Against Evidence-based Psychotherapeutic Practice
Saturday 26th September 2020
10.00am to 5.00pm
Zoom link to be sent upon booking
Speakers include: Manu Bazzano, Dr Onel Brooks, Dr Julia Cayne, Laura Chernaik, Prof Steen Halling, Prof Del Loewenthal, Dr Tony McSherry, Dr Elizabeth Nicholl, Patricia Talens, Iana Trichkova
Now on YouTube! Click here.
Attendance 6.5 hrs CPD
10.00am to 5.00pm
Zoom link to be sent upon booking
Speakers include: Manu Bazzano, Dr Onel Brooks, Dr Julia Cayne, Laura Chernaik, Prof Steen Halling, Prof Del Loewenthal, Dr Tony McSherry, Dr Elizabeth Nicholl, Patricia Talens, Iana Trichkova
Now on YouTube! Click here.
Attendance 6.5 hrs CPD
Annual Conference: Against Evidence Based Psychotherapeutic Practice
Has a crisis point been reached in what is currently taken as psychotherapeutic knowledge? There are, for example, an ever increasing number of therapeutic trainings and continuous professional development (CPD) courses that unquestionable assume the mantra of ‘evidence based practice’. Further, it is not only such notions as ‘diagnosis and treatment’, that might be usefully challenged:
This conference first examines the work of a group of psychotherapists from the Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (SAFPAC) who purport:
· to start with theory can be a form of violence
· a primacy should be given to practice
· a reliance on empirical research (including ‘phenomenological research’) get’s us starting from the wrong place
Their work which is termed ‘critical existential-analytic’ is then critiqued by existentialist Manu Bazzano (University of Cambridge), psychoanalyst Laura Chernaik (SITE for Contemporary Analysis) and phenomenologist Steen Halling (Seattle University) and all participants through discussion time in each presentation, smaller groups and the plenary session.
Prof Del Loewenthal
Conference Chair
· to start with theory can be a form of violence
· a primacy should be given to practice
· a reliance on empirical research (including ‘phenomenological research’) get’s us starting from the wrong place
Their work which is termed ‘critical existential-analytic’ is then critiqued by existentialist Manu Bazzano (University of Cambridge), psychoanalyst Laura Chernaik (SITE for Contemporary Analysis) and phenomenologist Steen Halling (Seattle University) and all participants through discussion time in each presentation, smaller groups and the plenary session.
Prof Del Loewenthal
Conference Chair
PROGRAMME
9.30am - 10.00am: Zoom log in
10.00am - 10.10am: Welcome and introduction to the conference, Prof Del Loewenthal - Conference Chair (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:10 – 10:30am: Critical Existential-Analytic, rather than ‘evidence based’, Psychotherapies: Some implications for practices, theories and research, Prof Del Loewenthal (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:30 – 10:50am: Looking Like a Foreigner: foreignness, conformity and compliance in psychoanalysis, Dr Onel Brooks (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:50am – 11:00am: Break
11:00am – 11:20am: The Private Life of Meaning – some implications of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic research
Dr Tony McSherry (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
11.20am- 11:40am: Finding my voice: Telling stories with heuristic self-search inquiry, Dr Elizabeth Nicholl (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
11:40am -11:50am: Break
11.50am – 12.10pm: When working in a youth service, how do therapists experience humour with their clients?, Patricia Talens (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
12:10pm – 12:30pm: What Gets in the Way of Working with Clients Who Have Been Sexually Abused? Heuristic inquiry, Iana Trichkova (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
12:30 – 12:40am: Break
12.40pm – 1.00pm: Language as Gesture in Merleau-Ponty: Some implications for method in therapeutic practice and research, Dr Julia Cayne (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
1.00pm – 1.30pm: Lunch
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Small group discussions 1
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Maculate Conceptions, Manu Bazzano (University of Cambridge)
2:30pm -3:00pm: The pictures you paint in the stories you tell, a response, Laura Chernaik (Psychotherapist in private practice, London, UK)
3:00pm -3:10pm: Break
3:10pm – 3:40pm: Reflections on the Tensions between Openness and Method in Experientially Oriented Research and Psychotherapy, Prof Steen Halling (Seattle University, USA)
3.40pm – 4.20pm: Small group discussions 2
4.20pm – 4.30pm: Break
4.30pm – 5.00pm: Plenary, Presenters, respondents and all participants
5:00pm: Conference close
10.00am - 10.10am: Welcome and introduction to the conference, Prof Del Loewenthal - Conference Chair (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:10 – 10:30am: Critical Existential-Analytic, rather than ‘evidence based’, Psychotherapies: Some implications for practices, theories and research, Prof Del Loewenthal (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:30 – 10:50am: Looking Like a Foreigner: foreignness, conformity and compliance in psychoanalysis, Dr Onel Brooks (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
