Where: Gloucestershire Counselling Service, High Street, Stroud

When: Saturday, December 1, 10am-4pm

Stroud-based Gloucestershire Counselling Service is running a training event on December 1st - 'Stories you shared with me' - by Dr Christina Moutsou.

The workshop will appeal to anyone interested in the deeper meaning of stories and narrative, including story-tellers, performers and writers as well as psychotherapists and counsellors.

Those involved in counselling or psychotherapy will be very aware that stories are central to the therapy process.

The stories we tell ourselves and others are also an important part of the building of the therapeutic relationship.

Based on her new book, Fictional Clinical Narratives in Relational Psychoanalysis: Stories from Adolescence to the Consulting Room, Christina will explore the power of stories to help support change and personal growth.

Christina commented: "Carl Jung stated 'The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed'. (1944: 49 -50). Stories give us the opportunity to explore intimate relationships and their transformative power."

The workshop promises to be a very interactive and thought-provoking experience. There will be a rich exploration of narrative and story-telling within psychotherapy and participants will consider the links between psychotherapy and literary fiction.

You can expect a lively event as the workshop will focus on the experiential nature of story-telling and those attending will work in smaller groups to discuss three short stories from Christina's book which bring to the forefront important issues which come up often as part of the therapy process.

Contact GCS to find out more or book a place. Call 01453 766310, email training.bookings@gloscounselling.org.uk  or visit www.gloscounselling.org.uk