Albany Focus Group

November 2011 News

2011-11-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

Applications have now been emailed out for the following workshop:

Albany Focus Group

CPD Workshop

'Mourning, Melancholia and Depression'

Saturday 17^th March 2012

10am – 4pm

Presented by Darian Leader

Darian Leader is a psychoanalyst working in London and a founder member of the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research. He is President of the College of Psychoanalysts - UK and Visiting Professor at the School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University. He is author of several books including: 'Introducing Lacan'; 'Why do women write more letters than they post?'; 'Freuds Footnotes'; 'Stealing the Mona Lisa: What Art Stops Us From Seeing'; 'Why do people get ill' (with David Corfield) Penguin, 2007 and 'The New Black: Mourning and Depression', Hamish Hamilton, 2008. His next book, 'What is Madness?' is published by Hamish Hamilton in October.

Depression is diagnosed casually and all too swiftly today. Underlying problems of seperation and loss often come to light through dialogue with the patient, inviting us to reflect on the process of mourning. Beyond its conscious manifestations, what are the unconscious elements of the mourning process? What can block a mourning and what can initiate one? And how does mourning differ from melancholia? A Discussion in these themes opens up the question of the place of the therapist and the parameters of the therapeutic process.

The workshop will be held at

The RAOB HQ, 102 Ashley Road, St Albans, AL1 5DF

Refreshments will be served from 9.40 a.m.

An attendance certificate will be issued.

A light, buffet lunch is included in the cost

September News

2011-09-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

AFG's September workshop went ahead as planned and below is the outcome of the evaluation forms those of you who attended, filled out. Many thanks for the feed back, which we use to ensure workshops are enjoyable and to look for ideas for the future.

Much thanks to Margaret Wilkinson for her excellent presentation and in sharing her knowledge and ideas - all Members of AFG thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.

Albany Focus Group

Evaluation on CPD Workshop

Changing Minds in Therapy: insights from neurobiology, attachment and trauma research

Presented by Margaret Wilkinson

Saturday 10^th September 2011

Your feedback is important to us both to evaluate the training you have attended today as well as informing us of possible themes for future workshops. Please would you answer the questions below, with any additional comments you have. This will be helpful to us when planning other events.

How helpful did you find today’s CPD workshop? (please tick)

Excellent : 19 Very Good : 9 Good : 1 Poor : 1

Any other comments:

Really helpful and informative
Very informative and thought provoking
Very helpful
Extremely informative and thought provoking
Some clearly explained scientific concepts; theory well related to practice
Clear insights into neurobiology
Did not tie in enough neurobiology/science to case studies – felt more like a day on good practice than neurobiology
A good introduction; I am inspired to find out more

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator’s knowledge? (please tick)

Excellent : 25 Very Good : 3 Good : 2 Poor : 0

Any other comments:

Really knowledgeable and insightful – provoked
I found some of the diversions into Sure-Start/Home Start etc frustrating as it was taking us away from the neuroscience
Very professional and in-depth
A really good informative day. Thank you.
Facilitator’s knowledge and delivery was excellent
Very up-to-date with all the latest research – a real privilege to hear her
Margaret’s excellent knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject left me wanting to learn more
Informative
Good but felt she did not tie in her knowledge of science enough
I would have liked some more application of the neuro knowledge to sessions

What themes would interest you for future workshops?

Love in the therapy room
Kleinian aspects of psychotherapy
Assessment TEQ
Attunement and empathy
Adolescents
Relationships
Spirituality in counselling
Attachment
More on the same especially body/mind element
Same speaker more attunement and window of tolerance
Love in the therapy room; kleinian aspects of psychotherapy; assessment TEQ; attunement and empathy; body, mind element; attachment; more neuroscience; same speaker, more attunement and window of tolerance; adolescents, couple work; spirituality; relationships; abuse
More neuroscience
Would like to learn more about the body mind relationship, but look forward to your choice of excellent presenters
More on empathy and attunement
Couple work; group work
Brief therapy models
Attachment; anxiety; abuse; couples work
Would love to hear about them all!
They are all great so anything!!

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location or organisation of the workshop?

