WHEN DO PROBLEMS BECOME 'PSYCHIATRIC'? Issues for Counsellors and Psychotherapists
A two-day workshop to be led by Dr Rachel Freeth
     Saturday 4th/Sunday 5th June 2011 

9:30 am - 5:00 pm 

Fee: £125.00
 

About the workshop:

Day 1: An introduction to psychopathology and mental disturbance - psychiatric perspectives:

This day aims first to offer therapists an overview of some of the main forms of mental disturbance such as psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, anxiety disorders and mood disorders.  It will then look at how psychiatric diagnoses are arrived at and mental disorders categorised using classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).  The contested area of psycho-diagnosis and the impact of psychiatric 'labels' will also be considered.

Day 2:  Implications and challenges for therapists working with clients with 'psychiatric problems':

Building from an understanding of psychopathology and psycho-diagnosis, this workshop aims to address some of the challenges and uncertainties therapists may face when encountering clients with problems that might be considered 'psychiatric'.  This will include such concerns as whether to offer therapy to clients with certain problems; whether therapy might make things worse; and some of the difficulties that may be encountered in the therapy process.

NB Day 1 will be predominantly didactic, involving the presentation of material with some opportunities for discussion.  Day 2 is designed to be largely participative with more opportunities for experiential exploration, reflection and discussion.

About Rachel Freeth:

Rachel is a psychiatrist working in a Community Mental Health Team in Herefordshire.  In 1998 she completed a diploma in counselling in the person-centred approach and has since sought to bring the values, philosophy and attitudes of the approach into mental health settings.  She has written about the challenges of this in her book 'Humanising Psychiatry and Mental Health Care. The challenge of the person-centred approach' (Radcliffe, 2007). 

Rachel writes: "I have always been interested in bridging the worlds of psychiatry and counselling and the contrasting worlds of psychiatry and the person-centred approach.  Much of this has been through writing and giving workshops.  I would describe myself as a philosophically and socially orientated psychiatrist, keen to bring humanistic and spiritual values into mental health settings.  I have a professional interest in ethics, particularly applied to psychiatry and the education of mental health professionals.  One of my aims is to help counsellors develop greater understanding and confidence regarding psychiatric issues".