Making Connections Brighton 19.11.24 - BACP - British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

We’re delighted to welcome back our free in-person Making Connections events.

These regular face to face conferences take place throughout the year and give you the chance to network with other members and our divisional executive members.

Programme

Click on the sessions to find out more. If you are viewing this page on a mobile, rotate your screen to view the programme.

10.00am – 10.30am	Registration
10.30am - 10.50am	Welcome from BACP
10.50am – 11.35am	Introducing kitchen therapy, presented by Charlotte Hastings
11.35am - 11.45am	Comfort break
11.45am – 12.30pm	Tackling pay inequity in the NHS, presented by Matt Smith-Lilley
12.30pm – 1.30pm	Light lunch
1.30pm – 1.50 pm	Local member two-minute platforms
1.50pm – 2.40pm	Connecting together The room will be divided into different areas of interest, for more focused and structured networking. You’ll be encouraged to move around the room and engage with colleagues, volunteers and BACP staff to network, share ideas and meet new people with similar interests. You’ll be able to add a new area of interest if yours isn’t represented.
2.40pm – 3.10pm	Refreshments
3.10pm – 3.55pm	Understanding domestic abuse: The counsellor's role in early intervention and client protection, presented by Nour Norris
3.55pm - 4.00pm	Event close

This programme is subject to change.

Presentation information

Introducing kitchen therapy

10.50am – 11.35am

How and why kitchen therapy works – using the process of feeding ourselves across our personal and species’ time to better understand who we are. Located between a Jungian depth psychology and attachment theory, using our relationship with food, as a therapeutic medium is an embodied, natural and relevant approach.

Working through issues: case studies from individual and couple work
Cooking for community: how cooking works as an attachment based approach with families and groups
Developing networks of exchange: an active and interactive therapy which empowers individuals, creating an inner larder of resources to share
Connect with Nature: a spiritual framework based in nature, as cooking makes us human, so we find a natural sense of belonging, becoming and belief around the campfire in or outdoors. The watering hole is a place where we can all meet, across time and space.

Charlotte Hastings trained as a psychodynamic counsellor in 2009 and has been accredited since 2015. Initial training in Anthropology and social philosophy provides the theoretical backbone for her work, inspired by Jungian depth-psychology. People, their stories and communities have been an abiding fascination, leading to further training in Systemic Family Therapy.

Her time as a secondary school teacher culminated in being head of Drama at a boarding school for neurodiverse teenagers. Here she developed multi-sensory, adaptive and flexible approaches to working with life’s variety of people, situations and potential.

Kitchen Therapy developed through her 1970’s childhood, split between her grandmother’s home cooking and her working mother’s boil in the bag TV dinners. She integrates therapy with cooking to enhance personal and social wellbeing in individuals, families and groups, from her garden studio, outdoors whenever possible, or in space large enough for a kitchen, people and laughter.

Tackling pay inequity in the NHS

11.45am - 12.30pm

A discussion of the pay inequity challenges facing counsellors and psychotherapists working in the NHS in England and a run through the work BACP has been doing to support members across England in challenging pay inequity in the NHS. We’ll share information, success stories and ideas for how you can tackle pay inequity in your area of the NHS and the support we can offer you to achieve change.

Understanding domestic abuse: The counsellor's role in early intervention and client protection

3.10pm – 3.55pm

This session will equip counsellors with essential knowledge of domestic abuse, focusing on early intervention and client protection. Through personal experiences, research, and the campaign that led to Raneem's Law, participants will gain insights into recognising abuse, supporting clients, and safeguarding their well-being.

Nour Norris is a dedicated advocate for domestic abuse awareness and the founder of the Secure Life Campaign. With a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, Nour played a pivotal role in the successful campaign that led to the enactment of Raneem’s Law, a groundbreaking piece of legislation focused on early intervention in domestic abuse cases. Drawing from personal lived experiences and extensive research, Nour brings a unique perspective to their work, emphasising the importance of trauma-informed care and understanding the psychological dynamics of abuse. As a speaker, Nour is passionate about equipping counsellors and mental health professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to support clients effectively while also safeguarding their own well-being. Their work continues to influence policy and raise awareness, making a significant impact in the field of domestic abuse prevention and intervention.