Fantastic lunch – warm, friendly
Chair set-up led to poor view of screen and speaker and cricked neck!
Very helpful. Excellent lunch. Thank you!
All great
Lovely lunch, lots of choice, thank you!
Lovely lunch. Best to get early to park
Lunch was lovely; had a bit of trouble seeing screen and Margaret so much of it was as audio experience and I’m very visual; however she spoke in a very engaging way.
Lunch was very good thank you
Difficult to find but I’ll know the way next time. Otherwise superb
All excellent and enjoyable
All adequate
As always, welcoming and nurturing. Lunch a real celebration
All super thank you
It was all very pleasing
Nice venue and lunch. However very warm and needed more air circulation
First time around, notice on the gates would have been useful. Everything else very good
Excellent
Excellent – as usual – thank you
Excellent thank you
Well organised and great value for money, plus a lovely lunch
Great lunch, good group
All very good
Very good
Difficult to find – satnav took me elsewhere!! Colleague waved me down outside, thank god!
Lunch was amazing – best ever Thanks

Our next workshop which will take place on 17th March 2012 and will be presented by Darian Leader
The workshop is entitled:
Mourning, Melancholia and Depression

For more information about Darian: click here

We are aware that the OHP and screen set up was not ideal for viewing and we apologize to those of you who felt they were unable to see the screen adequately. We have taken this into account for our future workshops.

Jen Slingsby, Carole Simkins, Sue Gavin and Angela Thurstan

June 2011 News

2011-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Next workshop:

10th September 2011

Changing Minds in Therapy: insights from neurobiology, attachment and trauma research ~ Presented by Margaret Wilkinson

Applications for this workshop have now been emailed. If you have not received one and would like to attend please use the 'contact us' link on our website

Please note that our face book group page will no longer be public. To join this private/secret group you will have be a face book user to log in, and be approved by an admin.

May 2011 News ~ September Workshop

2011-05-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

CPD Workshop

Changing Minds in Therapy: insights from neurobiology, attachment and trauma research

Saturday 10th September 2011

10am – 4pm

Presented by Margaret Wilkinson

Margaret Wilkinson is a professional member of the Society of Analytical Psychology and The West Midlands Institute for Psychotherapy, and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Analytical Psychology. She teaches neuroscience research reading seminars at The Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, at The Institute of Mental Health at The University of Nottingham, and at The Society of Analytical Psychology, London. She is the author of numerous papers and two books: ‘Coming into mind. The mind-brain relationship: a Jungian clinical perspective’ (2006, Routledge) and ‘Changing Minds in Therapy’ (2010, Norton). She is in private practice in North Derbyshire, England.

Much therapy is concerned with what has been described as ‘the old present’, those difficult early experiences that remain buried within, unknown and unknowable to the realm of the explicit but carrying an instantly recognizable feeling tone. Such feelings come with a sense of ‘now’ not ‘then’. Patterning in the implicit memory store of the early developing right hemisphere governs the whole being of an individual throughout life and affects the ways that person seeks to relate to others. Why and how does trauma affect the emotional, intellectual, and imaginative life of the individual in this way? How may therapeutic change occur in the consulting room? What insight does neurobiology offer to our understanding of these inner world experiences? Can the plasticity of the brain work to assist in therapeutic change, if so how? These are some of the questions Margaret will seek to explore. Clinical material, including images, will be presented and there will be opportunity for discussion.

April 2011 News and Feedback

2011-04-11T02:25:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

Evaluation on CPD Workshop

On Becoming Real : a clinical exploration

Saturday 2^nd April 2011

Presented by Dr Judith Woodhead

Your feedback is important to us both to evaluate the training you have attended today as well as informing us of themes for future workshops. Please would you answer the questions below, with any additional comments you have. This will be helpful to us when planning other events.

How helpful did you find today’s CPD workshop? (Please tick)

Excellent x 17 Very Good x 11 Good = 0 Poor = 0

Any other comments?

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator’s knowledge?

(Please tick)

Excellent x 22 Very Good x 6 Good = 0 Poor = 0

Any other comments?

I liked the way Judith used the theme of the velveteen rabbit, the mother/infant relationship and work with clients in general; enjoyed Judith’s relaxed informal style
Really knowledgeable, well presented with clear examples
The programme was ideally paced, encouraging participation and understanding throughout the day
A very worthwhile opportunity to reflect very thoroughly on a given moment
Gave some good points to reflect on in my work, in particular not to rush the process. A very engaging facilitator
Judith’s deep awareness and capacity was obvious. I didn’t have any preconceived idea of today’s content but it was a lot of what I needed to know about. Reflecting on my own (lack of!) awareness with my children and what I might not address with present clients
Great story!
Would enjoy a further course with same facilitator
Very knowledgeable, liked the use of case study
Very good mix of theory, small group, video and story
Knowledge explained clearly, good pace. Not sure about use of slides which reduced interaction a little

What themes would interest you for future workshops?

