Workshop Purpose
Recent research* highlights the mental health of those who express (or are questioning) themselves, sexually, spiritually, relationally or gendered, in ways other than heteronormative. Statistics highlight that GSRD people are nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and other mental health issues than the rest of the population.
https://lgbt.foundation/help/hidden-figures-lgbt-health-inequalities-in-the-uk/
This Workshop explores the specific issues with working with this client group. It also provides psycho-educational input to counsellors/therapists about appropriate mental health support for GSRD (Gender, Sexual and Relationally diverse) clients.
Our Approach
Psychosynthesis applied to psychotherapy is a non-pathologising and unique approach that combines both psychology and spirituality. It is a transpersonal and holistic process that helps the individual deal with patterns of behaviours which inhibit or prevent living life in meaningful and fulfilling ways.
It brings us into contact with the life journey to meaning and wholeness and can often hold deep significance for GSRD clients. Ignoring this takes us back into the problematic areas of pathology and neurosis, which overlooks the impact of the society and environment in which these clients have to live and function, creating psychological disturbances.
What to expect?
The workshop will explore and challenge the participants’ own mindsets, expectations, assumptions and reactions while working with GSRD clients. This includes unhelpful cultural messages that pathologise clients and inhibit their Self-realisation.
Through theory, group discussions, experiential exercises, and sharing of clinical examples, participants will learn concepts and techniques to increase their confidence and effectiveness when working with clients from these intersections.
• The workshop will provide psycho-educational input to counsellors/therapists about appropriate mental health support for GSRD clients. This is a growing sector in the UK, given the struggles that GSRD clients have had within an existing heteronormative culture and environment.
• The workshop will provide insight by practitioners who have been living/working with this community. This is both from a clinical point of view and personal lived experience. Both Gian and Nick have extensive support through professional and personal peer networks.
This includes:
• Theories on the fluidity of gender, sexuality, and relationship styles
• Forms of GSRD you may encounter
• Overview of latest research/stats, and the relationship between identity and Mental Health issues
• Psychospiritual impact of minority stress
• Exploration of attendees' own perspectives and mindsets about GSRD clients and their own relationships and biases with gender, sexual and relational diversities
• How the DSM-5 classifications may still pathologise this client group
• Implications for therapeutic interventions - working with Survival Personality, sub-personalities, psychospiritual trauma, transference/counter-transference and the use of Psychosynthesis techniques.
• Further resources/readings and follow up.
What you can hope to get from this training
• Broader awareness and understanding of the impact of living in a heteronormative culture and environment and how this affects ‘everyone’, regardless of one’s GSRD identity
• Greater confidence in working with the issues specifically affecting the GSRD communities; the psychological/emotional/spiritual impact for these clients and how Psychosynthesis, in particular, can be used to work effectively with these issues
• Increased knowledge and awareness of your own perspectives and mindsets about GSRD clients. Plus, one’s own relationship and biases with gender, sexual and relational diversities
• Further understanding of the implications for clinical work - what helps, what’s appropriate, and what may not be
• 12 hours CPD Credits
Participants will receive a Reading List and Workshop Handouts.
Ticket price
At the Trust we appreciate that each person has their own unique situation, so we invite you to select the price point that feels like it represents a fair contribution for attending this event.
There are three options to choose from when purchasing tickets:
- Low cost: £195
- Mid: £230
- Full price: £250
If you have any concerns around affordability, please contact Kajal at events@ptrust.org.uk
