This group will participate in a “live lab” format of practicing therapeutic skills by practicing “for real” on each other. Each week, one volunteer practice therapist and one volunteer practice client will contract to do a real piece of contained work (25 mins) while being observed by the group and facilitator. The remainder of the time will consist of feedback from the group, the facilitator and a discussion of how theory can come alive in the example.

This group will focus on basic therapeutic skills; primarily, presence, containment, empathy, positive regard, non judgement, reflections etc. This stance fits into a broader category of relational, humanist, inter-personal, here and now focussed, client centred work. Everyone can benefit from reinforcing these skills and all the acronym ad-ons can benefit from this foundation.

I spent 8 years facilitating training groups using this format and its most predominant impact was to increase and solidify the skills of the therapists whether they were in the therapist, client or observer role. Nothing is 100% safe but in an environment of mutual learning and respect we can all hold each other. Clients do their best to pick something that can be contained in a shorter moment for a one-off experience. Therapists do their best to bring their most compassionate selves to their role. I am keeping an eye on all of it and if a stronger intervention or stopping the session is needed, I will step in and follow up with the person who needs more care.

In a role play, there is a script to follow but the implicit and body based communication that we receive often doesn’t match. We are therapists not professional actors. Part of the learning is to pick up on implicit as well as explicit communication. The true life responses, whether it’s enlivenment and enthusiasm or shut down and withdrawal, are a vital part of what the therapist needs to understand the next move in the session. That is just one of the reasons real has so much more learning to offer than role play.

Yes. I am a qualified supervisor with the CRPO and I will fill out an Attestation form for the number of hours you attend the group. If you don’t need any more supervision hours, these will count towards your QA continuing education hours.