ROB CANON
rob@counselling-helston.com

My introduction to working within this field started as I worked within the Printing Industry, where as part of a Senior Management team, I looked for ways to motivate my staff and maximise production. I found looking at the work of Abraham Maslow to be inspirational, I felt it gave me a greater understanding of the complexity of human needs and personality, realising the greater potency if individuals initiate their own way forward. My learning took me out of industry into a greater caring role, a position within the National Health Service (NHS), working in a supportive setting within a Learning Disabilities Team. This gave me an opportunity to access training which was different and sometimes in conflict with my Person-Centred Counselling training. Looking at family relationships from an early age, how those relationships impacted, and how we carry it through to our adult life became an important part of my learning, a more Psychodynamic approach, taking into consideration ‘Object Relations’ and ‘Attachment’ Theories.

Following my Advanced Diploma in Counselling and Groupwork, an Integrative training, where I looked at mainly Humanistic theories and thinking, I was encouraged to continue training and it was mentioned to me that I may find Transactional Analysis of interest, “considering my Industrial Background”. I trained for two years in Nottingham at the Sherwood Institute SPTI, where I was awarded a Post Graduate Certificate in Transactional Analysis (Accredited by Derby University).

I then continued my training at the Thanet Centre for Psychotherapeutic Studies in Sutton Coldfield, North East Birmingham. I spent three years here looking in greater depth at Transactional Analysis, and how that theory could be integrated with other Psychoanalytical / Psychodynamic thinking. It enabled me to draw upon my work experiences from within the NHS, and together with my theoretical knowledge from the Thanet Centre, these learning experiences enabled me to gain the award of a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (T.A. Core Approach). I returned to the Sherwood Institute, (SPTI) in Nottingham, to continue my training, gaining a Humanistic Person-Centred Psychotherapy Diploma followed by a Masters Degree, which was validated by Derby University .

I am a member of the British Association for the Person Centred Approach (BAPCA), and I work from a broadly based Humanistic perspective, with a philosophy that attaches importance to human-ness and human values. These ideas were instigated in the 1950’s with the work of Maslow and Rogers amongst others. I focus on Human potential, and emphasise the importance of positive moves forward, towards ‘Self Actualisation’ or, a reaching of ones own full potential. Achievement of this may mean integration of two models within the Humanistic frame. I integrate Rogerian ‘Person Centred’ theories which include the core concepts of Respect, Empathy and Genuineness, and Bernes’ Transactional Analysis, a model for understanding Personality, Relationships and Communication both from within the Humanistic frame, I feel they integrate well with each other.

I offer some concessions to people on low incomes, contact me on 01326 564349 to discuss your requirements, or you may e-mail me, rob@counselling-helston.com