Neuroscience x 2
Neurobiology
Depression
Existential
Bereavement x 2
Working with alexithymia and those who find it hard to verbalise feelings
Mindfulness x 2
Cognitive Behavioural day’s workshop
Envy x 2
Narcissism x 2
Eating disorders
Alcohol
CBT
Attachment
Couple work x 2
Working in primary care
Daniel Stern’s work “Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy” (www.istdp.org.uk)
Working with looked-after children
Parent-child work
Short-term psychotherapy
Finding a focus in short-term counselling
Orders of love

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location or organisation of the workshop?

All great! Lovely lunch
Great food – wonderful organisation – all good
Excellent as always. You are wonderful
Venue welcoming and comfortable. 5 star lunch. Organisation first class. A very good day, thank you.
All excellent
All wonderful and thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality
Lunch was really lovely! Location really close. Thank you
Excellent lunch and organisation as always. Thank you.
All very good
Good – keep it up. Thank you.
All of the above more than good enough. I particularly appreciate the cost being lower than many 6-hr CPD workshops with no compromise on quality
An excellent and “nurturing” workshop. Thank you.
I really enjoyed today – I thank you
I have had a lovely day. Thank you
All of the above were excellent thank you!
Very good, esp gluten free lunch
Location easy now I know the way! Lunch excellent. Organisation excellent. Lovely ethos overall. Thank you.
Being read-to a real treat! Nurturing like in childhood! Enjoyed venue, people and food
Great value, good quality, a very good workshop provider
Thank you so much for the gluten-free option, very much appreciated
Excellent
Lovely lunch – wholesome and nourishing. Thank you.
Venue is comfortable and accessible; good lunch!
Excellent lunch, suitable venue, great location since I live in St Albans!
Excellent forum for networking/connections/discussion. Well organised. Comfortably informal setting, Venue OK. Food 5*!

Many thanks for your time in completing the questionnaire

Albany Focus Group

Blog at: http://albanyfocus.blogspot.com

Our next workshop will be presented by Margaret Wilkinson on 10th September 2011:

Changing Minds in Therapy: insights from neurobiology, attachment and trauma research

AFG on Facebook

2011-02-01T11:02:00.001-08:00

New:

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Albany Focus Group

On Becoming Real

2011-01-27T05:11:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to confirm AFG's next workshop:

ON BECOMING REAL: A CLINICAL EXPLORATION

Saturday 2^ND April 2011

10am – 4pm

Presented by Dr Judith Woodhead

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender....Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you....When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to really play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real....It doesn’t happen all at once....You become. It takes a long time.”

‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ by Margery Williams, 1922.

In this children’s story the Velveteen Rabbit and Skin Horse explore together what it means to be real, and discuss the painfulness of the process of becoming real. They suggest it happens, over time, through relationship with an other. How?

To explore this question we shall use a workshop approach to study developmental relational process in early infancy through close detailed analysis of DVD sequences of young infants, in relation with others. Core ideas derived from attachment theory, neuroscience, systems theory and psychoanalysis will be used to explain what we see. We shall explore how moment-to-moment relational process creates change in the infants’ emotional, bodily and brain states, and catalyses the emergence of mind. At the same time, we shall construct parallels with the changes of states that occur in the moment to moment shifts of adult therapeutic work - in the process of becoming real.

Judith Woodhead is an adult trained Jungian analyst. She has a special interest in the process of transformation, within organisations, communities and individuals. A recent past Chair of the Society of Analytical Psychology, Judith works in private practice in Bedford. She is also a consultant parent-infant psychotherapist at the Anna Freud Centre, London, where she works with new babies and their parent(s). Judith has led Jungian infant observation seminars, writes on infant work, and supervises, teaches, and lectures on infancy and adult work, in the UK and internationally. Her professional doctorate was on the emergence of the self in infancy.

January 2011

2010-12-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

AFG News for January 2011

Happy New Year

AFG will be presenting two workshops this year.

2nd April 2011, presented by
Judith Woodhead and titled:

Becoming Real

and

10th September 2011, presented by
Margaret Wilkinson and titled:

Changing Minds in Therapy: insights from neurobiology, attachment and trauma research

September 2010 Workshop Feedback

2010-10-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

AFG’s September 2010 workshop: Anger, Rage and Relationship, presented by Sue Parker-Hall. The following has been collated from the feedback forms by 27 attendees.

