of the CSA narrative. Using illustrative case examples it will present a range of skills to facilitate right brain engagement as well as emphasising the importance of the therapeutic relationship to build shame resilience and facilitate post traumatic growth. It will also examine the impact of working with survivors on practitioners and how to minimise vicarious traumatisation and secondary traumatic stress through counsellor self-care. In identifying a range of therapeutic skills and the challenges of working with survivors of CSA, practitioners will feel more equipped when working with survivors and appreciate the transformative effects of post traumatic growth for both client and practitioner. Topics to include:
    • The nature and dynamics of CSA such as the grooming process, secrecy and the distortion of reality
    • CSA as trauma and the neurobiological impact
    • The psychological impact and long-term effects of CSA
    • The intergenerational transmission of CSA
    • The role of shame and self-blame
    • The principles of safe trauma therapy, psycho-education and stabilisation
    • The importance of the therapeutic relationship and right brain based therapeutic skills
    • Challenges and impact of working with CSA on practitioners
    • Post traumatic growth

    Christiane Sanderson
    Stacks Image 219631
    Christiane Sanderson is a senior lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton.
    With over 30 years’ experience working in child sexual abuse, interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse (and trauma), she has run consultancy and training for parents, teachers, social workers, nurses, therapists, counsellors, solicitors, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Committee, the Methodist Church, the Metropolitan Police Service, the NSPCC and the Refugee Council.

    She is the author of Counselling Skills for Working with Shame, Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma: Healing from Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse, Introduction of Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse, Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 3rd Edition, The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse - all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers; and The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence, The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths and Responding to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A pocket guide for professionals, partners, families and friends - all published by One in Four

    A sandwich lunch and refreshments will be provided in the price of this seminar

    Title: Working with survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Christiane Sanderson
    Date: Saturday 13th July 2019
    Venue: Terrace Room, Augustine House, Christchurch University, Rhodaus Town, Canterbury CT1 2YA
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £95 (student rate not available)
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Working with Substance Use - an Introductory Day
    Course Scheduled June 2019 - Reference Only

    Working with Substance Use - an Introductory Day

    Therapists can feel deskilled when confronted with clients who have problems with substance use, even to the point where the therapist refers the client on to a ‘Substance Misuse Specialist’. This introductory day explores ways of working with clients with substance misuse from initial assessment to working with motivation and ambivalence.

    We will examine the psychosocial model of substance misuse and look at the relational aspect of it. Once someone is ready to either reduce or abstain from their substance of choice we will explore specific interventions to support them to change and to maintain this. We will also explore the notion of lapse and relapse and examine ways of managing this.
    Finally we will examine our own relationship with a substance of choice, how this originated and how this might impact on the work with clients.

    Facilitator - Adrian Hemmings
    Adrian is a chartered psychologist and registered with the HCPC as a counselling psychologist. He is a senior practitioner on the British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy. He is also on the BPS register for Expert Witnesses and Chair of the BPS Psychotherapy Section.

    Adrian has worked in the NHS as a psychologist and psychotherapist in a local PCT where he was Professional Head of Psychology. In his private practice he works short and long term and integrates Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Oriented therapy. Adrian also runs training courses in a variety of subjects and offers clinical and academic/research supervision. He is currently a consultant to the Centre for Psychological Therapies in Primary Care at the University of Chester.

    Title: Working with Substance Use - an Introductory Day
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Adrian Hemmings
    Date: Cancelled
    S
  • Disappointment, Entitlement & Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism
    Course completed May 2019 - reference only

    Disappointment, Entitlement & Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism

    Misplaced feelings of disappointment and an inflated or excessive sense of entitlement are amongst the most challenging presenting problems that we are likely to face in practice. We delude ourselves into believing that if we offer a safe, caring and therapeutic space, the client will resolve their sense of injustice, but instead the client’s problems begin to deepen, and in time, this includes a growing sense of disappointment, with us!

    Normal or healthy entitlement involves giving and receiving - rights are balanced with responsibilities. In contrast, excessive entitlement is associated with a lack of empathy or appreciation of the other’s point of view - arrogance and a pervasive sense that one has been wronged begin to dominate when life’s realities conflict with unrealistic, polarised or magical thinking. When confronted, underlying feelings of fragility give rise to a sense that one has been mortally wounded. These are all narcissistic traits, and when it comes to working with these clients, we find that their defences are often rooted in disappointing, un-boundaried, or overly permissive early relationships.
    This workshop will look at the spectrum of psychological difficulties associated with feelings of disappointment, entitlement and grievance and introduce participants to the continuum of narcissistic difficulties ranging from mild to the more severe, narcissistic personality disorder.

    Workshop aims
    • gain an awareness of healthy and pathological forms of disappointment and entitlement
    • understanding narcissism in the context of early development
    • assessment - identifying clients with narcissistic tendencies
    • learn how to navigate through the self-defeating coping strategies of the narcissist
    • raise awareness of the feelings generated in the therapist – avoid colluding with the “victim” in favour of working with the “shadow”

    Who is the workshop for?
    All mental health professionals looking for an introduction to narcissism and strategies for practice.

    Facilitator: Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and Consultant Adult Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve combines NHS work with a small private practice. He has a special interest in personality disorder - he completed a post graduate training in forensic psychotherapy in the NHS and managed a Department of Health sponsored residential community for clients with severe and dangerous personality disorder. Steve is a former executive council member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.


