Fear in the Therapy Room

Speaker: Michael Guilding

What happens in the therapy room between client and therapist? Why do some people find it really helpful and others are disappointed? How does it work and what can prevent it from being effective? Is the rationale behind therapy a lot of aspirational hot air, or is it grounded in a scientific understanding of the human body and mind? Is it just an approach for alleviating distress, or can it be a step towards living a fuller life? What has fear got to do with it?

Michael Guilding, a retired psychotherapist with 30 years of clinical practice lifts the lid on the process of counselling and psychotherapy. Based on his book Fear in the Therapy Room (June 2026), he uses the perspective of our biological fear-system, to examine what goes on in the room between therapist and client, what it feels like for both, and how this rather strange activity can sometimes be derailed and help no-one, but has the potential to heal trauma and enable transformative personal growth.

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Image credit: Oliver Pitt 2025

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Host or Publisher York Festival of Ideas