Charlie Waller Institute

Presented by Professor Kate Davidson. People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are frequently referred to health services with high levels of emotional distress, self-harm behaviours and relationship difficulties. People with these problems have poor health and mental health and are disadvantaged occupationally and socially. Over the past two decades, psychological therapies have been found to be helpful with problems faced by those with BPD. Pharmacological therapies on the other hand are generally not recommended.  Psychological therapies have differed in intensity, length of treatment and in complexity of theory and techniques. CBTpd is a brief effective evidence-based therapy for people with both borderline and antisocial personality disorder. CBTpd takes a developmental perspective, engaging the person in producing a narrative formulation of their unique circumstances and problems. Treatment techniques focus on emotional and behavioural regulation, usually in the context of interpersonal relationships. Developing a non-judgmental, authentic and warm therapeutic relationship is central in CBTpd.

This workshop will run from 10:00am until 4:00pm.

 Please click here for more information.

Presented by Dr Victoria Pile. Emotional mental imagery is a powerful part of our mental landscape. Given its capacity to depict, process, and generate emotional events, mental imagery can have an important role in psychological therapies. Using psychological techniques to work with mental imagery –including distressing past images or a lack of positive future imagery –can be highly effective. Yet, techniques using mental imagery are often neglected in routine practice, in favour of verbally based techniques. This might be for several reasons, including concerns that mental imagery can be highly distressing for the client or lack of confidence in using imagery-based techniques. This workshop will provide an introduction to working with mental imagery in CBT and other psychotherapies. It aims to increase understanding of when and how to explore mental imagery with clients. There will be opportunities to formulate the role of imagery in client’s presenting difficulties as well as practice imagery-based techniques, for example imagery rescripting.

This workshop will run from 10:00am until 4:00pm.

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1 day workshop presented by Professor Samantha Cartwright-Hatton.

Despite the elevated risk of anxiety disorders in children of anxious parents, we currently do very little to intervene in this process. This workshop will outline a new intervention aimed at anxious parents who want to learn techniques for raising confident children. In a randomized controlled trial of the intervention, children whose parents received the intervention were 16% less likely to have an anxiety disorder six months later, compared to children whose parents were in a control group. This workshop is primarily aimed at clinicians working with anxious adults but may also be useful to clinicians working with anxious children.

Cost including refreshments and CPD certificate is £130.00

This workshop will run from 9:30 until 4:30, with registration opening from 9:00.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount please email the CWI Team on cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website

1 day workshop presented by Dr Ruth Baer.

MBCT is a family of evidence-based skills training programmes that combine mindfulness meditation practices with cognitive-behavioural exercises to reduce distress and increase well-being. Rooted in both contemplative traditions and psychological science, MBCT programmes are typically provided in group format with weekly sessions exploring a sequence of themes designed to build skills over time. This one-day workshop provides an introduction to MBCT. After briefly exploring its history and origins, we will consider its theoretical foundations and the evidence base supporting its effects. Important topics in the research literature will be discussed, including outcomes, mechanisms of change, and potential adverse effects. Mindfulness practices and exercises will encourage an experiential understanding of mindfulness and the intended learning that may arise.

Cost including refreshments and CPD certificate is £130.00

This workshop will run from 9:30 until 4:30, with registration opening from 9:00.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount please email the CWI Team on cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website

Timings of the event: 10.00am – 4.00pm

1 day workshop presented by Professor Rory O’Connor

Suicide and self-harm are major public health concerns with complex aetiologies which encompass a multifaceted array of risk and protective factors. There is growing recognition that we need to move beyond psychiatric categories to further our understanding of the pathways to both. In this workshop, you will be helped to make sense of this complexity as well as highlighting the evidence of what works to prevent suicide.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount, please email the CWI Team on cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website.

Timings of the event: 10.00am – 4.00pm

1 day workshop presented by Dr Amita Jassi and Dr Benedetta Monzani

BDD is a debilitating condition, characterised by intense distress and preoccupation with imagined or slight flaws in appearance. Symptoms typically emerge in adolescence and can include time-consuming repetitive behaviours and marked avoidance. BDD in young people often results in major functional impairment, reduced academic performance and school withdrawal. It is associated with high rates of comorbidity, particularly major depression, and a significant proportion of young people attempt suicide

The aim of the workshop will be to provide up to date knowledge and skills in evidence-based assessment and intervention for children and adolescents with BDD. The emphasis of the day will be on recognising and assessing BDD and learning the CBT strategies which are currently viewed as best practice.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount, please email the CWI Team on cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website

Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

1-day workshop presented by Professor David Clark

Social Anxiety Disorder is common and remarkably persistent in the absence of treatment.  It typically starts in childhood or adolescence and frequently leads to occupational and education underachievement.  Interpersonal relationships are impaired. Dissatisfaction with the way that life is progressing often triggers depressive episodes and there is a heightened risk of alcohol and drug abuse. This workshop provides a comprehensive practical guide to the treatment of both adults and adolescents. It starts with an overview of the cognitive model, focussing on its treatment implications.  Each of the steps in treatment is then described and illustrated with case material and videos of treatment sessions.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount, please email the CWI Team at cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website

Time: 10 am - 4 pm

1-day workshop presented by Dr Angie Lewis and Dr Stuart Brownings

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating condition affecting approximately 1%–2% of young people.

The aim of this workshop will be to provide up to date knowledge and skills in assessing and treating children and adolescents with OCD. It will outline evidence-based treatment approaches (both psychological and pharmacological) that are viewed as best practice. The emphasis of the day will be on skills-based teaching of CBT strategies. Content will include a focus on the common pitfalls encountered in treating OCD and how to manage these. We will also include a discussion of more unusual presentations of OCD, managing risk in this group and disentangling co-morbid symptomatology.

*Please note: The online store accepts card payment ONLY. If you wish to pay via another method or make multiple bookings to benefit from the discount, please email the CWI Team at cwi@reading.ac.uk.

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Institute, please visit our website