This workshop is the fourth in a series of workshops from Mick Cooper, the feedback to date is excellent with over 95% satisfaction reported by previous participants

Synopsis

This interactive workshop provides participants with an opportunity to develop their understanding of goals in counselling and psychotherapy, and to deepen their skills and knowledge in this area.

The workshop is particularly oriented towards counsellors and psychotherapists from humanistic or integrative backgrounds: who are interested in understanding their clients as agentic and purpose-oriented beings, and wary of more mechanistic or ‘outcome-oriented’ goal-based approaches.

The workshop starts by introducing the philosophical concept of ‘directionality’—that human beings are always oriented towards future possibilities—and looks at how this can be applied to an understanding of self. The workshop then explores what has been learnt from the psychological research about the nature of goals and goal processes (for instance, distinguishing between 'approach' and 'avoidance' goals). It then goes on to a more practical exploration of working with goals, including skills practice and video demonstrations, to show when and how goal-oriented practices can be useful.

This online workshop will be delivered via Zoom, and combines self-development exercises, theoretical input, and large group sharing. The workshop is appropriate for training and practising counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals.

Participation in the workshop is on a self-selected fee basis, and a self-completion CPD certificate will be available for participants. Our one ‘ask’ is that participants commit to attending for the full day (10.00-16.00, see schedule below) so that we have a consistent community of participants throughout the day.

Participation in the workshop will be via the online platform Zoom. Please ensure that you have tested use of this platform prior to the event, so that technological problems are minimised on the day.

Once you complete your registration you will receive an email with the link to a Zoom online meeting room.

The workshop will consist of theoretical input, self-reflection exercises, and whole group discussions. All formats will be hosted via Zoom, and procedures for participating in the different formats will be explained on the day (they’re very straightforward). We ask all participants to commit to maintaining strict confidentiality: not disclosing something that has been shared by another participant outside of the workshop.

Participants in this workshop should be counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling/clinical psychologists, or other mental health professionals – either qualified or on an established training course. Practitioners from outside of the UK are very welcome to attend, but you should be fluent in English to get the most from the day.

To support practitioners in this time of extraordinary circumstances we are offering access to this group for a self-select fee (minimum £1).

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define the concept of ‘directionality’ and be able to apply this to an understanding of their own psychological processes
• Discuss the theory and evidence that relates 'goal actualisation' and goals types to psychological wellbeing and distress
• Apply basic goal-oriented practices in counselling and psychotherapy, including goal discussion and goal setting
• Use the Goals Form in an appropriate manner

SCHEDULE

13.00-14.30: Session 1: Directionality: The actualisation of our deepest directions

14.30-15.00: BREAK

15.00-16.00: Session 2: Goal dimensions: ‘Not all goals are created equal’

16.00-17.00: LUNCH (not provided!)

17.00-17.50: Session 3: Basic principles and methods for working with goals in counselling and psychotherapy

17.50-18.05: BREAK

18.05-19.00: Session 4: Using the Goals Form

19.00-20.00: Process Group

The process group at the end of the day will be a place to find support for anything personal that has arisen throughout the day and that still needs attention.

Mick Cooper

Mick Cooper is an internationally recognised author, trainer, and consultant in the field of existential, humanistic, and pluralistic therapies.

He is a Chartered Psychologist and Professor of Counselling Psychology. Mick has facilitated workshops and lectures around the world, including New Zealand, Lithuania, and Florida.

Mick is author of a range of texts on person-centred, existential, and pluralistic approaches to therapy, including three books on existential therapy—The Existential Counselling Primer (PCCS Books, 2012), Working at Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Sage, 2017, with Dave Mearns), Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (Sage, 2011, with John McLeod) and Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling: Contributions to a Pluralistic Practice (Sage, 2015). This workshop is based around Mick’s latest contribution to the field: Integrating Counselling and Psychotherapy: Directionality, Synergy, and Social Change (Sage, 2019).

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.