    Title: Disappointment, Entitlement & Grievance - An Introduction to Narcissism
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 11th May 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Understanding Trauma, Personality and healing
    Course completed April 2019 - reference only

    Understanding Trauma, Personality and Healing

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    • PTSD, the Hippocampus, and the Amygdala – How Trauma Changes the Brain
    • How trauma affects the way in which we encode and store memories
    • How trauma affects personality/personality disorders
    • Trauma Processing: When and when not to do it?
    • Talking or processing during therapy for trauma?
    • How we can help in counselling services.

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator - Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS
    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I have also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.

    Title: Understanding Trauma, Personality and Healing
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Anna Preston
    Date: Saturday 6th April 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Working with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    Course completed March 2019 - reference only

    Working with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

    Critical Incident Stress, Post Traumatic Reaction and Acute Stress Reaction are terms used to describe a normal emotional response to an abnormal event that is outside of the usual realm of human experience. In contrast the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a pathological variant of the normal survival reaction. Symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, dissociation, and increased arousal - such as difficulty in falling or staying asleep, anger, and increased startle response.

    This popular and frequently oversubscribed workshop incorporates the latest clinical guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (December 2018) and up to date research findings from Neurobiology that inform many new ways of working.

    The workshop is now delivered over two consecutive Saturdays given consistent requests from participants for an enhanced programme assisting them to develop skills to address common manifestations of PTSD.

    Workshop aims:
    • Recognise the many manifestations of traumatic stress presented in clinical practice
    • Develop assessment skills - assisted by brief psychological measures
    • Understand who to work with and when to refer on for specialist trauma therapy
    • Become familiar with psychological theories informing our understanding of trauma
    • Understand the latest Neurobiological theories and the application to practice
    • What works with PTSD and why - become familiar with research and revised NICE Guidance December 2018 on the effectiveness of therapy
    • Learn to practice evidenced based interventions for Traumatic Reactions

    Who should attend the Workshop?
    All counselling and mental health practitioners wishing to develop a working knowledge and basic skills set for work with traumatic reactions.

    Facilitator
    Steve Sharkey is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and past Treasurer. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder, and the way in which traumatised people attack their own bodies, as a defence against enacting attacks on others that may unconsciously represent their abusers.


    Title: Working with PTSD & the new NICE Guideline
    Summary: 2 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 9th & Saturday 16th March 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £150 (£105 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 10
    S
  • Medically Unexplained Symptoms
    Course Completed February 2019- reference only

    Medically Unexplained Symptoms

    Medically unexplained symptoms or syndromes (MUS) is a term commonly used to describe physical symptoms which cannot be explained by disease specific, observable biomedical pathology. The symptoms can be long-lasting and can cause significant distress and impaired functioning.

    These symptoms constitute a clinically, conceptually and emotionally difficult area to tackle, with clinical presentations varying greatly, from people who regularly attend GP surgeries with minor symptoms to people with recognised functional syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome who can have severe enough symptoms to be bed-bound.

    MUS are common, accounting for as many as one in five new consultations in primary care. The unexplained symptoms can cause significant distress to the patient and, in some circumstances, impair functioning.

    Facilitator – Dr Adrian Hemmings
    Adrian is a chartered psychologist and registered with the HCPC as a counselling psychologist. He is a senior practitioner on the British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy. He is also on the BPS register for Expert Witnesses and Chair of the BPS Psychotherapy Section.

    Adrian has worked in the NHS as a psychologist and psychotherapist in a local PCT where he was Professional Head of Psychology. In his private practice he works short and long term and integrates Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Oriented therapy. Adrian also runs training courses in a variety of subjects and offers clinical and academic/research supervision. He is currently a consultant to the Centre for Psychological Therapies in Primary Care at the University of Chester.

    Title: Medically Unexplained Symptoms
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Adrian Hemmings
    Date: Saturday 16th February 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Obsessions, Compulsions, Rigid and Obsessive Personality types
    Course completed January 2019 - reference only

    Obsessions, Compulsions, Rigid and Obsessive Personality types

    Reality TV programs such as Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners have misrepresented the suffering and torment of clients with OCD to the point where it is not uncommon to hear people say that they “have a touch of OCD” when in fact they are often referring to aspects of their personality.

    Obsessions are unwanted, senseless and unpleasant thoughts, images and impulses that intrude into your mind even though you don’t want them there. Obsessions are associated with significant anguish and torment; sufferers are slow to seek help as they feel ashamed and fearful that they are losing their sanity and literally “Going mad.” They are often misdiagnosed in general practice as suffering from anxiety as their sense of shame leads them to mask the extent of their distress.

    Whilst fears of contamination and an urge to clean excessively are visible and obvious, obsessions are often concealed; John was beset by a thought and image of stabbing his wife that was triggered upon entering the kitchen. Julie is plagued by a recurring thought that she has harmed someone but doesn’t know who, and Graham is troubled by a thought and impulse to shout out four letter expletives in public places - he cannot leave the safety of his home. Just a few of the many variants of obsessions.

    In this one-day workshop we will draw upon psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural theories to understand the origins of obsessions and compulsions and compare these with personality types that are obsessive, rigid and controlling.

    Workshop Aims:
    Participants will learn to:

    • distinguish between OCD, pure obsessions and obsessive personality
    • understand the formation of obsessive symptoms, and
    • consider the function and meaning (psychodynamic and cognitive) of obsessions
    • understand how rituals and compulsions develop as a way of managing anxiety
    • develop some basic skills using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for OCD

    Facilitator – Steve Sharkey
    Steve is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy.

