What Therapists Need to Know About Power

*Free for Community of Practice members*

[if you are a community member please use your code to book your free ticket]

Question of power dynamics and how they affect people are often more prevalent in philosophical scholarship than in therapeutic thinking. However, lack of knowledge and disavowal of power’s impact on mental health and on relationships are a key problem in our profession. It may mean we miss important aspects of a client’s experience, or, at worst, it can cause harm within the therapeutic relationship.

This introductory session is an attempt to translate what philosophy tells us about power in our lives in a way that is directly applicable to therapeutic work. For this, we will cover:

• the social theories on structural and personal power
• the impact of power on mental health and the formation of the self
• how to work with it in therapy settings

This is an introductory webinar that will be followed by a more in-depth workshop for those interested in reflecting on this topic. It will last 1 hour, including a 45 min presentation and space for questions or reflections.

This webinar is aimed at mental health professionals and everyone interested in the links between social inequalities, power and mental health.

(This live event will be recorded. The fee includes access to the recording for 2 weeks after the event, and a handout with references that will be shared via email after the presentation.)

About the speaker:

Lucia Sarmiento Verano is a humanistic psychotherapist in private practice in Oxford and online. With a background in Sociology and Political Science, she has worked as an anti-racism trainer and consultant with mental health organisations. She has experience delivering training and facilitating reflective discussions around topics of anti-racism and decolonial thinking in mental health. Lucia is now undertaking research on the topics of anti-oppression and resistance as a Ph.D. student at the Birkbeck University of London.

What people have said about Lucia's training events:

" I would recommend, it is an accessible way to gain valuable insight on topics that are essential for counsellors (but sadly not included within most training)" (Addam)

" Useful intro to a topic/way of thinking. Approachable and concise." (EB)

" Appreciation for the sensitivity brought to social/cultural/historical power in the real world and how this is present in clinical interactions." (Kartika)