How helpful did you find today’s Workshop:

Excellent: 20

Very Good: 7

Good: 0

Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Really helpful, especially differentiating between anger and rage, very informative, well presented, good to have hand out, left wanting more, accessible, useful model – new ideas – great, helped me understand the difference between anger and rage with clients and how to work with them, clear concepts with good balance of participation and group work, very helpful and especially liked focus of anger and rage and hot/cold, liked that we looked at ways of working with rage therapeutically, Sue was very engaging and will take away some useful ways of looking at the subject, has helped me to think about client work in a different way, it was most informative and helpful, not only with client work but for understanding ones own rage and the potential impact of this on relationships.

How would you rate the workshop programme and facilitator:

Excellent: 23

Very Good: 4

Good: 0

Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Facilitator engaging, well balanced, clear and thought provoking, would have been happy to stay longer, Sue had a very enjoyable presentation style, helped generate excellent discussion, good balance of small and large groups, will be looking out for her other courses, very approachable and real, very interesting approach and given me food for thought personally and professionally, very knowledgeable, useful book to take away, very informative and approachable, very clear and interesting, clearly expressed with respect, hand out and experience of client work useful, Sue was very natural and presented in an interesting way of thinking about anger and rage, down to earth, fluent in diverse models and extremely engaging, great personality.

What themes would interest you for future workshops:

Anxiety x 3, working with alexithymia (the inability to express feelings with words often used with psychosomatics), couples work x 3, grief, loss and bereavement x 3, group work therapy x 2, follow up of Sue’s workshop x 3, working with children, sex x 2, expressive art therapy, somatize/mind/body x 2, neurology x 3, disassociation and trauma, self harm.

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location, or organisation of the workshop:

All great x 3, Excellent, thank you for all your hard work, cosy, comfy and congenial day, very well organised x 2, excellent in all respects, Good venue, lovely lunch, thank you Jen and Carole, venue relaxing and comfortable, first course via AFG and have enjoyed, lunch ample, location convenient, nice lunch, very good lunch, easy venue and location, efficient, warm organisers, ample and varied lunch, good value for money, venue a bit warm for my liking, would have liked power point or on screen projection.

AFG would like to thank Sue for agreeing to deliver her workshop without an overhead projector. The workshop was most enjoyable and as shown above, thoroughly enjoyed by all. Many thanks Sue ~ AFG Members.

Albany Focus Group

October News

2010-10-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

AFG now have two new members: Angela Thurstan and Sue Gavin. Welcome Angela and Sue.

Albany Focus Group

New Members

2010-09-09T09:37:00.001-07:00

Carole and Jen are happy to welcome Sue Gavin who will be a new, third member of AFG starting in October 2010.

Welcome Sue

Albany Focus Group

June 2010 News

2010-06-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Updated: 30th June 2010

ANGER, RAGE & RELATIONSHIP

Saturday 25^TH September 2010

10am – 4pm

Presented by Sue Parker Hall

Sue Parker Hall is a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice, free-lance trainer and HE lecturer. She presents a workshop for practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of, and practice in, working with anger, rage and relationship.

In the workshop Sue contextualises her approach by offering an overview of ‘problem anger’, current ‘anger management’ provision in the UK and briefly critiquing current dominant approaches. Sue invites exploration of her theoretical models which differentiate between anger and rage and identifies the different therapeutic and relational needs of both.

Sue is critical of programme centred, technique driven, 'one-size-fits-all' ways of working with anger and rage that dominate current UK provision, arguing for an empathic or relational approach. Sue actively campaigns on ethical and pragmatic grounds to raise awareness and challenge the dominant ideology and practice of working with these issues, including establishing a national association for practitioners who work therapeutically with these issues.

An attendance certificate will be provided

Refreshments and a light, buffet lunch is included in the cost

April 2010 News

2010-04-08T03:18:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group's CPD Workshop entitled ADOLESCENCE – A DISORDER? which was presented by Steve Seaton and Joyce Wellings took place on Saturday, 6th March 2010. The following feedback from this workshop has been collated from 20 completed questionnaires ~ Some comments have been combined because many were similar.

How helpful did you find today's CPD workshop:

Excellent: 16

Very Good: 4

Good: 0

Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Liked the model of 3 areas, very helpful and enjoyable, useful to reflect on own experience of adolescence, thinking about diagnosis - pathology - more on technique, good input from facilitators, very approachable, encouraged everyone to contribute in a positive way, good handouts, really learnt a lot and understanding of the 3 factors overlapping was immense, very relevant to work in school, would have liked more on working in the room with young people which we did not have time for, very useful, lots of time for discussion, enjoyed every minute, a great mixture of theory and practice, very informative and clear, thought provoking, excellent contact and delivery.

