What does it mean to connect to others in an in-depth way? What are the effects of relating deeply to clients in therapy, and how can such a such an encounter be facilitated? This workshop will give participants an opportunity to explore their experiences of relational depth, and how it feels to meet others at this level of intensity and intimacy: in both their therapeutic practice and everyday life. Through small group exercises, pairs-work, discussion and theory input, the workshop will help participants develop a deeper understanding of such encounters, and also how they come to deepen their levels of relating in their therapeutic work.

The workshop is appropriate for training and practising counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals.

The workshop combines self-development exercises, theoretical input, practical exercises, and small and large group discussion. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the nature of relational depth
• Articulate their own experiences of in-depth relating
• Understand the latest research findings on the nature, impact and prevalence of relational
  depth in therapy
• Recognise means of deeepening levels of relating with clients
• Recognise their own chronic strategies of disconnection and other barriers to relational
  depth

Session 1: Experiencing relational depth, in and out of therapy

Session 2: The importance of relatedness to psychological wellbeing

Session 3: Deepening our levels of relating with clients

Session 4: Chronic strategies of disconnection

Mick Cooper is an internationally recognised author, trainer, and consultant in the field of humanistic, existential, and pluralistic therapies. He is a Chartered Psychologist, and Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton. Mick has facilitated workshops and lectures around the world, including New Zealand, Lithuania, and Florida. Mick's books include Existential Therapies (2nd ed., Sage, 2017), Working at Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2nd ed., Sage, 2018), and Integrating Counselling and Psychotherapy: Directionality, Synergy, and Social Change (Sage, 2019). Mick’s principal areas of research have been in shared decision-making/personalising therapy, and counselling for young people in schools. In 2014, Mick received the Carmi Harari Mid-Career Award from Division 32 of the American Psychological Association. He is a Fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Academy of Social Sciences. Mick’s latest book explores the contribution that counselling and psychotherapy theory and practice can make to wider social progress and justice: Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Towards a Progressive Vision for Society (Bristol University, 2023).

Please note that ticket sales will close on Thursday 19th September 2024. Numbers will be reviewed 2-weeks prior to the event to ensure minimum numbers are met for the event to run. If minimum numbers are not met, a full refund will be issued to registrants