Counselling & Psychotherapy
The practice of existential counselling and psychotherapy is grounded in three thousand years of Western philosophy, involving itself with the everyday concerns of human existence. The focus is on the client's experience of their world rather than a reliance on external theories or specific techniques.
The relationship between practitioner and client is paramount. It is where two humans encounter each other and enter into a dialogue that allows exploration and challenge of the client's worldview with regard to their values, beliefs and emotional attitude about life. Simultaneously, this exploration allows for the physical, social, private and spiritual dimensions to be brought into focus.
All courses and workshops will integrate the philosophy of existentialism into a practical context.
* You can receive an Early Bird discount by paying 3 weeks prior to course commencement
Sydney Workshops 2012 (Location Map)
- Borrowed Time - Time-Limited Existential Practise
- Sudden Death - Challenges for the therapeutic relationship
- Supervision - an Existential View
- Introduction to Existential Theory & Practice (5 days)
- A Vigilant Mind- Everyday Meditations
- Awareness is not Enough - Embracing Responsibilty
- Group Mechanics - understanding group process and dynamics
- The Wheel of Supervision Part 1 (5 days)
- Mirror, Mirror - What do I see?
- Supervising in a Group Environment
Melbourne Workshops 2012 (Location Map)
- The Wheel of Supervision Part 2 (5 days)
- Introduction to Group Practice
- Advanced Existential Theory & Practice (5 days)
- Essentials of Existential Theory & Practice (2 days)
- Working with Dreams - the Existential Road
2012 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Sydney Workshops 2012
Borrowed Time - Time-Limited Existential Practice
1-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 16 March 2012
PD Points: 6
Increasingly, our work with clients is of a brief nature whether through choice or not. Time-Limited Existential Practice is an approach that uses time itself as the essential principle when working with clients. Unlike other approaches, this framework is not task‐oriented but allows for the free play of existential concerns within a respectful and integrative manner.
This workshop is grounded in the book "Existential Time‐Limited Therapy: the Wheels of Existence" co-written by your facilitator and one of Australia's leading educators in Existential practice, Dr Alison Strasser and her father Dr Freddie Strasser. Through deeper understanding of and building on the existential philosophy you will learn how working within a time‐limitation can further facilitate and enhance the process of engagement with clients.
Psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches, and social workers who work within a structure of brief sessions will benefit from this modular method of working.
Course Facilitator: Dr Alison Strasser
Cost: $245 - * $220 Early Bird
Sudden Death - Challenges for the therapeutic relationship
1-day workshop (Syd)
Saturday 28 April 2012
PD Points: 6
When life events are experienced with overwhelming emotional pain, there may be an attempt to escape this distress by making mindful decisions that transfer responsibility from our existence to the surrounding world. For clients, experiencing the traumatic death of a loved one, their universe has been profoundly changed or shattered, leading them to the loneliest of loneliness. RD Laing propounds that a sense of ontological security is the essence of psychological health. With the sudden death of a loved one clients may become ontologically insecure, losing their sense of legitimacy, vitality, autonomy and reliability.
During the course of this one day workshop we will explore concepts such as ontological insecurity, temporality of time, self-identity and meaning. We will look at the way human beings create meaning in their world through interpretive sense-making in the form of stories that help create an understanding of self and identity. In this way we will reveal how clients may come to understand themselves, others, and the world as meaningful, incorporating their aspects of loss through their interrelationship with the therapist. By letting go of life denying beliefs, clients can start taking responsibility for their own life, creating new meanings for their existence.
In this experiential workshop we will explore some of your clients’ subjective experiences, in an effort to understand their fundamental anxieties and to gain a sense of their worldview.
Course Facilitator: Trudy Adelstein
Cost: $245 - *$220 Early Bird
Supervision - an Existential View
1-day workshop (Syd)
Saturday 19 May 2012
PD Points: 6
There are as many approaches to supervision as there are models of counselling and psychotherapy. The supervision training we offer (see link to supervision) explores a variety of frameworks and in this 1-day workshop we concentrate soley on what it means to work as a supervisor from an existential view.
Existential supervision is different from many forms of supervision in that the starting position is one of a philosophical exploration. It creates a space for contemplation and discussion around how clients experience their lives and the meanings they have created against the backdrop of the paradoxes, possibilities and limitations of life. Through the process of opening up the experience of the supervisee's understanding of themselves and the client's worldview, a different and spacious perspective emerges.
Supervision is about gaining a broader viewpoint of oneself as the supervisor, the relationship between the supervisor and supervisee and naturally the self and the relational realms of the client. In this 1-day workshop, the Wheel of Supervision will be used as a background to understanding the intrinsic concepts of Existential supervision. Participants will have time to practice and reflect on their worldview in relation to the existential givens of Uncertainty, Time, Anxiety, Meaning, Responsibility, Choice, Safety and Relationship.