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitators knowledge:

Excellent: 16
Very Good: 4
Good: 0
Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Facilitators excellent in creating a space to explore our own experience and relate it to practice, facilitators knowledgeable and responsive to group, warm approach, interesting but would have liked more case studies, felt focus was on local area which was limiting, informative, thought provoking and interesting, lots to think about especially from facilitators personal/professional experiences, good rapport with participants, excellent presentation, well delivered, l
ong day and a little tired post lunch, found it hard to concentrate, after lunch although thought provoking and interesting to think about trauma, felt it went slightly off track from the theme, extensive knowledge on subject area, good group discussion, enthusiastic approach and great knowledge of age group.

What themes would interest you for future workshops:

Existential psychotherapy x 2, fee setting and implications, working with couples x 2, dreams, transference, countertransference, different approaches, depression in children, group work x 2, short term work, addiction x 2, self harm x 2, affect of parental separation/absence on child, attachment x 2, sub personalities, CBT x 2 and how to integrate CBT into practice, integrating theories, in depth case work, eating disorders, bereavement and loss x 2, trauma, anger, anxiety.

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location or organisation of the workshop:

Lovely lunch and very good organisation, all great, all good, good parking, Excellent as always, great lunch, venue fine, location and organisation good, all very good, comfortable surroundings, first visit will come again, excellent lunch and refreshments, well organised in terms of timing of the course and breaks, nice hall, warm and friendly atmosphere and inviting, lovely people, lovely venue and lunch and reasonably priced, well done, lunch was excellent and organisation efficient, very good value for money.

A big apology for the hall feeling cold on arrival. We managed to warm things up once we discovered that the heating had been left on timer and had turned off.

Apologies to the vegan participant and thank you for the suggestion to include a section on special diets on our applications. We will include this in future.

A big thank you to all the participants and to Joyce and Steve for presenting such an informative and enjoyable workshop.

More News:

Sue Parker Hall will be presenting a training workshop for AFG on 25th September 2010 entitled: Anger, Rage and Relationship. More details will appear on our WEBSITE nearer the time.

January 2010 News

2010-01-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

We now have details for our next workshop which will run on March 6th, 2010 - see below:

Albany Focus Group

CPD Workshop

ADOLESCENCE – A DISORDER?

Saturday 6^TH March 2010

10am – 4pm

Presented by Steve Seaton & Joyce Wellings

The workshop will look at this developmental stage known as adolescence, and at the sometimes perilous psychological pathway of young adults towards individuation and full adult personal sovereignty. In referring to our work in a community counselling and psychotherapy agency, we shall be presenting for discussion issues such as referral, assessment, engagement, containment, psychotherapeutic technique and evaluation with 14 – 25 year olds.

Steve Seaton MA UKCP

Steve is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist who specialises in working with adolescents and young adults. He is the Director of Youth Talk, a community counselling agency in St. Albans, and is the founder of Cross-Herts. Community Counselling (CHeCC), the first Third Sector consortium of providers of counselling and psychotherapy

Joyce Wellings MSc., BA., MBACP (Accred)

Joyce is a Psychodynamic Counsellor and Assistant Director of Youth Talk with a weekly case load of 16 clients. Formerly a Senior Lecturer in Education and Social Science in Further Education she worked with adolescents and adult students predominantly training for professional roles in Child Care and Education settings across all sectors.

Albany Focus Group News December 2009

2009-12-08T02:37:00.000-08:00

Next Workshop:6th March 2010

The theme will be working with adolescents and young adults - 16 to 25. The title and details will appear shortly.

Details and applications will be sent/emailed out toward the end of January 2010

On September 25th 2010 Sue Parker Hall will be presenting a training workshop for AFG entitled: Anger, Rage and Relationship.

To visit Sue's Website click Here

Albany Focus Group News - October 2009

2009-10-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

Feedback for the workshop:

Shame - presented by Michael Whan
on 10th October 2009

We had 29 applications - as the hall can only accommodate 27 people including two AFG members, we were only able to accept 25 of those . Three people were unable to attend on the day, therefore the following feedback has been drawn from 21 questionnaires handed in at the end of the day, plus 2 filled out by AFG's own members.

We have combined many of the comments because some were very similar.

How helpful did you find today's CPD Workshop:

Excellent: 8
Very Good: 15
Good: 0
Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Thought provoking, lots of food for thought, relevant to practice, good balance between teaching, discussion and experiential, huge topic, has wetted appetite for more, links to many other subjects, interesting, informative.