    Title: Obsessions, Compulsions, Rigid and Obsessive Personality types
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 19th January 2019
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75 (£52.50 Student Rate)
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Using TA in Practice
    Course completed December 2018 - reference only

    Using TA in Practice

    This one day workshop will focus on using Transactional Analysis in practice. Prior understanding of TA is required.

    TA practitioners aim to create a type of relationship that encourages intimacy and self-reflection, with an aim to promote change within the client. We will look together at how we as practitioners can work towards supporting clients to break free from self-limiting Script and co-dependent relating. There will be a menu of concepts for us to consider using in practice, including: Contracts, Scripts, Ego-states, Transactions, Strokes, Games and the Drama Triangle.

    We will consider how different schools of thought within TA might intervene differently using these core concepts. There will be room for some joint discussion on client work, so feel free to arrive with a client in mind.

    The intention of the day is to have an experience where we can explore together how TA can be of use to you in your clinical practice.

    Facilitator – Brian Fenton PTSTA

    Having worked as counsellor and psychotherapist since 1996 Brian has gained extensive experience. Alongside facilitating a private practice Brian currently works for the NHS as a Specialist Psychological Practitioner in Adult Secondary Mental Health Services.

    As well as offering counselling and psychotherapy Brian also provides clinical supervision and psychotherapy training to counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.



    Title: Using TA in Practice
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday 8th December 2018
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Dissociative Disorder and Trauma
    Course completed November 2018 - reference only

    Dissociative Disorder and Trauma

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    1. The link between trauma, attachment, and dissociation
    2. Understanding the spectrum of dissociation and dissociative disorders (including Dissociative Identity Disorder)
    3. Identifying and responding to dissociation when it happens in the room
    4. Working with trauma related-dissociation
    5. Understanding the perspective of someone who experiences dissociation/DID
    6. How we can help in counselling

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I have also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.
    abusers.


    Title: Dissociative Disorder and Trauma
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Anna Preston
    Date: Saturday 10th November 2018
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Sexuality in the Consulting Room
    Course completed October 2018 - reference only

    Sexuality in the Consulting Room

    A one day reflection on the challenges of sexuality and sexual attraction in the consulting room.

    Brian Fenton is a Relational Transactional Analyst. Working relationally recognises that there are two grown up people involved in the recovery of any client’s situation, and that both therapist and client are potentially changed in the therapeutic work. We impact and affect each other.

    From this, relational therapists strive to develop mutuality, or what is known in TA as Adult-Adult relating. Put simply in therapy we have a ‘real‘ relationship between two grown up people, and a ‘symbolic ‘relationship i.e relating which involves types of transference (ie Parent-Child transactions). Sexual attraction then has different meanings depending on where it is coming from.

    Sexuality is within all normal relatedness but is particularly challenging in the consulting room in relation to ethical considerations regarding power imbalances triggered in the therapeutic setting, and in relation to our duty of care towards the well-being of our clients.

    Careful thought is required in therapeutic work regarding self-disclosure. This is especially so when the subject matter is sexual in nature. We will consider the role of personal therapy for practitioners in supporting them develop their own confidence in their own erotic internal world, and also highlight the importance of supervisory relationships where the therapist has a safe space to explore their reactions to certain clients.

    The day will include exploring common themes and concerns which arise for therapists, and there will be space to bring case examples for us to consider together.

    Facilitator – Brian Fenton PTSTA

    Having worked as counsellor and psychotherapist since 1996 Brian has gained extensive experience. Alongside facilitating a private practice Brian currently works for the NHS as a Specialist Psychological Practitioner in Adult Secondary Mental Health Services.

    As well as offering counselling and psychotherapy Brian also provides clinical supervision and psychotherapy training to counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.



    Title: Sexuality in the Consulting Room
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday 13th October 2018
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Compulsive use of Internet Pornography
    Course completed September 2018 - reference only

    Compulsive use of Internet Pornography

    The use of sexually graphic material is not new, although the way it is accessed is now very different; Al Cooper (1997) an American psychologist coined the phrase the “triple-A engine” to describe how the Internet provides easy Access and Affordability and when combined with (apparent) Anonymity the experience is effectively ‘turbocharged’ (Cooper et al, 2002) giving rise to the observation that Internet pornography, is said to be the “crack cocaine” of pornography (Turpin, 2006).

    Increasingly, clients with problematic online sexual activity are seeking the help of counsellors and psychotherapists ‘when the behaviour has become frequent, compulsive and distressing, and appears to jeopardise or impair other intimate relationship, or to impinge upon the individuals working life’ (Wood. 2007).

    Authorities differ on how best to define and characterise excessive or problematic use of Internet pornography. Treatment models also differ with current trends suggesting the presence of an addiction, where compulsive behaviour is strengthened by the most powerful reinforcement known to psychology, an orgasm. In contrast, traditional models stress that the compulsive use of virtual sex is often underpinned by disturbances in the personality, depression and destructive wishes; these theorists take issue with the notion of addiction which is seen as oversimplified.

    In this workshop we will attempt to understand the states of mind that might give rise to problematic pornography use.

    Aims

    • Recognise problematic online sexual activity
    • Paraphilias (child pornography) and the Internet
    • Problematic online sexual activity - addiction or perversion?
    • Assessment and treatment models

    Facilitator

    Steve Sharkey is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member and past Treasurer of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy (IAFP).

