On behalf of the World Association and the International and Local Organising Committees we invite colleagues from around the world to join us in exploration of the conference theme of ‘Present Strengths and Future Challenges’ in Norwich in 2008. This particular theme arose from our perception that for person-centred and experiential psychotherapy worldwide we appear to be living in critical times. Whereas in some countries the approach is healthy and practitioners are numerous and influential, in others, person-centred and experiential psychotherapy is marginalised and little respected. The conference aims to explore what are the genuine strengths of the approach at this point in the evolution of psychotherapy and counselling worldwide and to consider where the major challenges will lie during the coming decade.

We hope to make the conference inviting to participants from around the world by giving careful consideration to issues of language while, at the same time, providing opportunities to enjoy the local culture and surrounding countryside. We intend to offer simultaneous translation of the four keynote addresses and the final plenary into French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

The conference will be held on the campus of the University of East Anglia, which is located about three miles from the centre of the city of Norwich. The university is set in 320 acres of scenic parkland, with peaceful lakeside walks.  There is easy access to the city of Norwich by bus and taxi.  Facilities on the campus include a medical centre, restaurants (committed to Fairtrade products), bars, banks, post office, supermarket, bookshop and travel agent. The Sportspark has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and many other indoor and outdoor sports facilities. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual A r t s is located in the internationally renowned building designed by Sir Norman Foster and contains an art collection spanning thousands of years and many cultures. 

We have arranged a varied programme of optional visits to Norwich and the surrounding countryside for the Tuesday afternoon, outlined in the ‘Excursions’ section below. 

The main conference dinner will take place at Norwich City Football Ground, home of the restaurant of celebrity chef, Delia Smith, whose recipes inspire the three-course menu of local dishes we have chosen. An after-dinner entertainment will be provided. Transport by coach will be provided for all optional visits and to the conference dinner.

Pete Sanders retired from practice as a counsellor, supervisor and lecturer in 2003 to further develop PCCS Books, which he founded with his wife Maggie in 1993. His interests include the politics of therapy, the development of PCE therapy, and mental health issues.

Mia Leijssen is Professor at the University of Leuven. She teaches client-centred psychotherapy, counselling skills and professional ethics. She has practised client-centred/experiential/existential psychotherapy since 1973.

Claudio Rud is a medical doctor, psychiatrist and director of psychodrama who has been working in the PCA model for more than 35 years. Originally Professor of Comprehensive Psychology at the University of Buenos Aires, he is director of Casabierta, a PCA centre for training and research.

Michael Behr is Professor of Psychology at the Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd.  He undertakes research and training for personcentred work with children, adolescents and parents in psychotherapy and school settings.

The majority of time slots will be for 1 hour and participants who plan to deliver papers should bear this in mind. The timetable has been organised so as to permit adequate time for changeover between sessions. A limited number of places are also available for workshop presentations of 1 ½ hours.

If you would like to submit a proposal for a paper or workshop, please complete the application form. This form may also be downloaded from our website: www.uea.ac.uk/edu/wapcepc.   Presenters are encouraged to offer their papers for publication in PCEP, the journal of the World Association.

The Conference is organised on behalf of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling and the Centre for Counselling Studies within the School of Education and Lifelong Learning of the University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K. (in conjunction with the University Counselling Service). The Centre for Counselling Studies runs courses at diploma, masters and doctoral level in person-centred counselling and has recently launched a postgraduate diploma in focusing and experiential psychotherapy.

Chair: Judy Moore                            Godfrey Barrett-Lennard, Australia

Principal Administrator: Jane Ramsbottom         Arthur Bohart, United States

Principal Consultant: Brian Thorne               Rhonda Goldman, United States

Julie Frith                                                  Les Greenberg, Canada

Ros Montague                                              Shoji Murayama, Japan

Eamonn O’Mahony                                       Peter F. Schmid, Austria

Campbell Purton                          Martin van Kalmthout, The Netherlands

Robina Scott                                     Margaret Warner, United States

Conference Administrator, PCE 2008, University Counselling Service, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, England

Telephone: (+44) (0) 1603 592957 Fax: (+44) (0) 1603 592668

Email: pce2008@uea.ac.uk Website: www.uea.ac.uk/edu/wapcepc

1400 - 1700 Arrival and registration

1700 - 1800 Small group/community time*

1800 - 1930 Dinner

2000 Welcome - Elke Lambers (WAPCEPC),  Judy Moore (UEA )

2020 Opening keynote address - Pete Sanders

2130 Hive Bar open

0730 - 0900 Breakfast

0915 - 1245 Papers and workshops

1015 - 1115 Coffee available

1300 - 1430 Lunch

1400 - 1445 Small groups/community time*

1500 - 1600 Papers and workshops

1615 - 1745 WAPCEPC - AGM

1800 - 1930 Dinner

2000 Keynote address - Mia Leijssen

2130 Hive Bar open

0730 - 0900 Breakfast

0915 - 1245 Papers and workshops

1015 - 1115 Coffee available

1300 - 1430 Lunch

1430 Excursions

1800 - 1930 Dinner

2000 Keynote address - Claudio Rud

2130 Hive Bar open

0730 - 0900 Breakfast

0915 - 1045 Papers and workshops

1015 - 1115 Coffee available

1130 Keynote address - Michael Behr

1300 - 1430 Lunch

1500 - 1600 Papers and workshops

1715 - 1815 Small groups/community time*

1930 Conference Dinner at Norwich City

Football Ground

0730 - 0900 Breakfast

0915 - 1145 Papers and workshops

1015 - 1115 Coffee available

1130 - 1300 Plenary and close

1300 - 1430 Lunch

* Rooms will be made available for small groups and a community group to meet at these suggested times throughout the conference. Possible themes for the groups will be offered, but participants are also invited to organise their own small groups.

Sign-up sheets for small groups will be available at registration.