Many felt that such a wide and indeed deep subject deserved 2 days rather than one. Some thought more case study material would have been useful.

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator's knowledge:

Excellent: 10
Very Good: 13
Good: 0
Poor: 0

Any other comments:

Michael is very knowledgeable, enjoyed excerpts from relevant literature, good mix of practice, theory and experiential, informative, thought provoking.

Some would have liked handouts and more case study presentation. Many felt one day was too short.

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location or organizations of the workshop:

Value for money and local, very friendly, learned a lot about shame at a depth never reached before, good organization, venue exterior belies interior, enjoyable day, very good, venue and organization excellent, well done, thank you for these informative, fun and useful sessions, all great, interesting environment however, comfortable, love ongoing availability of tea,

Again some commented on the lack of time to look at working with shame in practice e.g. unearthing, acknowledging, dispelling, naming. A few people commented in this section that that hand outs would have been useful. Could not always hear the gentleman.

We had many positive comments about the lunch and friendly atmosphere. Thank you.

A Note from AFG:

Thank you to all who attended the SHAME workshop and for helping to make it a rewarding day. Thank you to Michael for packing in so much on this huge subject in such a short space of time.

Our next workshop will take place in the Spring of 2010. Hope to see you all there.

If you have a google blog and would like to join up with us - use the followers button at the top once logged in. If you have any comments, please feel free to click on comments at the foot of each blog post.

October 2009 Workshop News

2009-08-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

SHAME

Saturday 10^th October 2009

10am – 4pm

Presented by Michael Whan

Shame is one of the most fundamental and troublesome of our feelings. It appears to be inherent in the development of our self experience and experience of the other. Analytically, we find it behind much of what people bring to the psychotherapeutic setting. In addition, it is found in the therapeutic process itself, in training and supervision. The workshop will take the form of a seminar and experiential exploration of shame and its implications for our life and work.

Michael Whan is a Jungian Analyst: a member of the Independent Group of Analytical Psychologists, the Association of Independent Psychotherapists and College of Psychoanalysis. He has published extensively in British, European and American Journals and contributed chapters to four books. In addition he has taught here, in Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Sweden and lectured in America. He has a private practice in St Albans and London. Prior to becoming an analyst he worked in the child, family and adult psychiatric services in Watford, Hertfordshire.

The workshop will be held at

The RAOB HQ, Ashley Road, St Albans

(Refreshments will be served from 9.40a.m.)

An attendance certificate will be provided.

A light, buffet lunch is included in the cost.

AUGUST 09 NEWS

2009-08-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

10th of OCTOBER 09 WORKSHOP
with Michael Whan on
"Shame"

More details will appear soon. Applications will be sent out by early September 09

Latest News

2009-07-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Next Workshop

Our next workshop will take place in October 09. We are just finalizing things and should be sending out invitations very soon. Watch this space for any updates.

Albany Focus News - JULY 2009

2009-07-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

Thank you to those who attended our June 2009 Workshop: WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESS OR DISABILITIES, facilitated by Julia Segal MA FBACP

We had a low attendance for this workshop with just 11 of us. However, the low numbers seemed to create an intimate, warm feeling within the group. Below are the statistics drawn up from feed back. Thank you all so much for participating:

How helpful did you find today's CPD workshop:

Excellent: 5
Very Good: 6
Good: 0
Poor: 0

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator's knowledge:

Excellent: 5
Very Good: 6
Good: 0
Poor: 0

What themes would interest you for future workshops:

Shame, Working with adolescents, bereavement, self harm, suicide, substance abuse, existential therapy.

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location or organization of the workshop:

Great to have the whole building and not just a room, looked after, warm and welcoming, very good, super, excellent. Everyone made a positive comment about the lunch.

Thank you all so much for your positive comments - AFG

If you have a blog - become a follower of AFG's blog

Albany Focus News

2009-03-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

CPD Workshop

WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES OR DISABILITIES

Saturday 20^th June 2009

10am – 4pm

Presented by

Julia Segal MA FBACP

Julia Segal trained as a counsellor with Relate in Manchester, where she also taught classes in Psychoanalytical ideas at the Extra-Mural Department of the University. Her first book, Phantasy in Everyday Life, in which she explains the ideas of Melanie Klein and her followers to a lay audience, arose out of these experiences. Her book Melanie Klein (Sage,1992) has introduced Klein to many counsellors.