    Title: ”Compulsive use of Internet Pornography”
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Sat 15th September 2018
    Venue: CCT, 32 Roper Close, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Working effectively with ASD
    Course completed July 2018 - reference only

    Working effectively with ASD

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    1. An introduction to Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including Asperger’s Syndrome
    2. The personal experience of someone with ASD (a person with ASD will co-deliver this training)
    3. The differences between males and females in presentations with ASD
    4. “Do I look Autistic yet?” – myths and misconceptions in ASD
    5. How do we spot ASD?
    6. Working with people with ASD in counselling

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching, and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator: Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I have also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.


    Title: Working effectively with ASD
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Anna Preston
    Date: Saturday 14th July 2018
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 5
    S
  • Working with PTSD
    Course completed June 2018 - reference only

    Working with PTSD

    Critical Incident Stress, Post Traumatic Reaction and Acute Stress Reaction are terms used to describe a normal emotional response to an abnormal event that is outside of the usual realm of human experience. In contrast the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a pathological variant of the normal survival reaction. Symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, dissociation, and increased arousal - such as difficulty in falling or staying asleep, anger, and increased startle response.
    This popular and frequently oversubscribed workshop is now extended and delivered over two consecutive Saturdays given consistent requests from participants for an enhanced programme to address the common manifestation of fear based PTSD.

    Workshop aims:
    • Recognise the many manifestations of traumatic stress presented in clinical practice
    • Develop assessment skills assisted by brief psychological measures
    • Understand who to work with and when to refer on for specialist trauma therapy
    • Become familiar with psychological theories informing our understanding of trauma
    • Understand the theory, applications and contra-indications of interventions such as De-briefing - develop skills in Early Psychological Intervention (EPI)
    • Why do some therapies make clients worse – recognise dissociation and understand how to avoid the negative effects of Re-traumatisation
    • What works with PTSD and why - become familiar with the range of empirically supported trauma focussed psychotherapies such as EMDR and CBT
    • Learn to practice evidenced based interventions for Fear Based Traumatic Reactions

    Who should attend the Workshop?
    All counselling and mental health practitioners wishing to develop a working knowledge and basic skills set for work with common trauma reactions.

    Facilitator
    Steve Sharkey is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and past Treasurer. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder, and the way in which traumatised people attack their own bodies, as a defence against enacting attacks on others that may unconsciously represent their abusers.


    Title: Working with PTSD
    Summary: 2 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Sat 23rd & Sat 30th June 2018
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £150
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity
    Course was cancelled April 2018 - reference only

    Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity

    * OUR APOLOGIES BUT THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED *
    Details of the course are being left here for now as we hope to re-arrange at some point

    “But it’s not normal!”: Working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity

    In an interactive and immersive day, we will explore the wide landscape of diversity of identities, behaviours and relationship constructs in the heterosexual and non-heterosexual communities.
    • How do different developmental experiences impact on diversity groups?
    • What are the societal challenges which surround diverse relationship structures and how do these impact on those in the relationships?
    • How do diversity groups – and ourselves as professionals – understand and experience sexual identities and practices which are outside ‘the norm’?
    • How do we challenge ourselves to ensure that we can work with difference in an informed, non-judgemental and enabling manner with diversity clients?

    Facilitator – Keith Carlton
    Keith Carlton is a UKCP accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist; he trained at the University of Kent, is an accredited sexual diversity therapist and also holds a diploma in relationship therapy with gender and sexual diversities. He has run several workshops for CCT over recent years, and is a member of the board of trustees of the UK Council for Psychotherapy. He currently works in private practice in Norwich.


    Title: Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Keith Carlton
    Date: CANCELLED
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Working with shame
    Course completed February 2018 - reference only

    Working with shame

    This workshop focuses on shame and the powerful and cloaked effects of the emotion described by Jung as “soul eating”.

    We will look at what shame is, and its role both as a healthy and unhealthy regulator of affect. We’ll explore how unhealthy shame can impact on our own sense of self, and on our relationships with others, and how it manifests in various emotional disruption and defences.
    The day will also cover the links between shame and power, how it is used societally and within relationships to limit or control behaviours, and also how shame is used in the marginalisation of minority and diversity groups.

    As well as examining shame, we will also look at strategies for uncovering hidden shame when working with clients, and how to work towards moderating and changing its effects.

    The day will be a mix of interactive teaching, case studies and other exercises to allow us to explore our own shame as well as examine how we can work with it in others.

    Facilitator – Keith Carlton
    Keith Carlton is a UKCP accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist; he trained at the University of Kent, is an accredited sexual diversity therapist and also holds a diploma in relationship therapy with gender and sexual diversities. He has run several workshops for CCT over recent years, and is a member of the board of trustees of the UK Council for Psychotherapy. He currently works in private practice in Norwich.


    Title: Working with shame
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Keith Carlton
    Date: Saturday 10th February 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Counselling for personality disorders
    Course completed November 2017 - reference only

    Counselling for personality disorders

    The day will aim to address:

    • Understanding how our personality is formed
    • Understanding personality disorder
    • Working with different personality types in counselling
    • Considering counselling theories/modalities with regard to personality disorders
    • Exploring client behaviours - 'acting out' etc
    • Practical strategies to assist clients who struggle with personality-related difficulties

    Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist currently working across community and acute mental health settings, and as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.