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean
Cost: $245- * $220 Early Bird
Introduction to Existential Theory
& Practice (5 days)
5-day workshop (Syd)
Monday to Friday 21 to 28 May 2012
PD Points: 36
This 5-day workshop introduces participants to the fundamental philosophical concepts that inform the practice of existential counselling and psychotherapy. It will include an overview of the major existential/phenomenological philosophers and also incorporate the thinking of current practitioners working within this modality. Time will be allocated to allow participants to practice the elements of existential work.
The workshop is suitable for practitioners who wish to incorporate existential notions of theory and practice into their work.
This Professional Development workshop can be used to apply for Advanced Standing into the MA Existential Psychotherapy & Counselling at the New School of Psychotherapy & Counselling (NSPC) in London.
Workshop Description (PDF)
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Soraiya Gilmour
Cost: $995 - *$950 Early Bird
A Vigilant Mind - Everyday Meditations
1-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 1 June 2012
PD Points: 6
“The state of being can only happen when we can truly be ourselves and does not come from cognitive or theoretical knowledge, rather from an embodied awareness and connection with oneself “(Baikie, 2010).
As practitioners our inner resources are constantly being drawn upon and can become saturated within the clients phenomena. The practice of mindfulness offers a way for the practitioners mind and body to self regulate and develop resilience when reserves are challenged or compromised.
This workshop explores the quality of Mindfulness steeped in ancient traditions and makes application to the existential phenomenological enquiry. In applying Mindfulness exercises and techniques participants will have the opportunity to integrate learning from the workshop within their personal life and professional practice while developing a stronger sense of self within the world of the therapist.
Course Facilitator: Sal Flyn
Cost: $245 - * $220 Early Bird
Awareness is not Enough - Embracing Responsibility
1-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 22 June 2012
PD Points: 6
Sometimes referred to as the Aha moment when who we are, the repeating patterns that we have created, all appear to make sense and we breathe a sigh of relief. As a therapist being with a client's Aha is also a great moment, a feeling of achievement, a juncture of togetherness. Yet, the reality is that for most clients this Aha or point of awareness is not enough, it is the beginnings of the path to embracing responsibility, of facing up to the future and what it may hold.
Responsibility is one of the great themes of existential philosophy. In this experiential workshop we will explore both the philosophical meaning of responsibility and how it translates into practice when working with clients. What needs to occur and how we facilitate the process of moving from awareness to action is the focus of the day.
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean
Cost $245 - * $220 Early Bird
Group Mechanics - Understanding Group Process and Dynamics
1-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 20 July 2012
PD Points: 6
Often described as the 'power house' of group work, understanding group process can help any group to work through the emerging dynamics that influence how a group functions.
Group Leaders are expected to be knowledgeable, experienced and skilled in the art of leading a group, knowing when to intervene and at an appropriate level. However, often process is overlook in favour of content.
Being able to observe the process and offer process commentary to the group members allows for the understanding and emergence of interpersonal relationships and dynamics.
By carefully working with the process, dynamics such as power, group flight and others will emerge. In bringing these dynamics to the memberships awareness will be the focus of this workshop.
The workshop is designed for practitioners at all elvels of experience in group leadership and group work.
Course Facilitator: Adam McLean
Cost: $245 - * $220 Early Bird
The Wheel of Supervision - Supervision Training Part 1
Worldview of Supervision
- understanding the theory, beliefs & attitudes of the supervisory relationship
Supervision Training: 5-day workshop
Monday to Friday 13 August to 17 August 2012 (Syd)
PD Points: 36
Supervision is a profession in its own right. To work as a supervisor requires learning specific skills that are additional to those used when working as a counsellor, coach or psychotherapist.
This course has evolved from in-depth research conducted by Dr Alison Strasser that has now become known as the Wheel of Supervision. Within this Wheel are found the universal themes that are present in all modes of supervision and which form the basis of this program.
This Supervision Training Course is designed for practitioners who are now ready to work as a supervisor and are senior practitioners in their field. The main focus of this training is the understanding and development of the inter-relational aspects of supervision within the tasks and responsibilities inherent in being a supervisor. Various supervision models will be explored and participants are encouraged to develop their personal model of supervision and thereby maximise best practice for themselves and their supervisees. Hence, the course is designed from an integrative perspective against the backdrop of phenomenological research.
Part 1 can be taken as a course in its own right, however, it is recommended that participants follow through with the second part of the supervision training to gain a more in-depth understanding of their own practice and to attain the standards for membership of both PACFA and AAOS.
It is expected that all participants will meet the criteria for eligibility as a clinical member of PACFA - a requirement of a minimum of 5 years experience as a practitioner in counselling, psychotherapy or coaching.
Workshop Description (PDF):
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean,
Cost $995 - * $950 Early Bird
Mirror Mirror - Who Do I See? - the relationship between body, mind and self esteem
1-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 31 August 2012
PD Points: 6
This experiential workshop will “look” deeply into the mirror to ask what is seen in the reflection. Is it possible that the reflection we see in the looking glass is a mirror of what we believe ourselves to be? At the same time, this self-reflection can be quite contrary to other's perception. Although particularly pertinent for those with eating disorders, there are threads of truth for us all.
During the course of the day we will explore the meanings and beliefs through the eyes of both the client and therapist. Our attitude towards the vision in the mirror is an attitude of retaining a fixed sense of self that is often hard to shift.