Working as a Research Counsellor for a Multiple Sclerosis, (ARMS) a self-help charity, since 1985 enabled her to follow up an interest in the effects of illness and disability on family relationships, and on ways of helping people to understand these. This also led to a book, Helping Children with Ill or Disabled Parents, (Jessica Kingsley 1996). Currently she works as a counsellor within the NHS for people affected by a wide range of health conditions and runs workshops for professionals at universities and other settings in the UK and abroad.

Julia is on the Editorial Board of Psychodynamic Practice. She has a small private practice and offers consultation to any professional working with someone with a neurological disease as well as supervision. Her extensive publications list is available on her website www.mscounselling.com, or by request from juliasegal@mscounselling.com

Aim:
At the end of the session participants will:
• have considered some of their own assumptions, attitudes and beliefs about some illnesses and disabilities
• have listened to others describing different attitudes and beliefs
• have an appreciation of the sources of their own and others’ ideas about illness and disability, and the effect of these sources on their own thinking
• have an appreciation of the wide variability in attitudes, beliefs and assumptions about illness and disability, and the difficulty in knowing how any other person will feel about their own situation
• have an appreciation of the influence of time and the grieving process on feelings about illness and disability
• have considered some of the conflicts which arise for client and counsellor when either has an illness or disability
• have a greater capacity to listen to a client who has an illness or disability
• have a greater capacity to explore another person’s experience of illness or disability in a counselling session

News and Updates

2009-03-15T04:56:00.001-07:00

Feedback for CPD Workshop
Taking Attachment Seriously - what it implies for practice

Saturday 7th March 2009

27 people attended the above workshop, two of those were AFG members. The feedback below is taken from the evaluation sheets of 25 attendees. The comments have been combined to give a taste of the feedback because many of the remarks were similar.

How helpful did you find today’s CPD workshop:

Excellent: 20
Very Good: 5
Good: 0
Poor: 0

Comments:

Clearly presented, material valuable, good combination of teaching and experiential, very interesting, useful reminder of attachment and taking thinking further, outstanding day, enriching, thought provoking, easy to understand, good presentation and timing, enjoyed regular tea breaks, speaker very real and excelled in presentation, good subject choice.

Some would have liked change of pairs throughout the day; while others thought having the same partner was appropriate for the theme of attachment.

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator’s knowledge:

Excellent: 23
Very Good: 2
Good: 0
Poor: 0

Comments:

Incisive links between theory and client work, facilitator knowledgeable on attachment, interesting, informative, well structured, good balance of theory and exercises and how to integrate attachment into practice, great speaker, good division of time and breaks and partner work.

Would have like more time for questions and views.

Would you be interested in attending a workshop on working with people with chronic illness or disability:

Yes: 19
No: 2
Maybe: 3
Blank: 1

Have you any other comments about the venue, lunch, location and organisation of the workshop:

Overall feedback: Great day, well organised, easy parking, great speaker, superb day and positive experience, well run, good group dynamics, thought provoking, good value.

Many commented on the lunch in a very positive way.

Venue a little scruffy and run down but did not seem to matter. Not too big, creating good group dynamics, easy to access, convenient.

Windows could have been opened. Our apologies about this - We will be sure to ask for the key for the windows for future workshops.

Other News:

Future workshop:

We hope to run another workshop later this year:

AFG now have an evolving website. We hope to expand links to various organizations for support and help. AFG Website

IF you have a blog - why not join up with us using the follower facility below, or if you would like us to place a link to your blog, please let us know.

News - March 09

2009-03-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

We hope to run our next workshop in June or September 09:
Working with people with Chronic Illness, facilitated by Julia Segal)
Dates to be confirmed soon

AFG March 2009

March 7th Workshop

2009-01-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

Albany Focus Group

CPD Workshop

Taking Attachment Seriously - what it implies for practice

Saturday 7^th March 2009

10am – 4pm

Presented by

Emeritus Professor of Counselling – Julia Buckroyd

Attachment is by far the best researched account of human emotional development. What does it imply for the way we practice therapy. This workshop considers some of the research and considers how it can be integrated into work with clients. The workshop will combine looking at theoretical advances with experiential work to understand its implications.

Julia Buckroyd is Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of Hertfordshire. She has become particularly interested in attachment as a result of trying to understand disordered eating. As a result she now integrates attachment theory into her whole approach to therapy and believes that it is extremely useful in understanding clients reactions to trauma and relationship including the therapeutic relationship.

