Australian Somatic Psychotherapy Association Pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Chair/Facilitator
Joanne Marsh
Minute taker
Deborah Allen
Date
Time
18 October 2014
10.00am – 3.45pm
Location
Kirribilli Community Centre, Kirribilli, Sydney
Attendees
Joanne Marsh (WA), Jude Reggett, Carolien Koreneff, Serge
Koreneff, Leonie Hibbert (VIC), Brenda Rowlandson,
Marina Suarez, Tony Carrigan, Lisa Frese, Sally Ap Rees,
Krythia Eastwood, Tim Johnson-Newell, Gerry O'Sullivan,
April Lewis, Jean Gamble, Craig Bennett, Deborah Allen (ACT),
Werner Sattman-Frese (arrived 10:45), Deborah Pih (arrived
11:20), Robin North-Zaman (arrived 2:15)
Proxies
Ronit Bichler, Louise Duncan, Peter East, Lisa Flemming, Marisa
Raneiri, Gena Fawns, Jen Fox, Sandra Heeps, Marianne Kennedy,
Sandra Kay Lauffenberger, Angela McQueen, Michael Muir,
Barbara Nicholson, Kerry Tooth, Julian Zanelli
Apologies
Jen Fox, Marisa Raneiri, Richard Murray, Ernst Meyer, Kate
Raines, Michele Rousseau, Meredith Pitt, Kim Hopkirk, Karla
Neeson
1. Welcome
President Joanne Marsh (Joanne) opened the meeting by welcoming all and inviting those
present to introduce themselves. Tim Johnson-Newell suggested a reorder of agenda times
allowing time for discussion of priority items and members agreed.
1.1. PACFA restructure, accreditation standards and introducing the new website became
Items 3, 4 and 5 subsequently.
2. Ratification of minutes of 2013 Pre-AGM
The minutes of the 2013 Pre-AGM held on 30 November 2013 at the Downtowner Hotel,
Carlton, Melbourne were accepted.
Proposed: Carolien Koreneff
Seconded: Leonie Hibbert
3. PACFA Restructure
3.1. Joanne gave a brief history of the restructure and the proposed changes financially and
structurally and an update from the PACFA AGM. Joanne reported that the PACFA
board has heard the concerns of the psychotherapy associations, including the unrest
around privileging counselling over psychotherapy and the misunderstandings of what
psychotherapy is. Discussions with PACFA are continuing and ASPA will respond to
PACFA by February 2015, as per Motion 4 of the 2014 PACFA AGM, on our position.
1
3.2. Discussion was opened up to the members:
 It was suggested ASPA join a College of Psychotherapy and become a major player in
shaping the restructure and the future of psychotherapy. Joanne informed that
support is growing from other psychotherapy associations, including GANZ, ANZAP,
Radix, AABCAP, ATAA, AANZPA (psychodrama), ACP (psychoanalysis), and ASCP (Soul
Centered), (see PACFA website for full name of Associations). She recommends that
ASPA advises PACFA that we wish to become a College with other psychotherapy
associations. Gerry was not as convinced that all associations were in support and
prepared to form a College. Her concern is that if associations were to join too early
and were not across all aspects of what joining together meant we risk some
members leaving PACFA.
 As ASPA does not have an international affiliate or a training organisation from
which to gain new graduates, it is important that PACFA is a successful and viable
organisation, which provides ASPA and other psychotherapy associations with
credibility.
 It was also raised that if we did nothing the risk of the psychotherapy profession
disappearing was imminent.
 Leonie put to members that a number of members of MCCP were interested in
joining ASPA.
 PACFA charges costs ASPA about $178 (half our income) per Member and Clinical
member, irrespective if they are on PACFA register.
3.3. Members asked the following questions:
3.3.1. How would money be allocated by PACFA to the College? Joanne said that as yet
there were no clear guidelines on how money would be distributed to colleges.
Costing models are to be developed by the PACFA Restructure Working Party, of
which Joanne is a member. These costing models will be discussed at the next
PACFA Council Meeting in April 2015.
3.3.2. How would associations come up with common principles? Tim stated that it’s
important to lead and set the agenda and determine accreditation and
standards. While there is commonality between psychotherapy associations,
some associations have higher standards and operating principles than APSA.