We will be working with the inter-relationship of client and therapist and as we mutually discover how our shared reflections facilitate a process of change. Thus we are able to find new ways of “looking” into the mirror, allowing for new possibilities to emerge thereby shifting the relationship between body, mind and self esteem.
Course Facilitator: Rachel Bunny
Supervision in a Group Environment
2-day workshop (Syd)
Friday 30 November & Saturday 1 December 2012
PD Points: 12
With the trend in organisations and training institutes to provide ongoing support for staff, group supervision is seen as an alternative to individual. Supervising a group as opposed to the individual requires the supervisor to have knowledge and awareness of the underpinning principles of working with a group while maintaining ethical and professional boundaries. This workshop will provide supervisors with skills in working within a small supervisory group experience. The Wheel of Supervision will provide the underpinning theoretical model for this workshop while group work skills will be explored. Participants are encouraged to develop their personal model of supervision and thereby maximise best practice for themselves and their supervisees.
This workshop is designed for practitioners who are now ready to work as a supervisor or who wish to understand supervision from an existential perspective.
Workshop Description (PDF):
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean,
Cost: $450 - * $420 Early Bird
MELBOURNE WORKSHOPS 2011
The Wheel of Supervision
Supervision Training Part 2 (Melb)
Roles & Responsibilities of the Supervisor
- practicing the diversity of supervison
5 day workshop:
Monday 20 February to Friday 24 February 2012
PD Points: 36
This 5-day workshop extends and deepens the themes explored in Part 1 and participants will benefit from the discussions and the depth of practice as a supervisor.
More specifically, the different roles and responsibilities of the supervisor will be examined against the backdrop of varying case scenarios and across the variety of client groups that supervisors are likely to encounter within private practice, organisations and the corporate world. Personal values, beliefs and asssumptions within the relational world of the supervisor, supervisee and client will form the basis of understanding and the practice across the diversity of our profession.
Workshop Description (PDF):
Course Facilitators: Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean,
Cost $995 - * $950 Early Bird
Introduction to Group Leadership
2-day workshop (Melb)
Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 April 2012
PD Points: 12
In our everyday life, both at work and in social settings, we encounter the experience of being part of a group, whether as a participant or as a leader. The qualities, attitude and values of what it is to be a group leader are important to consider in the role of group leadership.
This two-day workshop will introduce participants to the theory and practice of Irvin Yalom's Interpersonal Model as a foundation for a broader existential perspective while reference will be made to other models of group work. Yalom’s ultimate concerns will be presented with specific reference to working within a here and now focus.
The opportunity to practice leading a group and to experience the power of group in the here and now will be offered.
Workshop Description (PDF)
Course Facilitators: Adam McLean
Cost: $450 - * $420 Early Bird
Advanced Existential Theory & Practice (5 days)
5-day workshop (Melb)
Monday 2 July to Friday 6 July 2012
PD Points: 36
This 5-day workshop builds on the Foundations of Existential Practice by exploring the philosophical foundations in more detail and expanding on the application of this philosophy into the sphere of counselling and psychotherapy.
Participants will be encouraged to critically examine the work of the major existential/phenomenological philosophers and to analyse how these views are meaningful in the practise of existentialism in today’s world. Concurrently, participants will be asked to examine their practise with regard to client's issues, beliefs, emotions and world-views in a manner that respects the client's autonomy within an existential-phenomenological perspective of the therapeutic relationship and process.
This Professional Development workshop can be used to apply for Advanced Standing into the MA Existential Psychotherapy & Counselling at the New School of Psychotherapy & Counselling (NSPC) in London.
Workshop Description (PDF):
Course Facilitators:Dr Alison Strasser & Adam McLean
Cost $995 - * $950 Early Bird
Essentials of Existential Theory and Practice
2-day workshop (Melb)
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 September 2012
PD Points: 12
This two day workshop introduces participants to the fundamental philosophical concepts that inform the practice of existential counselling and psychotherapy. It will include an overview of the major existential/phenomenological philosophers and incorporate the thinking of current practitioners working within this modality. Time will be allocated to allow participants to practice the elements of existential work.
The workshop is suitable for practitioners who wish to incorporate existential notions of theory and practice into their work.
Course Description (PDF)
Course Facilitator: Dr Alison Strasser
Cost: $450 - * $420 Early Bird
Dreams - The Existential Road
1-day workshop (Mel)
Saturday 3 November 2012
PD Points: 6
‘Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar’ as Freud so aptly said and this is the starting point for working with dreams from an Existential perspective. Existential therapists believe dreams are an expression of the dreamer’s current existential position providing a message about the person’s relationship with their waking world. Hence, dreams are a wonderful tool for unlocking the feelings and emotions that we may not be aware of in our everyday life.
This 1-day workshop will explore some of the existential theories pertaining to dreams and dreaming in order to enter into the world of the participant’s dreams. Hence, the focus will be experiential and personal.
Course Facilitators: Pamela Ray & Dr Alison Strasser
Cost: $245 - * $220 Early Bird