Ruth Birkebaek

Ruth Birkebaek started her career in Brazil in 1989 as a Plastic Surgeon. After graduating from medical school she became interested on the impact of the mind on the development of physical illness, and did trainings in Psychosomatic Medicine and Jung Therapy followed by a 4-year training in Transactional Analysis. In 2003 she moved to the UK and started a 5-year training in Integrative Psychotherapy with Richard Erskine. Ruth works full time as a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice in London, and delivers training and workshops internationally.

Ruth is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist, a Certified Integrative Psychotherapy Trainer & Supervisor (CIIPTS) by the IIPA (International Integrative Psychotherapy Association) and a Certified Transactional Analyst – Provisional Trainer & Supervisor (PTSTA).

Empathy, Agency and Empowerment: Aspects of Psychotherapy.

Richard G. Erskine

Keynote address November 9, 2024

In this keynote address Dr. Erskine will draw on the philosophical principles of a Relationally-focused Integrative Psychotherapy to elaborate on the many forms of empathy.  He will describe the significance of the relational-need for agency and how a sense of empowerment emerges from  empathic parental functions of stabilization, regulation, reparation, and enhancement.

Dr. Richard G. Erskine  is a  certified Clinical Transactional Analyst and a Licensed Psychoanalyst. Originally trained in Client-Centered therapy with Robert Neville, associate of Carl Rogers,  Richard also studied Gestalt therapy with both Fritz and Laura Perls.   Richard has published published a dozen books and numerous articles on the theory and methods of psychotherapy.  On three occasions he has been awarded the prestigious the Eric Berne Award for the advancement and refinement of Transactional Analysis Theory.

Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity - normalising choices and differences in therapy

Sally Openshaw

Sally Openshaw is an integrative psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor. She is a member of COSRT, UKCP and is the current President of IIPA. She will bring to this conference her specialist interest in sexuality diversity in her keynote speech and ways to work safely with erotic transference and countertransference in her workshop. Sally balances the demands of her professional working life with a weekly dose of grandchildren and gardening and a health growing in her veg patch.