Welcome to the latest edition of ‘Student Update’. Whether you're coming towards the end of your training course or only halfway through, we hope your year is going well. Here in Somerset it's beginning to feel like springtime might be finally around the corner and to celebrate we're sharing another photograph taken by our very own Steve Spraggon. You may know already that in addition to being a very popular member of the CPCAB staff, Steve is an exceptionally talented landscape photographer. For more of Steve's work see his website - www.spraggonphotography.co.uk/portfolio/.
New - Addictions Counselling DVD
Two million people in the UK suffer from addiction of one kind or another. Skilful counselling can often help addicts to understand their emotional needs and enable them to address the problems which underlie their addiction.
This DVD consists of an emotionally powerful counselling session with a woman in early recovery from drug addiction. Within a safe space the client is able to explore her past in relation to the present and also to begin to understand the multi-faceted role addiction has had throughout her life. The client's story is one of terrible losses but also of an enduring hope that paves the way for recovery.
In addition to the counselling session there is also a commentary on the counsellor's thoughts and feelings about her client together with an overview of substance misuse and definitions of the many forms addiction takes. Also highlighted are the complex needs of the client and the importance of the counsellor/client relationship.
In summary, Addictions Counselling –
- raises awareness of substance misuse and addiction
- explores an important therapeutic relationship
- examines the role of hope – and hopelessness – in the process of change
- explores safety and containment
- looks at the nature and dynamics of addiction and recovery, and resilience
- raises questions about the nature of the work and the nature of addiction
- challenges other approaches and modalities.
This DVD is for students, trainees and all those who work with addiction. It will also benefit families and friends of addicts, and all those currently in recovery or seeking recovery.
Free (for students) library resources
Your CPCAB candidates might be interested in an excellent library resource available via the ‘onlinevent’ website. From the website: ‘We specialise in streaming counselling & psychotherapy events live to the internet so that you can access CPD from the comfort of your home. We work with conferences and offer regular virtual events for online audiences across the world’.
The Onlinevents library is free for all students - to register or to find out more visit their website at www.onlinevents.co.uk/membership-signup/
(CPCAB has no connection with Onlinevents).
Humour
Two elderly couples were chatting over a cup of tea. One of the men asked the other, “Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?”
“Outstanding,” Fred replied, with enthusiasm. “They taught us all the latest psychological techniques - visualisation, association - it made a huge difference for me.”
“I'll have to try that myself! What was the name of the clinic?”
Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, “What do you call that red flower with the long stem and thorns?”
“You mean a rose?”
“Yes, that's it!” He turned to his wife... “Rose, what was the name of that clinic?”