Part of our mission at GoodTherapy.org is to facilitate a community of therapists devoted to ethical and compassionate care. This week, from December 13 to 17, we will be doing just that. Team members Amanda Schaeffer, advertising director, and Greg Caulfield, member support director, will be representing GoodTherapy.org at the 2017 Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference in Anaheim, CA, where they will spend the week running a booth and connecting with mental health professionals and leaders in psychotherapy from around the world. This year marks the second time GoodTherapy.org has attended the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference.
This conference began in 1985 on the hundredth birthday of psychotherapy and has since served as a space for professionals to meet in a collaborative environment to learn about, promote, and celebrate best practices in clinical work. The conference that began this tradition was, at the time, described as “The largest gathering ever devoted to the practice of psychotherapy” by TIME, and it is still known as the largest psychotherapy conference in the world. Although it has been presented and sponsored by the Milton H. Erickson Foundation since its inception, the goal of the conference has always been to promote effective treatment methods rather than those solely practiced by Erickson. This year is the eighth time the conference has been held since 1985.
The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference has featured notable speakers from the field of mental health, including Robert Dilts, John and Julie Gottman, Antonio Damasio, Bessel van der Kolk, and Aaron Beck. The first keynote speaker for this year’s conference, poet David Whyte, will lead an existential discussion titled, “The Art of Asking the Beautiful Question.” In addition to a wide range of speakers, this year’s event will include a week full of educational seminars, workshops, and panels aimed at mental health professionals and others in the world of mental health seeking to cultivate their skills and grow their practice. Subjects that will be discussed cover a variety of topics related to the practice of mental health care, from neuropsychology to ethics. A number of practitioners will be sharing their expertise on clinical hypnosis, couples and family therapy, the therapeutic relationship, addressing trauma, and multicultural issues.
When asked which part of the conference she looked forward to the most about the upcoming conference, Amanda Schaeffer said, “It’s always great connecting with our members face-to-face. I love talking about GoodTherapy.org and look forward to expanding our reach and meeting prospective members.”
To those of you also planning on attending, we look forward to seeing you there!
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