ABOUT JOHN SHIERS
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR COUNSELLING, PSYCHOTHERAPY OR SUPERVISION CALL:
0161 448 9048
9.0AM - 6.0PM
MONDAY TO FRIDAY
Please leave a number to call back if you leave a message on my voicemail
OR EMAIL:
john.shiers@ntlworld.com
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP
UKCP registered Psychotherapist
APP registered Psychosynthesis Therapist
Lifespan Integration Therapist
AHP(B)membership
CPSR membership
BACKGROUND AND TRAINING
My background was initially in community education and community development. I then moved into management positions in local government and into senior management in an international non-governmental organisation.
I was the Chair of 42nd Street, a mental health organisation working with young people between 11 and 25 in Manchester, Salford and Trafford from 2004 to 2008 and I am currently a member of its Board of Trustees. I served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Psychosynthesis and Education Trust in London between 2005 and 2010.
In addition to my psychotherapy practice, I work as an organisational consultant with a consultancy group: Phoenix (www.phoenixgroup.co.uk) and I am a co-founder of Synthesise (www.synthesise.org) a co-operative social enterprise working with individuals, groups and organisations to promote the principles of emotional and spiritual intelligence.
I have, over many years, sought to integrate a commitment to social justice, human rights, sexuality and gender equality, with the exploration of spiritual paths and practices.
The Zen Buddhist tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, the evolutionary spirituality of Sri Aurobindo, and the integral approach to psychology and spirituality being developed by Ken Wilber and others, are major influences on my life and my work. My commitment, however, is not to any specific faith tradition, but to supporting and validating the exploration of deeper questions of life meaning and purpose as part of our development as human beings. When these are issues for a client, there is space to explore them in the therapy room.
I was awarded a Diploma in Therapuetic Counselling in July 1998 after a four year training at the London Institute of Psychosynthesis.
I received my Diploma in Psychotherapy and MA in Psychosynthesis psychotherapy from the University of Middlesex in July 2001.
Since then I have undertaken a three year group work training with the Institute of Psychosynthesis.
In July 2004 I was awarded a Diploma in Clinical Supervision from the Centre for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD).
Following this I trained for two years with the Northern School of Body Psychotherapy in body-focused psychotherapy. I have also been trained in a form of energy psychology called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and I have experience of Holotropic Breathwork, a form of transpersonal integration developed by Stanislav Grof. I have also trained as a Lifespan Integration therapist. Lifespan Integration is a form of therapy developed to work with deep levels of trauma and distress and is very compatible with psychosynthesis.
Further information on Lifespan Integration is available at www.lifespanintegration.com
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Transpersonal Dimensions of the Therapeutic Relationship
by John Shiers and Stephen Paul
in The Therapeutic Relationship: Perspectives and Themes
Edited by Shelia Haugh and Stephen Paul
(PCCS Books) 2008
DEVELOPING PROJECTS
Psychosythesis training at Leeds Metropolitan University
I run in Leeds, in collaboration with the Centre for Psychological Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University, a four day programme called Foundations of Psychosynthesis which is an accredited part of the MA programme at the Centre. It is also open to anyone who wishes to get a deeper grounding in the techniques and vision of psychosynthesis.
Workshop on The Work That Reconnects in the South of Spain
I will be facilitating a workshop at Cortijo Romero, a holistic centre in the mountains of the South of Spain, based on the work of Bddhist social activist Joanna Macy called The Work That Reconnects
The dates of the week called "The Essence of Psychosynthesis" are Saturday 21 to Sat 28 August 2010.
For further details go the the website:www.cortijo-romero.co.uk
Foundations of Psychosynthesis course in Manchester
I also run the Foundations of Psychosynthesis in Manchester which is recognised by the Psychosynthesis and Education Trust as equilivent to their Essentials of Psychosynthesis programme.
For further details of this programme, please visit our website:
www.synthesise.org
or email me at
john.shiers@synthesise.org
Workshop facilitation
I am also available to tailor make integral psychosynthesis workshops for groups and organisations.
Mentoring for individuals, groups and organisations
I provide mentoring for individuals, groups and organisations through our related organisation Synthesise.
For further details go to the Synthesise website:www.synthesise.org and click onto the menu at the top of the page that says Transpersonal Mentoring
Mentoring works in organisational and community contexts to explore internal and external blocks to enhancing creativity and effectiveness.It assists an individual or a group to clarify purpose and intention and to act with greater authenticity.