    Title: Counselling for Personality Disorders
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Anna Preston
    Date: Saturday 18th November 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Shame and working with shame
    Course completed September 2017 - reference only

    Shame and working with shame

    This workshop focuses on shame and the powerful and cloaked effects of the emotion described by Jung as “soul eating”.

    We will look at what shame is, and its role both as a healthy and unhealthy regulator of affect. We’ll explore how unhealthy shame can impact on our own sense of self, and on our relationships with others, and how it manifests in various emotional disruption and defences.

    The day will also cover the links between shame and power, how it is used societally and within relationships to limit or control behaviours, and also how shame is used in the marginalisation of minority and diversity groups.

    As well as examining shame, we will also look at strategies for uncovering hidden shame when working with clients, and how to work towards moderating and changing its effects.

    The day will be a mix of interactive teaching, case studies and other exercises to allow us to explore our own shame as well as examine how we can work with it in others.

    Facilitator – Keith Carlton

    Keith Carlton is a UKCP accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist; he trained at the University of Kent, is an accredited sexual diversity therapist and also holds a diploma in relationship therapy with gender and sexual diversities. He has run several workshops for CCT over recent years, and is a member of the board of trustees of the UK Council for Psychotherapy. He currently works in private practice in Norwich.

    Title: Shame and working with shame
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Keith Carlton
    Date: Saturday 16th September 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Transactional analysis - TA101
    Course completed July 2017 - reference only

    Transactional Analysis - TA101

    This training is a TA certificated training, the basis for embarking on a TA qualification

    Synopsis to follow…


    Title: Transactional Analysis - TA101
    Summary: 2 day training presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday 1st & Saturday 15th July 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £150
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Mentalising skills for mental health professionals
    Course completed June 2017 - reference only

    Mentalising skills for mental health professionals

    Mentalising refers to our ability to attend to mental states in ourselves and others as we attempt to understand our own actions and those of others on the basis of intentional mental states. Mentalisation Based Psychotherapy (MBT) is an evidenced based psychotherapy developed by Professor Peter Fonagy and Professor Anthony Bateman for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is now being developed for wider application with depression, families, and eating disorders.

    This workshop conducted over two days will introduce participants to Mentalising skills that can be used with a range of clients and patients in many contexts. The workshop, is suitable for any mental health professional interested in integrating some MBT skills into their therapeutic practice.

    You will learn about the theoretical foundations of Mentalisation and then proceed to develop some MBT skills through case discussion, clinical demonstration, videos, and role play. Active engagement with the workshop is encouraged as the capacity to generate and develop curiosity about one’s own mind (client and therapist) and the minds of others, is central to this approach. Reading material and a participant skills manual is included as well as CPD certificate.

    Important - this Skills workshop is not an alternative to the Basic Training and Practitioner Level MBT Trainings offered at the Anna Freud Centre London. It acts as a taster for those considering or wishing to undertake these trainings. Participants must attend both days of the workshop to benefit.

    Facilitator

    Steve Sharkey is a Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and past Treasurer. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder. He has undertaken MBT training to advance and skills trainer levels at the Anna Freud Centre, London.



    Title: Mentalization Based Therapy
    Summary: 2 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 3rd & Saturday 10th June 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £150
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Understanding Self Harm
    Course completed May 2017 - reference only

    Understanding Self Harm

    The term Deliberate Self-harm or DSH has been widely adopted and suggests that acts of self-harm are deliberate or consciously motivated. We will draw upon several theoretical perspectives to explore the many meanings and functions of self-harm to address the vexed question of intention and to explore the paradoxical drive found in self-harm, where a wound may be created to heal another.

    Workshop Aims

    * Explore the possible causes and meaning of self-harm
    * To address and debate the question of conscious intention
    * Deepen awareness of the ways of responding to self-harm using the therapeutic relationship
    * Extend our awareness/practice using some current psychotherapeutic interventions
    * Recognise our unhelpful counter reactions in relation to self-harm.

    Who is the workshop for?

    Mental health workers, social workers, counsellors and psychotherapists wishing to deepen a basic awareness of self-harm.

    Facilitator

    Steve Sharkey is a Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and past Treasurer. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder, and the way in which deeply traumatised people attack their own bodies, as a defence against enacting attacks on others that may unconsciously represent their abusers.


    Title: Understanding Self Harm
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday 6th May 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Working with transference & counter transference
    Course completed April 2017 - reference only

    Working with transference & counter transference

    The day will be spent looking at Transference and Counter-transference from a theoretical, historical and practical viewpoint, and will include time for group discussion and examples from practice. Topics will include:

    Transference may, at its simplest, be a study of patterns in life and in the therapeutic relationship. As a term in analytic theory it refers to the process by which past experience will be retained in the mind and is later projected onto a new experience. This process happens outside of conscious awareness. Because people manage new experience by filtering it through what is familiar, it is a process that occurs everywhere, all the time.

    Projection is the mechanism of transference. It is happening when a person sees an image of their own in another person or thing. Projection is seen as a form of defence.

    Counter-transference: if experience sets up patterns that then become traps to hold us in a painful repetition, it follows that the therapist will be affected by their own patterns. In classical analytic therapy the therapist becomes the participant observer who needs to be open to the full impact of the emotions generated in the session and also to step back and think about them.