10:50am – 11:00am: Break
11:00am – 11:20am: The Private Life of Meaning – some implications of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic research
Dr Tony McSherry (Critical Psychotherapy Network, Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
11.20am- 11:40am: Finding my voice: Telling stories with heuristic self-search inquiry, Dr Elizabeth Nicholl (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
11:40am -11:50am: Break
11.50am – 12.10pm: When working in a youth service, how do therapists experience humour with their clients?, Patricia Talens (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
12:10pm – 12:30pm: What Gets in the Way of Working with Clients Who Have Been Sexually Abused? Heuristic inquiry, Iana Trichkova (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
12:30 – 12:40am: Break
12.40pm – 1.00pm: Language as Gesture in Merleau-Ponty: Some implications for method in therapeutic practice and research, Dr Julia Cayne (Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling, and University of Roehampton, London, UK)
1.00pm – 1.30pm: Lunch
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Small group discussions 1
2.00pm – 2.30pm: Maculate Conceptions, Manu Bazzano (University of Cambridge)
2:30pm -3:00pm: The pictures you paint in the stories you tell, a response, Laura Chernaik (Psychotherapist in private practice, London, UK)
3:00pm -3:10pm: Break
3:10pm – 3:40pm: Reflections on the Tensions between Openness and Method in Experientially Oriented Research and Psychotherapy, Prof Steen Halling (Seattle University, USA)
3.40pm – 4.20pm: Small group discussions 2
4.20pm – 4.30pm: Break
4.30pm – 5.00pm: Plenary, Presenters, respondents and all participants
5:00pm: Conference close
SPEAKER BIOS
Manu Bazzano is a writer, editor, psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice. He is an internationally recognised lecturer and workshop facilitator. Among his books: Nietzsche and Psychotherapy (2019), Re-Visioning Person-centred Therapy (Ed, 2018) Zen and Therapy: Heretical Perspectives (2017); After Mindfulness (Ed, 2014); Spectre of the Stranger: towards a Phenomenology of Hospitality (2012), and the forthcoming Re-Visioning Existential Therapy: Counter-traditional Perspectives.
Dr Onel Brooks is particularly interested in philosophy and psychoanalysis. He is a core member of the SAFPAC (www.safpac.co.uk) teaching team and a senior lecturer in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Counselling Psychology, Psychology Department, Roehampton University, BACP-accredited and UKCP registered as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and as an existential analytic psychotherapist. He worked for many years with adolescents and adults, in therapeutic communities, the NHS and in voluntary organisations, as well as in universities. He also contributes to the teaching at The Philadelphia Association.
Dr Julia Cayne completed her PhD thesis on learning about the unknown and developing a methodology to explore such phenomena. She is involved with the Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (SAFPAC) which provides training in critical existential analytic psychotherapy as well as supervising doctoral research through Roehampton University. Her psychotherapeutic practice is located in South West Wiltshire.
Laura Chernaik is a psychoanalyst in private practice, a member of The Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, London, UK. Her publications include Social and Virtual Space, Fairleigh Dickinson Press, 2005 and New Hope, a novel, Kindle 2016.
Prof Steen Halling is a licensed psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology at Seattle University where he has taught in the MA program in existential-phenomenological psychology as well as in the undergraduate program since 1976. Originally from Denmark, he received his BA from York University, Toronto, Canada, and his MA and PhD in psychology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. His research and publications have focused on topics such as psychology of forgiveness, phenomenological study of psychopathology, psychology of hopelessness, envy, interpersonal relations, and qualitative research methods. He was editor of the International Human Science Research Conference Newsletter 1988-2017, co-editor, with Ronald S. Valle of Existential-Phenomenological Perspectives in Psychology[Plenum, New York, 1989], and author of Intimacy, Transcendence, and Psychology[Palgrave, New York, 2008].
Prof Del Loewenthal is Chair of existential-analytic training SAFPAC (www.safpac.co.uk), co-founder Critical Psychotherapy Network (www.criticalpsychotherapy.wordpress.com) and Emeritus Professor Psychotherapy and Counselling, University of Roehampton. His current books (all Routledge 2020): “Towards Transcultural Histories of Psychotherapies” (with Shamdasani); “Beyond the Therapeutic State” (with Ness and Hardy); and “Love, Sex and Psychotherapy in a Post-Romantic Era”. Del has a private practice in Wimbledon and Brighton. (www.delloewenthal.com).
