The Psychodynamics of Social Networking – Dr Aaron Balick

Dr. Aaron Balick is delivering an intimate and interactive workshop focusing on the management of therapeutic demands in an increasingly digital society. Special attention is given to looking at relational boundaries and the threat of ‘blurring’ in an ever-ready social media engaged world, especially amongst younger people.

Like it or not, online social networking and other elements of the digital world are no longer something therapists can ignore. Even if you are resigned to limiting your exposure to “online”, your clients or service users are likely to be heavily involved in online social networks and other digital pursuits – particularly if they are younger. Whether you’re an active user of social media or not, you are still online if you use email to communicate with clients, have a website, or are searchable on Google. The consequences of online life need to be worked through thoughtfully by therapists and mental health workers among others.

Through both experiential exercises and theoretical models, this workshop will guide therapists and counsellors to better understand their role and responsibilities in the face of the digital world. By the end of the workshop, therapists will be in a better position to understand their own decisions in relation to the digital world by having created a draft digital policy of their own.

Aaron Balick, PhD, is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and cultural theorist specialising in the understanding of modernity through depth psychology. Aaron is an honorary senior lecturer at the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex and is a founding member and chair of The Relational School, UK.  In addition to his academic and clinical work, Aaron is a media spokesperson for the UKCP, a contributor and consultant to the media, a blogger, a mental health writer, and a regular voice on BBC Radio 1. Aaron is the author of two books, The Psychodynamics of Social Networking: connected up instantaneous culture and the self (2014, Karnac) and the children’s book Keep your Cool: how to deal with life’s worries and stress (2013, Hachette).

Members: £10.00  Members are eligible to bring one guest for the sum of £20.00