THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF EXISTENTIAL THERAPY WITH RENOWNED PSYCHOTHERAPIST PROFESSOR ERNESTO SPINELLI
This training provides participants with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the theory and practice of existential therapy. It will discuss three foundational principles within existential therapy: relatedness, uncertainty and anxiety and, through these, will seek to clarify the distinctiveness of the existential approach to therapy.
Further, it will highlight some key implications for the practice of existential therapy. In general, existential therapy adopts an approach that is much more focused upon the investigation of currently lived experience than it is on directive methods of potentially ameliorative change. It is more concerned with who and how the client is being than with who and how they client may have been or may be in the future. This seminar explores some of the descriptively-focused methods of investigation utilised by existential therapists and considers the challenges that their implementation may provoke for both client and therapist.
10-12.30 Saturday 28th March 2026 live via zoom. Cost: £20 per person
Trainer
Professor Ernesto Spinelli
Professor Ernesto Spinelli was Chair of the Society for Existential Analysis between 1993 and 1999 and is a Life Member of the Society. His writings, lectures and seminars focus on the application of existential phenomenology to the arenas of therapy, psychology, and executive coaching. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as an APECS accredited executive coach and coaching supervisor. In 1999, Ernesto was awarded a Personal Chair as Professor of Psychotherapy, Counselling and Counselling Psychology. In 2000, he was the Recipient of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession. And in 2019, Ernesto received the BPS Award for Distinguished Contribution to Practice. His most recent therapy book, Practising Existential Therapy: The Relational World 2nd edition (Sage, 2015) has been widely praised as a major contribution to the advancement of existential theory and practice. His previous books include: The Interpreted World: an introduction to phenomenological psychology, 2nd ed (Sage, 2005); Demystifying Therapy (PCCS, 2006); Tales of Un-Knowing (PCCS, 2006); and The Mirror and The Hammer: challenging therapeutic orthodoxies (Sage, 2001). Living up to the existential dictum that life is absurd, Ernesto is also the author of an on-going series of Private Eye novels. His most recent standalone novel, Moments: A Greek Island Tale, a tale set in the 1960s, was published in August, 2025.
To book a place please contact Mary Jones on
mary@nationalcounsellingtraininginstitute.co.uk or 0121 2469348
CPD certificates are issued
Limited places so advisable to book early
27th November 2025. 7.30pm-9.45pm online live via zoom
The Fundamentals of Working with Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
with Christiane Sanderson
Current research indicates that only 1 in 8 survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) report their abusive experiences, often years later. For practitioners, providing effective therapy becomes challenging when both survivors and therapists are not able to recognise the link between a range of mental and physical health issues and a history of CSA. Such links can be seen in emotional dysregulation, complex trauma reactions, dissociation, persistent somatic complaints, chronic shame, a wide range of addictions, self-harm and suicidal ideation, as well as compulsive disorders, compromised sexuality and relational difficulties. The danger of not being able to identity the relationship between CSA and presenting symptoms is that CSA remains undetected which can lead to misinterpretation and the continuation of pervasive mental and physical health problems, and misdiagnosis. It is critical that practitioners have a good understanding of the impact and long term effects of CSA and how this manifests in a range of clinical settings so that they are able to respond appropriately.
This training will explore the impact and long term effects of CSA and identify common symptoms and how these link to CSA to enable practitioners to have an understanding of the nature and dynamics of CSA and how these manifest in the therapeutic space, to enable a deeper understanding of the lived experience of survivors and how to work with them.
Learning Objectives
· Identify the range of CSA including in the family, siblings, educational and sports settings, institutional settings, and religious and faith communities and the intergenerational transmission of CSA
· Explore the nature and dynamics of CSA - the role grooming, silence and secrecy, traumatic bonding, shame and the distortion of reality
· Conceptualise CSA as complex trauma and its neurobiological impact and link to PTSD and C-PTSD and dissociation
· Examine the psychological impact and long term effects of CSA including relationship and sexual difficulties, compulsive behaviours, addictions, self- harm, and the impact on parenting
· Highlight how these manifest in the therapeutic space
· How to use the Power Threat Meaning framework, Trauma Informed Practice and Shame Sensitive Practice when working with survivors of CSA
Biography of trainer
Christiane Sanderson is a former senior lecturer in Psychology and Counselling at the University of Roehampton, of London with over 35 years of experience working in the field of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), sexual violence and complex trauma. She has delivered guidance and training for parents, teachers, social workers, nurses, therapists, counsellors, the police and faith communities. Her research interests span trauma informed therapeutic practice, shame sensitive practice, PTSD, Complex Trauma, Relational Trauma, CSA, and sexual violence, domestic abuse and narcissism. She is the author of We Are Still Here: What Counsellors and Therapists Can learn from the Lived Experiences of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors; Working with Survivors of Sibling Sexual Abuse: A Guide to Therapeutic Support and Protection for Children and Adults; Counselling Skills for Working with Shame; Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma: Healing from Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse; Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 3rd edition; Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse; The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse, and Introduction to Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has also written The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Sexual Violence 4th Edition; The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths; Responding to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A pocket guide for professionals, partners, families and friends, and Numbing the Pain: A pocket guide for professionals supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and addiction for the charity One in Four for whom she is a trustee.
To book a place please contact Mary Jones on
mary@nationalcounsellingtraininginstitute.co.uk or 0121 2469348
CPD certificates are issued
Limited places so advisable to book early