    Karen Maroda argued that the purpose of a therapeutic relationship is to go beyond the working alliance to be able to contain a more dynamic conflict, with the possibility that the therapist, through the use of their own reactions to the client, can support a different outcome than was previously the case.

    Erotic transference - the therapeutic relationship offers an opportunity to work out erotic tensions in an atmosphere where acting out is forbidden, so the feelings can be symbolized in language and metaphor so as to integrate the past.


    Facilitator - Louise Mackinney

    I am a BACP senior accredited counsellor and a senior accredited supervisor of individuals and groups and a UKCP registered psychotherapist and supervisor. Having undertaken training in humanistic, psychodynamic and CBT models, I hold an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy and am an accredited EMDR practitioner.

    I have in excess of 20 years experience and have worked in this time with many different presenting issues including depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, abuse, dissociation, self-injury, eating problems, addictions, sexuality, personality disorders and other mental health issues.


    Title:     Working with transference
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Louise Mackinney
    Date: Completed April 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Anger and its many faces
    Course completed Feb 2017 - reference only

    Anger and its many faces

    The concept of basic emotions (joy, anger, sadness, fear, love, disliking, and liking) dates to the first-century and continues to be the subject of hot debate amongst psychologists. However, the inclusion of anger as a basic or primary emotion (Greenberg & Safran, 1987) is widely accepted.

    A primary emotion is an emotion that we experience in response to any internal or external event. Secondary emotion is an emotion or feeling we can have about the primary emotion, which is where difficulties arise if we have self-critical and/or unconscious beliefs about our emotions, such as “anger spoils” or “my anger may have hurt her feelings.” When suppressed, anger may be turned in upon the self in the form of depression, or enacted on the body through self-harm.

    Anger is a component of the natural survival response (fight/flight) when we feel threatened, but for many clients it can be problematic when it is felt too intensely, is felt too frequently or is expressed inappropriately. Aggressive and intimidating behaviour has many payoffs. One payoff is being able to manipulate and control others through aggressive and intimidating behaviour. This includes the therapist, who may unwittingly limit the work to the victim within the client, avoiding confronting the darker shadow (C Jung) side.

    This workshop will look at the spectrum of psychological difficulties associated with the emotion of anger, we will briefly review related concepts of grudge, grievance and rage drawing upon psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural theories and practice.

    Who should attend? – qualified and unqualified counsellors and psychotherapists who wish to deepen their understanding and practice with anger.

    Aims

    To introduce participants to:

    • Anger as a basic emotion and healthy response
    • Aggression in human growth and development
    • Destructive forms of anger and aggression - unconscious reactions to working with anger
    • Anger management skills

    Facilitator

    Steve Sharkey is a Consultant Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and Forensic Psychotherapist. He worked on a DSPD Forensic national pilot service managing a residential service based upon therapeutic community principles. He has a small private practice


    Title:     Anger and its many faces
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Completed February 2017
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £75
    CPD Hours: TBC
    S
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder
    Course completed December 2016 - reference only

    Bipolar Affective Disorder

    The workshop aims to address the following:

    1. Recap: What is Bipolar Affective Disorder? Diagnosis, Causes and Treatments
    2. A further consideration of the role of trauma in Bipolar Affective Disorder
    3. Working effectively with someone who has Bipolar Affective Disorder
    4. The personal experience of someone with Bipolar Affective Disorder (a service user will present their story)

    There will also be space for questions and answers.

    The workshop will involve a combination of didactic teaching and interactive exercises in order to enhance learning.

    Facilitator - Dr Anna Preston, BSc (Hons), D.ClinPsych, AFBPsS

    I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist currently working across community and acute mental health settings, and as the Lead Psychologist for Acute Care Services across Surrey and North East Hampshire. Since qualifying I also worked in secure forensic services, learning disability personality disorder services, and in a previous post was the lead for an outpatient personality disorder service.

    As well as working for the NHS I work privately providing therapeutic interventions to clients with a range of mental health difficulties. I also work as an expert witness providing assessments for the Family, Immigration and Criminal Courts.


    Title: Bipolar Affective Disorder
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Anna Preston
    Date: Sat 10th December 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Medically Unexplained Symptoms
    Course completed November 2016 - reference only

    Medically Unexplained Symptoms

    Medically unexplained symptoms or syndromes (MUS) is a term commonly used to describe physical symptoms which cannot be explained by disease specific, observable biomedical pathology. The symptoms can be long-lasting and can cause significant distress and impaired functioning. 

    These symptoms constitute a clinically, conceptually and emotionally difficult area to tackle, with clinical presentations varying greatly, from people who regularly attend GP surgeries with minor symptoms to people with recognised functional syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome who can have severe enough symptoms to be bed-bound.

    MUS are common, accounting for as many as one in five new consultations in primary care. The unexplained symptoms can cause significant distress to the patient and, in some circumstances, impair functioning. 

    Dr Adrian Hemmings

    Adrian is a chartered psychologist and registered with the HPC as a counselling psychologist. He is a senior practitioner on the British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy. He is also on the BPS register for Expert Witnesses.

    Adrian developed an MSc course in Counselling Psychology at the University of Sussex and was programme director for two years. He has worked in the NHS as a psychologist and psychotherapist in a local PCT where he was Professional Head of Psychology.  Adrian was also director of a local charity that offered therapy to people who had problems with alcohol and other substance misuse.


