Existential Dialogues: The therapist in the mirror. Ten live dialogues between Prof Ernesto Spinelli and International Existential Therapists based on case studies illustrating key existential topics.
2 December “Dreams” with Prof Ernesto Spinelli and Bárbara Godoy
“What is spirituality? Nietzsche says that with the emergence of monotheism our imagination about opening our possibilities of being is inhibited. I had a funny conversation with a colleague from one of the CPD groups, who was upset about a certain client challenging binary gender identification. Perhaps the current emphasis on diversity is an opportunity to mobilise a different relation to spirituality. In this dialogue, I will share my reflections about the encounter with this colleague to explore my own assumptions about the tyranny of monotheism and my own perceptions about the importance of the ‘Panthe’ and the ‘Poly’ dimensions of Being. Can Spinoza’s god be a point of reference on the issue of spirituality for existential therapists? Should we consider studies of pre-monotheist traditions a valid subject or a possible foundation in existential training?” Barbara Godoy
Bárbara Godoy M.A., Adv. Dip. Exi. Psy, UKCP accredited Psychotherapist and Supervisor, MBACP and SEA – Director of Therapy Harley Street. Bárbara’s academic experience in London since 2008 includes lecturing and researching the theory and practice of Phenomenological Existential Therapy on Doctorate, MA and professional courses at the School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology, Regent’s University and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling directed by Emmy van Deurzen. Bárbara has facilitated therapeutic Group Work internationally since 1997. The question about the meaning of Being-Woman was the topic of her thesis completed in 2005 and evolved into two main Women’s Groups: “Nine muses” and “Four Seasons” which she leads in addition to her individual private practice. Currently, as the clinical director of THS, Bárbara leads a team of over 20 professional practitioners in the area of Psychological services and Wellbeing consultancy. Bárbara is also founder-director of THS’s Personal Development and CPD Programmes.
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, supervision, 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 2000, he was the Recipient of 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 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. Living up to the existential dictum that life is absurd, Ernesto is also the author of an on-going series of Private Eye novels.
Venue: Online Zoom