The workshop will be held at

The RAOB HQ, Ashley Road, St Albans

(Refreshments will be served from 9.40a.m.)

An attendance certificate for 6 hours will be provided

A light, buffet lunch is included in the cost

Delays on Sending Out Applications

2009-01-24T03:50:00.001-08:00

Albany Focus Group

We have been delayed in sending out applications for the 7th March Workshop. Just a note to say the workshop is still going ahead. We hope to send out applications by the end of January 09.

A Date for Your Diary

2008-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Albany Focus Group

AFG Workshop: 7th March 2009

AFG will be running a one day workshop on 7th March 2009. The theme will be "Attachment" and will be facilitated by: Julia Buckroyd, Emeritus Professor of Counselling.

Information and applications will be sent out nearer the time.

AFG'S News September 2008

2008-09-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

AFG’s first event took place on 6th September 2008. We had 25 Applicants of which 23 attended. We asked participants to complete an evaluation form. The following outcomes are the result of 22 forms:

How Helpful did you find today’s workshop:

Excellent: 7
Very Good: 13
Good: 2
Poor: 0
Blank: 0

Comments:

1: Heavy on Theory
1: Interesting and Useful
20: Blank

How would you rate the workshop programme and the facilitator’s knowledge:

Excellent: 14
Very Good: 7
Good: 1
Poor: 0
Blank: 0

Comments: Overall

7: Facilitator knowledgeable and experienced, handled problems with DVD well, helpful, assertive yet gentle, enjoyed interaction, good mix of material, theory and exercise, interesting concepts, fitted well with attachment theory.

15: Blank

What themes would you like to see presented in future workshops:

Anything, Abuse (sexual and/or physical), Anger, Depression, Relationships, Brief Therapy, Mindfulness, Short term Work, Existential Approach, Self Harm, Legal aspects of counselling, Working with Groups, Death and Dying, working with Shame, Working with Couples, Family Dynamics, CBT

Would you be interested in attending Dr. Maggie Turp’s workshop on: Self Harm, Self Care and the Way Between:

Yes: 19
No: 1
Blanks: 2

Any other comments about the venue, location or organization of the workshop:

Comments: 17
Blanks: 5

Many wrote similar comments, some of the comments were:

Good Venue, accessible with easy parking, plenty of refreshments, well organized, good size of room, adequate numbers, worked well, comfortable and pleasant atmosphere, friendly, venue a little run down but cosy. Satisfactory, venue OK.

Suggestions: Heating needed for winter (The RAOB club does have a heating system for winter) Shorter breaks, power point would have been useful. Supplied lunch would provide an opportunity to network.

AFG’s next workshop is expected to run in the early part of 2009. We will email details as soon as it is arranged. Updates will also appear here.

AFG hope to have a website up and running by next year. We have provided a CPD Forum (see links) which you are welcome to join and network on. Registration requires approval of your account and can take up to 2 days. If the forum becomes used, it will be updated to suit your needs.

2008-03-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

Albany Focus Group

Our first Workshop begins with:

CPD Workshop

WORKING SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY

WITH THE AFTERMATH OF TRAUMA

Saturday 6^th September 2008

10am – 4pm

Presented by

Dr. Maggie Turp

Dr. Maggie Turp is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice, a chartered psychologist and a member of the BACP, BPS and Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists. Prior to her retirement from teaching, she was a staff member at Birkbeck College London, contributing to the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling with Children and Adolescents and the BSc in Psychology.

Her publications, lectures and day training workshops reflect her interest in how psychological distress finds expression in the life of the body, as well as in emotional and relational difficulties. Currently, the training workshops address the subjects of self-harming behaviour, the aftermath of trauma, and the physicality of chronic depression.

Maggie is a member of the Editorial Boards of the journals ‘Psychodynamic Practice’ and ‘Infant Observation’ Her publications include several journal papers, the books ‘Psychosomatic Health: the body and the word’ (2001 Palgrave) and ‘Hidden Self-Harm: narratives from psychotherapy’ (2003 Jessica Kingsley) and a chapter in ‘Relating to Self-Harm and Suicide’ (2008 ed. Briggs S. et al, London: Karnac).

AFG

2008-02-21T10:34:00.001-08:00

Albany Focus Group

Albany Focus is a new group, focusing on Continued Professional Developement for Counsellors and Therapists in Hertfordshire.

We are currently piecing together the paperwork and researching ideas relevant to 'continued professional development.'

The hope is to link education to practice within the group, and through the provision of affordable workshops and seminar's for counsellors in Hertfordshire.