    Title: Medically Unexplained Symptoms
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Dr Adrian Hemmings
    Date: Sat 19th November 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Working with PTSD
    Course completed October 2016 - reference only

    Working with PTSD

    Critical Incident Stress, Post Traumatic Reaction and Acute Stress Reaction are terms used to describe a normal emotional response to an abnormal event that is outside of the usual realm of human experience. In contrast the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a pathological variant of the normal survival reaction. Symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, dissociation, and increased arousal - such as difficulty in falling or staying asleep, anger, and increased startle response.

    This popular and frequently oversubscribed workshop is now extended and delivered over two consecutive Saturdays given consistent requests from participants for an enhanced programme to address the common manifestation of fear based PTSD.

    Workshop aims:
    • Recognise the many manifestations of traumatic stress presented in clinical practice
    • Develop assessment skills assisted by brief psychological measures
    • Understand who to work with and when to refer on for specialist trauma therapy
    • Become familiar with psychological theories informing our understanding of trauma
    • Understand the theory, applications and contra-indications of interventions such as De-briefing - develop skills in Early Psychological Intervention (EPI)
    • Why do some therapies make clients worse – recognise dissociation and understand how to avoid the negative effects of Re-traumatisation
    • What works with PTSD and why - become familiar with the range of empirically supported trauma focussed psychotherapies such as EMDR and CBT
    • Learn to practice evidenced based interventions for Fear Based Traumatic Reactions

    Who should attend the Workshop?
    All counselling and mental health practitioners wishing to develop a working knowledge and basic skills set for work with common trauma reactions.

    Steve Sharkey
    Steve Sharkey is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and a Principal Adult Psychotherapist, Kent and Medway NHS Trust. Steve is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and past Treasurer. He has a special interest in working with Borderline Personality Disorder, and the way in which traumatised people attack their own bodies, as a defence against enacting attacks on others that may unconsciously represent their abusers.


    Title: Working with PTSD
    Summary: 2 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Sat 8th & Sat 15th October 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £140
    CPD Hours: 12 hours
    S
  • Working with Difference – an LGBT perspective
    Course completed July 2016 - reference only

    Working with Difference – an LGBT perspective

    An introduction to working with difference – working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans clients.
    This one day workshop will cover:

    • Thinking about difference
    • A brief overview of the legislative and medical history in relation to same sex behaviour and trans identities
    • The current ethical positions of the major psychotherapy and counselling bodies, and the need for all practitioners to have cultural competence in working with gender and sexual diversity
    • Issues such as homophobia and internalised homophobia, hypervigilance and shame, heteronormativity, and the issues raised by majority thinking and “othering”
    • Considerations for the practitioner when working with gender and sexual diversity
    • Models of coming out

    The day will offer plenty of opportunities for reflective thinking & discussion, supported by case studies and role play.

    Facilitator - Keith Carlton

    I am an experienced United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) registered psychotherapist based in Canterbury, and am a member of the UKCP’s board of trustees.  The way I work is particularly focused on helping clients with wide-ranging or deep seated issues which require a longer term intervention.  


    Title: Working with Difference – an LGBT perspective
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Keith Carlton
    Date: Saturday, 16th July, 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Attachment Theory in Practice
    Course completed June 2016 - reference only

    Attachment Theory in Practice

    This workshop aims to increase the understanding and the applying of attachment theory. This will enable a deeper level of working that can be particularly useful when working short term, as in 6 to 8 sessions.

    It will provide an understanding of the impact of attachment on:

    • Forming relationships as an adult
    • Managing separation and loss
    • Development of certain personality types
    • Recovery from trauma

    The workshop is available for students and qualified counsellors although a basic understanding and ability to apply attachment will be needed prior to attending the workshop.

    Facilitator – Annetta Bowden

    Annetta is a senior accredited BACP Counsellor/Supervisor and Trainer working in private practice near Canterbury. She also has experience of working in schools and prisons, and was for a number of years the lead tutor and course director of counselling studies at Canterbury College.


    Title: Attachment Theory in Practice
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Annetta Bowden
    Date: Saturday, 11th June, 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Integrating Transactional Analysis into Practice
    Course completed May 2016 - reference only

    Integrating Transactional Analysis into Practice

    TA is primarily an Integrative theory. It also has four branches - Counselling, Psychotherapy, Education, Organisational. This one day workshop will focus on counselling and psychotherapy and how to consider integrating TA into your existing clinical practice.

    The TA integration might be described as behavioural, cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic, all underpinned by a humanistic stance of a strive to health and self-actualisation. That we are all in part behaving in what Berne termed ‘Script’ is important to both how we consider, and the outcome, of the therapeutic encounter.

    This one day workshop will include teaching some basic concepts of TA, and discussion on how practitioners from different philosophical standpoints might meet the challenge of incorporating these ideas within their everyday practice.

    Facilitator – Brian Fenton PTSTA

    Having worked as counsellor and psychotherapist since 1996 Brian has gained extensive experience. Alongside facilitating a private practice Brian currently works for the NHS as a Specialist Psychological Practitioner in Adult Secondary Mental Health Services. Brian is also employed by a specialist childcare organisation as a therapist working with young people. Brian offers psychotherapy to children or young people in his private practice and offers consultation to parents or carers who have concerns related to either.

    Initially Brian began his career in the field of addiction where he worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor, later progressing to working in general practice for five years as a GP counsellor. Brian's practice has also included the provision of employee counselling, counselling in schools and the provision of consultation/therapy for a social services child and families team.

