Culture in counselling and psychotherapy – A workshop with Dr George MacDonald in Stockport on Friday 22nd April 2016

09:30 – 16:00

*** Stop Press *** ‘Culture in counselling and psychotherapy’ will be repeated on Friday 21st April 2017.  For further information click here.

This one day workshop on ‘Culture in counselling and psychotherapy’ will promote the idea of culture as a universal human phenomenon.  And it will look at ways in which it can be seen as a positive resource in therapy rather that an obstacle.  The session is based on George’s doctoral research on the subject.

Most current approaches to culture in counselling and psychotherapy view it throught the lens of reductionist categories like race, class or sexuality.  This helps to create sensitivity and understanding of difference.  But it can lead us to see culture as an obstacle, and may encourage assumptions that are inaccurate, unhelpful and judgemental.    There is a need for a theoretical approach that is more appropriate to an increasingly diverse multicultural society; with access to technologies of travel, communication and infomation processing.   And there is a need for an aproach to practice that is more person-centred, individualistic and democratic.  This needs to avoid stigmatising minorities, while granting the possibility of a cultural identity to members of the assumed majority.

The perspectives used are phenomenology, psychoanalysis and social constructionism.  However the findings are widely applicable across all approaches to therapy.  The ideas will be illustrated with video, with research and clinical data and experientially in the group.

The morning will be concerned with the basis ideas of cultural identity, culture as a resource and personal culture.  It will then look at the importance of personal factors and the way in which culture comes to represent and symbolise belongingness and growth.  In the afternoon attention will move to the implications for therapy and touch on wider application to the understanding of radicalisation and fundamentalism.  The workshop will be of interest to all counsellors and psychotherapists, especially those with a particular interest in culture.  It may also be of interest to researchers in the field of culture.

The presenter

Dr George MacDonald is a BACP accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, who works in private practice and volunteers with a number of agencies. He has diplomas in Counselling and Groupwork practice, an MSc in psychology and counselling and a Professional Doctorate in counselling from the University of Manchester for which he researched ‘Culture as a positive resource in therapy’. His experience was gained in a variety of settings, including primary and tertiary care in the NHS. Although his initial training, and most of his current practice is integrative, he has strong psychoanalytic roots. He has trained in group psychotherapy and is an associate member of the Institute of Group Analysis.

George was born and brought up in Scotland.  Prior to training, he worked as a manager and management counsultant.  For ten years his main home was in Belgium and he travelled internationally.  He now lives in Stockort and together with Jonathan Lloyd he set up Mindsite.

The cost is £90 per delegate. For registrations made before 5th February 2016, there will be an ‘early bird’ rate of £80. After 5th February, we will maintain the ‘early bird’ rate for groups of three or more who book and pay together.

To download flyer click here.

To download programme click here.

The event, which includes lunch, will be held in the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of the Friends Meeting House in Stockport. It will start at 09:30 and finish promptly at 16:00.

6 hours CPD. An individually signed certificate of attendance will be provided to all registered delegates. Those who register within 24 hours of the event, or who wish to obtain a duplicate, can order one from the website.

To register immediately press the button below. You can book with confidence through Eventbrite, and pay by Paypal. card or cheque. Or we can invoice you or your organisation. Alternatively email events@mindsite.co.uk , or call Jonathan at 0161 439 7773. To view our cancellation policy click here.

References

Moodley, R. (2007). (Re)placing multiculturalism in counselling and psychotherapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 35(1), 1-22.