Power in Therapy: A Conference for Counsellors Working with GSRD Clients

Rainbow Therapy in Scotland are so excited to be hosting our third national conference at Greyfriars Charteris Centre in Edinburgh. Our theme this year is Power in Therapy, how we relate to and navigate power, and how we can improve our understanding of this to work ethically and effectively with GSRD (Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diverse) clients.
In the interest of addressing and sharing power, we are delighted to be offering two key note speakers - Erin Stevens (she / they) and Joel Simpson (he / him).
Erin is a queer autistic therapist, supervisor, writer and trainer living and working in West Yorkshire. As a therapist, Erin works primarily with people who have been harmed in previous therapy – a specialism developed over a number of years, when it became apparent that there was a dearth of support and understanding for people who have experienced harm, and that conversations around harm were still seen as a taboo in the profession.

Erin works to raise awareness of the significantly increased rates of harm for those with marginalised identities, and campaigns for justice for marginalised and minoritised people in the profession and beyond.
Erin will be delivering our first Keynote Presentation:

Power is ubiquitous in therapy. Every layer of our profession and our practice is shaped by the power we do and do not hold. There are times when we might be drawn to covet power, and there are times when we might wish to disown it. Our responses to feelings of power and powerlessness are intrinsic to who we are as therapists, and who we are as a profession.

In working with people who have previous experiences of harm in therapy Erin has become deeply interested in how power operates in the therapy room, and the relationship between power and harm. In this keynote, Erin will explore the functions and perils of power, and consider how we attend to the feelings that arise in us, in order that we are able to hold our power more gently, and in service of clients.

Joel will be delivering our second keynote. With a soulful intention to listen and speak through the heart, Joel Simpson is a registered psychotherapist, presenter, group facilitator, trainer, writer, and celebrant.

An invitation to contemplate the meaning of healing potency through soulful practice within GSRD communities.

In addition to our keynote presentations and community space we will be running the following workshops.

On the day you will be asked to choose between these three workshops for the morning session.

Ellie Muniandy (they / them)
This workshop is an investigation and reflection on two elements that are always at play in therapy, both in the room and in the sector as a whole. There are all sorts of different types of capital and it feels important to create a space to explore that together. I won’t be presenting any answers but rather opening up conversations and giving the group an opportunity to think and talk about their approaches.
Ellie Muniandy is a queer POC anti-oppressive therapist, supervisor and facilitator. They are based in Edinburgh and have been a therapist for over 10 years. They have delivered training on a number of counselling diploma courses around equality issues and they specialise in racial trauma.

Sonny Hallet (they / them)

In this workshop, Sonny will invite attendees to examine the stories that surround us about therapy - what it looks and sounds like, how it feels, what it’s for, what a counsellor or client looks like. We will explore who these stories could be written for, where power and normativity might sit within these narratives, and the impact that might have on trainees, practitioners and clients. The workshop will also look at what we might do to collaboratively tell more inclusive, diverse stories about therapy, and imagine more welcoming practices for different ways of being.
The workshop will look at therapy broadly, but through an intersectional lens that takes in neurodiversity, gender and sexual diversity, racial and cultural diversity, bodily diversity, etc.
Sonny Hallett is a person centred counsellor based in Edinburgh. They are autistic, trans, and mixed race, and they work predominantly with trans and neurodivergent clients, as well as neurodivergent counselling trainees.

Stjohn Small (they / them)
This workshop explores the impact of BDSM Age Play on adults recovering from childhood abuse and trauma, through two case studies in art therapy. The power of knowledge, learning, enthusiastic consent and working with discomfort for both clients and therapist will be a key focus.

Stjohn Small is a HCPC registered art therapist and university lecturer with 10 years experience of working with trauma and abuse, with adults, children and young people alike. Stjohn specializes in working with queer survivors of sexual violence and uses their teaching platform to challenge normative and oppressive practices.

In their spare time, Stjohn enjoys collage, dog walking and experimenting with alternative fashion.

After our second keynote, we are inviting the community to come together for discussion, reflection, questions, and the opportunity to share any resources or points of learning. We will hear input from all presenters and welcome contributions from all attendees on the day.
Following this, there will be a choice of intentionally held spaces for processing in whatever way feels most comfortable for you. There will be options for visual, non-speaking spaces, group processing, and quiet spaces. Details of each space will be available to attendees on the day.

We hope this space can be useful for both reflecting on the learning of the day as well as creating space us to access conection and support around what is currently happening in our field.

Tea, coffee, and light refreshments are included in the price of the conference. Lunch is not provided however you are welcome to bring lunch or there are a number of shops and food outlets nearby.

A number of fully funded spaces are available for therapists from historically excluded groups who would otherwise be unable to attend this kind of event. We particularly welcome requests from therapists with minoritised racial identities. To request one of these places, please complete and a member of the conference team will be in touch.

Please note that the timings of the agenda may be subject to change and will be updated accordingly.

Host or Publisher Rainbow Therapy in Scotland