Dr Tony McSherry is an existential-analytical psychotherapist working in the NHs and private practise in Liverpool. He recently completed his PhD on the therapeutic in mental health nursing at the University of Roehampton.
Dr Elizabeth Nicholl is an existential-analytic psychotherapist and a member of SAFPAC. She recently gained a PhD in Psychotherapy at the University of Roehampton. She has a private practice in Dorset and Wiltshire as well as being a lecturer and counselling curriculum lead at Guildford College.
Patricia Talens MUPCA, is a practicing psychotherapeutic counsellor based in London. She graduated with BA (Hons) in Criminology and Applied Psychology before spending six years working in forensic mental health. She completed her MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy with a special interest in the role of therapeutic research and practice.
Iana Trichkova completed her MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Roehampton and is currently undertaking PhD research focused on psychotherapists’ sexuality. She is a visiting lecturer at the Regent’s university. She works as psychotherapist in private practice and in forensic setting. She is a registered member of the BACP, and a member of UPCA.
Dr Onel Brooks is particularly interested in philosophy and psychoanalysis. He is a core member of the SAFPAC (www.safpac.co.uk) teaching team and a senior lecturer in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Counselling Psychology, Psychology Department, Roehampton University, BACP-accredited and UKCP registered as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and as an existential analytic psychotherapist. He worked for many years with adolescents and adults, in therapeutic communities, the NHS and in voluntary organisations, as well as in universities. He also contributes to the teaching at The Philadelphia Association.
Dr Julia Cayne completed her PhD thesis on learning about the unknown and developing a methodology to explore such phenomena. She is involved with the Southern Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling (SAFPAC) which provides training in critical existential analytic psychotherapy as well as supervising doctoral research through Roehampton University. Her psychotherapeutic practice is located in South West Wiltshire.
Laura Chernaik is a psychoanalyst in private practice, a member of The Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis, London, UK. Her publications include Social and Virtual Space, Fairleigh Dickinson Press, 2005 and New Hope, a novel, Kindle 2016.
Prof Steen Halling is a licensed psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology at Seattle University where he has taught in the MA program in existential-phenomenological psychology as well as in the undergraduate program since 1976. Originally from Denmark, he received his BA from York University, Toronto, Canada, and his MA and PhD in psychology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. His research and publications have focused on topics such as psychology of forgiveness, phenomenological study of psychopathology, psychology of hopelessness, envy, interpersonal relations, and qualitative research methods. He was editor of the International Human Science Research Conference Newsletter 1988-2017, co-editor, with Ronald S. Valle of Existential-Phenomenological Perspectives in Psychology[Plenum, New York, 1989], and author of Intimacy, Transcendence, and Psychology[Palgrave, New York, 2008].
Prof Del Loewenthal is Chair of existential-analytic training SAFPAC (www.safpac.co.uk), co-founder Critical Psychotherapy Network (www.criticalpsychotherapy.wordpress.com) and Emeritus Professor Psychotherapy and Counselling, University of Roehampton. His current books (all Routledge 2020): “Towards Transcultural Histories of Psychotherapies” (with Shamdasani); “Beyond the Therapeutic State” (with Ness and Hardy); and “Love, Sex and Psychotherapy in a Post-Romantic Era”. Del has a private practice in Wimbledon and Brighton. (www.delloewenthal.com).
Dr Tony McSherry is an existential-analytical psychotherapist working in the NHs and private practise in Liverpool. He recently completed his PhD on the therapeutic in mental health nursing at the University of Roehampton.
Dr Elizabeth Nicholl is an existential-analytic psychotherapist and a member of SAFPAC. She recently gained a PhD in Psychotherapy at the University of Roehampton. She has a private practice in Dorset and Wiltshire as well as being a lecturer and counselling curriculum lead at Guildford College.
Patricia Talens MUPCA, is a practicing psychotherapeutic counsellor based in London. She graduated with BA (Hons) in Criminology and Applied Psychology before spending six years working in forensic mental health. She completed her MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy with a special interest in the role of therapeutic research and practice.
Iana Trichkova completed her MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Roehampton and is currently undertaking PhD research focused on psychotherapists’ sexuality. She is a visiting lecturer at the Regent’s university. She works as psychotherapist in private practice and in forensic setting. She is a registered member of the BACP, and a member of UPCA.