There may be a need to add ethics due to the option of our using touch with
clients.
3.3.3. The two Congress meetings have highlighted many commonalities between the
associations and a rigorous joining process. Tim has sent a copy of the minutes
for the two congresses to Maria Brett.
3.3.4. How will professional development (PD) work in the new structure and with the
breadth of psychotherapy groups? Joanne suggested, money would be given to
each college and committees would provide PD similarly to how it works now. It
was offered that other modalities could enrich our practice rather than diminish
ASPA.
3.4. Other issues raised were:
• The need to change and be proactive was tabled along with the suggestion of
trademarking the term “registered psychotherapist”.
• Joining a college would ensure paid support for the administration tasks, which are
crippling the Executive and standing in the way of strategic planning.
• The definition of psychotherapy on the PACFA website isn’t effective and it would
be better if we wrote our own definition. Joanne agreed to raise this at the next
2
•
Working Group meeting in November and to liaise with other psychotherapy
associations to develop a new definition. PACFA is supportive of this process.
If ASPA joined PACFA as part of a Psychotherapy College then ASPA could potentially
become an interest group and continue in a similar fashion. However, this would
mean that there would still need to be an incorporated association and an
Executive.
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 1:10 and resumed at 2:00.
4. Future of Psychotherapy Assessment Guidelines
4.1. Tim spoke to the report of the ad hoc committee appointed at the 2012 ASPA AGM to
research Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for membership applicants. The report
presented the most current research and best practice, particularly the current
arrangements in Ontario, Canada and New Zealand.
4.2. Discussion from the floor included:
 Difference between psychotherapy and counselling and the requirement of personal
therapy (which universities and other colleges cannot require of its students),
differentiating us from other modalities.
 Accreditation cannot be an ad hoc process. A structured approach will assist
members to prepare for the journey from Associate to Clinical member.
 The importance of PD aligning to accrediting members for clinical status and ASPA
strategic direction.
 Recognition that we need to accept the idea that if we want to be seen as
professionals we need to have an aligned tertiary degree.
Motion to the AGM:
The pre-AGM attendees voted to accept the report of the ad hoc accreditation committee of
Tim Johnson-Newell, Marianne Kennedy and Margaret Bassal as an in-principle framework for
assessing Clinical and Member membership to ASPA. This report should form the underpinning
for the work of an Accreditation Committee.
5. Updated ASPA website
5.1. Gerry presented the new, improved ASPA website and provided a tour and explained
the functions. The current text is courtesy of Julian Zanelli and the website is intended
to help those members who may not have their own website.
5.2. Gerry included the following information:
 The website address remains unchanged.
 “Find a therapist” can be searched by name, postcode, and suburb. ASPA approved
supervisors will be available through this feature.
 The website will go live next week and “Find a Therapist” the following week.
 PACFA website link will automatically update in ASPA website.
 “Resources” section is still being developed but should be completed very soon.
There will be additional information about the benefits of seeing a somatic
psychotherapist.
 Facebook page requires updating with new logo.
 A team of people is required to keep the website updated and monitor the blog.
Werner offered to assist Craig Bennett and Julian Zanelli in this task.
 Associate members can become Intern members of PACFA and be listed on the
PACFA portal.
3
6. ASPA By-laws Update
6.1. Gerry provided an update on the By-laws. Gerry reminded members that the By-laws
do not have to be approved at the AGM; however, if a member doesn’t agree with a
By-law it will need to be put to an AGM to be voted on before being amended.
Section 3:
Supervision: Supervisees in group supervision will be credited now for the full hour
rather than on a pro rata basis. The reasoning is that group learning is an important PD
opportunity and learning this way is in line with best practice.
Clarification of ASPA Supervisor: An ASPA member can become an ASPA approved
supervisor by applying to the Executive, provided they have 5 years post training and are
a Clinical member.
Non-practicing members: Required to keep current with PD and will be reassessed if
clinical membership lapses for more than 2 years.
6.2. A list of accredited supervisors, who work both somatically and psychodynamically, will
be on the PACFA and ASPA websites.
