including AGM and Counselling & Psychotherapy Awards

17-18 October 2008, Telford International Centre, Telford

BACP is pleased to announce details for the 2008 annual conference and AGM.

Your Conference Your Profession

In terms of the prominence of counselling and psychotherapy, we live in both exciting yet challenging times. The profession has never been more high profile and prominent in the Government's mind, for politicians and policy makers, nor has it been more accepted and ‘alive' in the minds of the general public than it is now.

This conference will explore the seismic changes happening in the profession, what the future holds and how this will affect those working within this arena. It will look at the challenges the profession faces, examine the therapeutic relationship and consider clients views of therapy. There will be a number of sessions to aid the development of your professional toolbox as well as ones which focus on developing and maintaining your professional practice.

We are pleased to announce the keynote speakers at this years event are Nicola Barden, BACP chair; Mick Cooper, Professor of Counselling, University of Strathclyde and Julie Hathaway Coleman, Service User and Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Sheffield Hallam University. In addition around 40 invited presenters will bring a wealth of expertise to share with you and we are delighted to welcome them all.

The conference is designed to appeal to a wide audience, and both students and experienced therapists will find sessions to suit their level of knowledge. Delegates will be able to choose from a wide variety of sessions each day from six core strands:

Your changing profession
Your clients
Developing your toolbox
Your professional practice
Your settings
Your professional body

In addition to the main conference, there will be an exhibition area and plenty of opportunities to meet with colleagues, old and new. The Association's AGM will take place on Friday evening followed by our annual awards' ceremony. This is a time to celebrate some of the fabulous work in the counselling and psychotherapy arena as well as being another valuable networking opportunity (free of charge to conference delegates).

This conference is all about equipping you, the practitioner, with the knowledge and confidence to deliver professional counselling and psychotherapy services in this changing and challenging climate.

Do join us for what promises to be a lively, interesting and forward looking event. We look forward to welcoming you in October.

To find out more, click on the links at the side of each page. If you have any enquiries about this years event please contact events@bacp.co.uk or alternatively call 01455 883346 / 321