    As well as offering counselling and psychotherapy Brian also provides clinical supervision and psychotherapy training to counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.


    Title: Integrating Transactional Analysis into Practice
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Brian Fenton
    Date: Saturday, 14th May, 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Narrative Therapy and Storytelling
    Course completed March 2016 - reference only

    Narrative Therapy and Storytelling

    Narrative Therapy is a powerful approach to counselling developed by family therapists Michael White and David Epston. It uses the story the client is telling in a slightly different way. It looks at patterns, looks at the here and now and not past advents but how we repeat stories or patterns to control how we live. We become the story, not who we truly are.

    The job of a narrative therapist is to help the client reduce or eliminate the influence of this problematic story.

    This workshop will hopefully help you to understand the client’s story, to help instigate change and for clients to re write their story.

    Later in the day we will look at stories and see how they influence us from children to adults. Do you play the ‘Hero’ or the ‘Healer’ are you a ‘Princess’ or a ‘King’ or maybe an ‘Ugly duckling’ If you feel brave, maybe you could share a favourite story?

    Why do we keep stories in our heads and why are they so important to us?

    I hope you will join me for some story telling but also to explore new skills and ways of working with your clients. This approach works with children and adults.

    Facilitator - Annetta Bowden
    Annetta is a senior accredited BACP Counsellor/Supervisor and Trainer working in private practice near Canterbury. She also has experience of working in schools and prisons, and was for a number of years the lead tutor and course director of counselling studies at Canterbury College.


    Title: Narrative Therapy and Storytelling
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Annetta Bowden
    Date: Saturday, 19th March, 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Aggression in Therapy - Frightened Clinicians
    Course completed Feb 2016 - reference only

    Aggression in Therapy – Frightened Clinicians

    Frightened Clinicians
    Using our guts alongside science when working with aggression and violence

    In 2003, when writing about the risk management of violence, the late Dr Richard Lucas OBE an eminent Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, noted that since the closure of large mental hospitals “tragedies have occurred, and these have heightened anxieties and led to increased bureaucracy in the hope of replacing the asylum walls with walls of paper”.

    Of course, the walls of paper referred to by Dr Lucas have become familiar landscape or ‘estate’ to all health care and criminal justice workers, reminding us that historically, risk and dangerousness were indeed ‘managed’ by institutional walls which may still linger in our current practice in the form of growing administration, yet it has long been recognised that the effective containment or ‘management’ of aggression and violence “is a matter of strength of mind, and not purely something physical” (Leiper. 2007).

    Taking the perspective of the lone counselling practitioner or psychotherapist within an agency setting or private practice, this workshop explores the impact of aggression and violence on our capacity to retain our strength of mind, assess risks to ourselves and others, and maintain a therapeutic stance with our clients when ‘under fire’ so to speak from clients who bring accounts of “action” rather than their thoughts.
    The need to retain the capacity to be both frightened and in tune with our guts, and yet not to be too frightened that one cannot think, is explored, as are the unconscious processes enacted by both client and therapist that can positively shape the outcome of therapy, or detract from it.

    Aims
    To introduce participants to:
    • Aggression in human growth and development
    • Theories of aggression and violence
    • Unconscious reactions to working with aggression such as the perpetrator/victim split
    • Gut reaction as a valid method of risk assessment, or unhelpful counter reaction?

    Facilitator – Steve Sharkey
    Steve Sharkey is a Principal Psychotherapist at Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Trust. He is a former Executive Council Member of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy and Forensic Psychotherapist. He worked on a DSPD Forensic national pilot service managing a residential service based upon therapeutic community principles. He has a small private practice

    Title: Aggression in Therapy – Frightened Clinicians”
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Steve Sharkey
    Date: Saturday, 27th February 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours
    S
  • Working with Substance Misuse
    Course completed January 2016 - reference only

    Working with Substance Misuse - an Introductory Day

    Therapists can feel deskilled when confronted with clients who have problems with substance use, even to the point where the therapist refers the client on to a ‘Substance Misuse Specialist’. This introductory day explores ways of working with clients with substance misuse from initial assessment to working with motivation and ambivalence.

    We will examine the psychosocial model of substance misuse and look at the relational aspect of it. Once someone is ready to either reduce or abstain from their substance of choice we will explore specific interventions to support them to change and to maintain this. We will also explore the notion of lapse and relapse and examine ways of managing this.
    Finally we will examine our own relationship with a substance of choice, how this originated and how this might impact on the work with clients.

    Facilitator – Adrian Hemmings

    Adrian is a chartered psychologist and registered with the HPC as a counselling psychologist. He is a senior practitioner on the British Psychological Society (BPS) Register of Psychologists Specialising in Psychotherapy. He is also on the BPS register for Expert Witnesses.

    Adrian developed an MSc course in Counselling Psychology at the University of Sussex and was programme director for two years. He has worked in the NHS as a psychologist and psychotherapist in a local PCT where he was Professional Head of Psychology.  Adrian was also director of a local charity that offered therapy to people who had problems with alcohol and other substance misuse.


    Title: Working with Substance Misuse
    Summary: 1 day workshop presented by Adrian Hemmings
    Date: Saturday 30th January 2016
    Venue: CCT, Unit 32, Roper Close, Roper Rd, Canterbury CT2 7EP
    Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm
    Fee: £70
    CPD Hours: 6 hours

    S
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