WGII. Keynotes and Workshops. Conference Choice Theory: Gateway to Personal Wellbeing. October 24 th 2015

Transcription

1 WGII Conference 2015 October 24 th 2015 St. Patrick s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Choice Theory: Gateway to Personal Wellbeing Keynotes and Workshops

2 MORNING KEYNOTE Speaker: Dr. Terry Lynch It was Dr Ivor Browne who said of Dr Terry Lynch: Terry Lynch has consistently called for a reappraisal of how human suffering and distress is interpreted and responded to within modern Western societies... Would that there were more enlightened doctors and psychiatrists in the country. Dr Glasser wrote:..if you have time for only one, I strongly recommend Beyond Prozac. by Terry Lynch M.D. I just loved that book. If I every get seriously unhappy, I m going to camp on Terry s doorstep. and on Terry s first book, Beyond Prozac I cannot speak of it too highly. If ever a man puts a human face on mental suffering and offers an optimistic message, Dr. Lynch is that man.. In his keynote, Dr Lynch will explore how the medical model of human distress has betrayed those who put their faith in it, and will put forward an alternative, humanistic vision of how we can best help those lost in depressing and other ineffective ways of coping with the frustrations they experience in their lives. He will draw on the research he has done for his latest book Depression Delusion, and on his wide experience as a psychotherapist. AFTERNOON KEYNOTE Understanding Suicide: A New Perspective on the global phenomenon of Suicide and how it relates to Choice Theory. This keynote explores the current understanding of suicide, which is one of the most troubling symptoms of a disconnected society, and present a new approach to Understanding Suicide which looks beyond the usual person-centred explanations, to seeing how all aspects of society, education, the law, and family life contribute to this terrible problem. The approach represents a new way of approaching suicide and is being taken up and supported by many groups and organizations who have been struggling with this phenomenon for years. Essentially we are all a part of the problem of human pain and so we must all change our attitudes and behaviours if we are to be part of the solution. Speakers: Lucy Costigan and Eamonn E Walshe Lucy is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist. She has an honours degree in Psychology, an MA (Hon) Equality Studies, an MA in Research and was Reality Therapy Certified in Anthony has a BSc in Psychology, a BA in Social Studies, and qualifications in counselling, Therapeutic Group facilitation and suicide studies. For many years he has had a personal interest in the work of Dr William Glasser. Lucy and Anthony have just published their book 'Understanding Suicide' (Currach Press, July 2015), which informs this Keynote. Happiness is feeling good because you are choosing to behave in ways that keep you close, or get you closer, to the important people in your life. William Glasser

3 Workshop Session One: WORKSHOP DETAILS Workshop A: Family Therapy and Choice Theory Following her highly successful workshop last year on Family Systems, Gisela will present a highly experiential, interactive workshop and will consist of several aspects surrounding the work of Murray Bowen's Systemic Therapy and relating it to Choice Theory. The main goal of Bowenian therapy is to reduce chronic anxiety by 1. Facilitating awareness of how the emotional system of the family functions and 2. Increasing levels of differentiation, where the focus is on the making changes for the self rather than trying to change others. Presenter: Gisela Oates has worked within the field of Mental Health for 25 years within the NHS in the UK and the HSE in Ireland. Gisela is on the National Executive Committee of the William Glasser Institute of Ireland {WGII} and counsels in the Glasser's Quality School in Trim Co. Meath. She is the founder of Serenity Counselling and Training {2007} and maintains a Private Practice in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Gisela is an integrated counsellor and facilitates clients using creative exercises. Workshop B: Introducing the Take Charge of Your Life Programme: In this workshop, you will learn about the new programme from WGI, where anyone who is RTC is invited to train as a presenter of a six-hour introduction to Choice Theory for the general public, intended to help people improve the quality of their lives and relationships. The training is recognised by WGI, and a certificate of completion is issued to all participants. Once trained by WGI, the facilitator is able to present the workshop in their own community or workplace, or anywhere there is an interest. This workshop will be a fun experience, taking you through some of the training exercises, and explaining how the training programme works. If you are RTC, and have ever had an idea that you would like to teach Choice Theory to others, this is the workshop for you! Presenters: Paulette Murray is a graduate in Youth and Community Studies, and has a PGD in Leadership and Pastoral Care. Alan White is a secondary school teacher in Bishopstown Community School in Cork. He is the developer of the Choices programme which helps young people with their mental wellbeing choices. Arthur Dunne is a senior WGII Faculty member, and works in Maynooth University training guidance counsellors. All three are on the WGII National Executive, and Paulette and Alan have completed the TCoYL training programme. Happiness is feeling good because you are choosing to behave in ways that keep you close, or get you closer, to the important people in your life. William Glasser

4 Workshop Session Two: Workshop A: Couples Counselling with Choice Theory Does research support Dr. Glasser s approach? Workshop outline: People often claim that Glasser's work is of questionable value because it is unsupported by research. The foremost researcher in the field of research on couple relationships is John Gottman. This workshop will explore how Gottman's work supports Glasser's ideas - or otherwise! Presenter: Dermot O Neill. Dermot has been a faculty member of WGII for twenty years. He teaches both Choice Theory and Relationships Counselling at IICP in Tallaght. Workshop B: Glasser Quality Schools Workshop outline: Glasser believed that the way in which we teach our students means that most are not performing to their potential best. Many students are left behind in the race to cover the curriculum. Glasser envisaged a different kind of school, where choice and respect and responsibility are an integral part of the day's learning. Doreen will present a 40 minute presentation on the Quality School and where we and Ireland stand in relation to building Quality schools in the future. Presenter: Doreen Ritchie. Doreen has been a teacher for thirty years and a guidance counsellor since Most of her working life has been in areas where students have difficult backgrounds and because of this she has learned to be versatile in her approach to teaching and learning. She has found Dr. William Glasser's ideas invaluable in her daily work and would encourage all teachers and parents to use Choice theory in their daily interaction with children and young people. Workshop C: Sex in the Cyber Age: Reframing normal Workshop Outline: Since the advent of the internet and broadband technology we are undergoing a new sexual revolution. What is happening out there? What impact is it having on society? Is it good for humanity or bad? Is it progress or regression? What might a Glasserian perspective be? These and other questions will be openly explored. Bring an open mind! Presenter: Paul Kelly. Paul is an accredited counsellor specialising in addiction counselling. He is a Practicum Supervisor with WGII, and works as a training consultant in personal and professional development with Partners in Change.

5 : WGII CONFERENCE 2015 WORKSHOP PREFERENCE FORM (Please print) Name Tel: Workshop Session One: A. Family Therapy and Choice Theory with Gisela Oates B. The Take Charge of Your Life Programme with Paulette Murray, Alan White, and Arthur Dunne Workshop Session Two: A. Couples Counselling with Choice Theory Does research support Dr. Glasser s approach? with Dermot O Neill. B. Glasser Quality Schools with Doreen Ritchie C. Sex in the Cyber age: Reframing normal with Paul Kelly Please list your workshop preferences in order of choice. We will do our best to accommodate all requests, but if there are limited numbers in a workshop, places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please send completed application form to: WGII, 3, Calderwood Circle, Donnybrook, Douglas, Cork. Ph: OR to info@wgii.ie