7. Positions on the Executive
7.1. Joanne gave an overview of the work of the Executive and asked other Executive
members to contribute. She asked all members to do whatever tasks they could to
assist the Executive, as we are a small organisation. Jude spoke of the experience of
being a member on the Executive and acknowledged previous and current Executive
members for their enormous contribution and the importance of their support through
the mentoring role they provide.
7.2. The current state of the Executive is as follows:
 Jean Gamble and Gerry O’Sullivan are both stepping down after many years of
service.
 Joanne Marsh will continue in her role as President.
 Leonie Hibbert will continue in her role as Treasurer.
 Carolien Koreneff will continue in her role as Ordinary member - Conference
Convenor.
 Melbourne’s Ronit Bichler is considering taking on the role of Ethics Chair as a nonExecutive position.
 Melbourne member, Marg Ryan, has expressed interested in joining the Executive
as an ordinary member.
 Brenda Rowlandson advised she would stay on as the coordinator of the
Accreditation and Membership Sub-Committee, to which a resounding applause
erupted from all members present.
8. ASPA 2015 Conference
8.1. Carolien reported and presented a possible theme - “What Is Psychotherapy: Diversity
and Commonality “.
8.2. The conference is to be held on the 15-17 May 2015 at St Joseph, Baulkham Hills,
Sydney.
8.3. Members from other Psychotherapy Associations will be invited to present at the 2015
Conference with the possibility of holding future joint conferences.
8.4. Streaming sessions may be required to accommodate a variety of speakers.
8.5. It provides a great opportunity to get know others and to attract new members.
4
Members were enthusiastic about this approach.
8.6. Werner offered to assist in finding speakers, including Neville Symington and Cecile
Barral.
8.7. It was proposed that a joint conference with other psychotherapy associations (with
whom we might form a College within PACFA) could happen as early as 2016.
9. Motions from Members
9.1. Gena Fawn’s motion regarding the increase of fees was presented. Gena had
requested an email vote but this is not possible under ASPA’s Constitution. Members
may only request a postal vote if present at the AGM.
9.2. The Treasurer, Leonie Hibbert, responded with a comprehensive breakdown of fees,
including website $40 per member, AGM $24, Executive $32, PACFA $178, ASPA-PACFA
MA $6, portal $36, PD $20, general operating expenses $52, which equals a total of
$390 per member.
9.3. Leonie suggested rather than having an early bird rate the Association could consider
bringing in a late fee charge if members do not pay on time rather than a discount for
simply paying on time. Leonie drew attention to the members’ decision at the 2013
AGM for the $20,000 term deposit to be placed in trust and kept for emergencies or
unforeseen expenses, and $5000 to be spent on new branding/and upgraded website
(the website will need to be renewed every five years).
9.4. If the association keeps on its current path, without fee increases, this capital would
diminish each year. It was noted that this year’s Conference did not break even. Also
there may be a need for a lawyer with the PACFA restructure and the possibility of
establishing a College of Psychotherapy.
9.5. It was also presented that the current auditor was approved at the 2013 AGM.
9.6. It was tabled that membership renewals were continuing to run at 98%, despite the
recent increase in fees.
9.7. The discussion was opened up to members and proxies, including their comments,
were presented. Some members were not in favour of the fee increase and suggested
other avenues, such as raising the cost of PD, offering PD to other participants and
developing webinars, could be explored. Other members voiced that although they did
not want to pay a fee increase they could understand the need for the Executive to
increase fees in order to run the Association.
Motion to the AGM:
Members present at the meeting agreed that the increase in fees was necessary for the
association to remain viable.
10. PACFA Draft Guidelines for Client Records
Joanne presented the draft guidelines from PACFA, which members acknowledged.
There was a discussion about what records are legally required to be kept and
produced - a record of attendance, what was paid and an overview of client’s history.
11. Evidence based trial
PACFA is asking its Member Associations to join an evidence based psychotherapy
practice trail. ASPA has confirmed to PACFA that we are willing to participate.
12. Other Business
Tomorrow the Executive will discuss standardising emails and increasing
communication from the Executive to ASPA members.
5
13. Next meeting
Joanne proposed the 2015 Pre-AGM and AGM be held on:
Date: Saturday 17 October 2015,
Pre-AGM: 10:00-4:00, AGM: 4:00-5:00
Venue: To be advised, Melbourne, Victoria
6