COSCA, SCOTLAND’S PROFESSIONAL BODY
FOR
COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY
COSCA 8 Counselling
Research Dialogue
th
Date:
Tuesday
22 November 2011
Venue:
Terraces Hotel
Melville Terrace
Stirling FK8 2ND
‘THE CULTURAL AND SOCIALCONTEXTS
OF
COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY’
COSCA, Scotland’s Professional
Body for Counselling &
Psychotherapy
16 Melville Terrace
Stirling FK8 2NE
T: 01786 475 140
F: 01786 446 207
E: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
COSCA
COSCA 8th COUNSELLING RESEARCH DIALOGUE
The Cultural and Social Contexts
of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tuesday 22 November 2011 – 10 am to 4 pm
Terraces Hotel, Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND
CALL FOR PAPERS
Focus of this Counselling Research Dialogue
There are many cultural and social contexts in which counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland
have developed and are currently practised. These include institutions (prisons, schools, hospitals
etc), statutory services, the churches, the voluntary sector, social enterprises, independent practice,
and commercial enterprises.
Counselling and psychotherapy have been, and continue to be, shaped by these contexts.
Conversely, counselling and psychotherapy influence and shape the contexts in which they are
practised.
Through these mutual influences, counselling and psychotherapy are intertwined with a diverse range
of human activities e.g. outdoor activity, sport, our relationship with the ecosystem, business,
friendships, family life, education, training, spirituality, science, art, drama, language, diversity and
human rights, exclusion and stigma, and mental health and well being.
This Counselling Research Dialogue will explore:
 the wide range of cultural and social realities and contexts in which counselling and
psychotherapy have developed and takes place
 how counselling and psychotherapy are closely linked to other fields of human activity.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360
Keynote Presentation
Dr Gavin Miller, Research Fellow, The Theology and Therapy Project, University of Edinburgh.
‘The mystery underlying the wellspring’: the incorporation of Christianity into counselling
and psychotherapy, and the formation of modern spirituality.
Call for Abstract Submissions
Abstract submissions are invited for papers, panels, workshops and posters on the theme of ‘Cultural
and Social Contexts of Counselling and Psychotherapy’.
In your abstract, please consider:
 the cultural and social context(s) with which your study or ideas engage(s)
 how your study or ideas address the interplay between counselling/psychotherapy and their
contexts
 the implications of the context(s) of counselling and psychotherapy for your study or ideas
You should complete the Abstract Submission Application Form and return it to the address
below by Friday 16 September 2011. On how to present at the Dialogue, please refer to the
flyer “Presenting at COSCA Counselling Research Dialogue”.
Student Strand will be in place again this year:
 All students of counselling, psychotherapy and counselling skills are encouraged to
submit abstracts.
 There is a reduced attendance rate for students whose Abstract Submissions are
accepted.
 Please see the separate Student Strand flyer for further information.
Voluntary Sector Counselling Services
COSCA would particularly welcome Abstract Submissions from Counselling Services in the
Voluntary Sector in Scotland.
To book a Delegate Place at the Dialogue
For those not submitting an abstract, you should complete the Delegate Booking Form.
Closing date for bookings is Monday 14 November 2011.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360
COSCA 8th COUNSELLING RESEARCH DIALOGUE
The Cultural and Social Contexts
of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tuesday 22 November 2011 – 10 am to 4 pm
Terraces Hotel, Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION APPLICATION FORM
Fees frozen from 2009
Closing Date for Abstract Submissions: FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2011
PERSONAL DETAILS
Title
Forename
Job Title
Surname
Organisation/Study Place
Mailing Address
Town
City
Telephone
Post Code
Country
Email
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PRESENTERS:
 On confirmation of acceptance of your abstract submission, payment will be requested (see fees below)
 Please note that presenters cannot claim travel, or any other expenses connected to this event, from
COSCA
 If you intend to use Powerpoint for your presentation, you are required to send the final version of
this by email to: marilyn@cosca.org.uk BY MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2011.
 COSCA is unable to accept changes to the above version.
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU ARE A PRESENTER OR STUDENT PRESENTER
□
□
Presenter
Presenter Fee:
£60.00
Student Presenter
Student Presenter Fee:
£30.00
You will be asked to submit payment for the event when you receive the Abstract Acceptance
Confirmation/Booking Form, which you should return with your payment.
INFORMATIION ON ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS
You are advised to read the flyer ‘Presenting at COSCA Counselling Research
Dialogue’ for tips on presenting.
Please tick as appropriate:
□
□
□
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Paper:
Maximum of 30 minutes – 15 minutes Presentation and 15 minutes Discussion Time
Panel:
3 papers on a linked theme - maximum of 1 hour: 15 minutes each Presentation
and 15 minutes Discussion Time
Workshop:
Maximum of 90 minutes
Poster:
See flyer on tips for presenting a poster
Poster from Student not attending event (no charge): Please see flyer on tips for presenting a
poster.
Please submit your Abstract using the following headings where relevant.






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
Name and Précis of other presenters, if relevant
If Panel Discussion, name of panel organiser
Presentation Format e.g. paper, panel, etc
Background
Aims
Method
Results
Conclusions/Implications
 The Abstract Submission should be no more than 300 words.
 Please head each page with your name and title of the Abstract Submission.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
COSCA will provide a laptop and projector in each of the break-out rooms and your presentation will
be loaded up in advance for presentation using POWERPOINT 2007. You are required to submit your
presentation by email to marilyn@cosca.org.uk by MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2011.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360
COSCA 8th COUNSELLING RESEARCH DIALOGUE
The Cultural and Social Contexts
of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tuesday 22 November 2011 – 10 am to 4 pm
Terraces Hotel, Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND
DELEGATE EVENT BOOKING FORM
Delegate Fees frozen from 2009
Closing Date for Bookings: MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2011
PERSONAL DETAILS
Title
Forename
Job Title
Surname
Organisation/Study Place
Mailing Address
Town
City
Telephone
Post Code
Country
Email
COSCA Membership No. (if applicable)
Do you have any dietary requirements? If yes, please add details.
Do you have any access requirements? If yes, please add details.
Nominal Code
Payment
Confirmation Sent
9
DELEGATE FEES - please tick as appropriate
COSCA Members:
£75
□
Non-COSCA
Members:
£90
□
(The fee includes refreshments and lunch)
Counselling/Counselling £45
Skills Students:
□
PAYMENT
Please pay, if possible, your delegate fee direct to COSCA’s bank. If unable to do this, you
can pay by cheque or request an invoice.
Please tick as appropriate
I am paying direct to COSCA’s bank
□
the amount of:
£
Payment Reference: Your name followed by “RD10”
Clydesdale Bank
Sort Code:
82 - 68 - 05
Account No. 70174110
I am enclosing a cheque.
Please make the cheque payable to “COSCA”.
I wish to be invoiced
□
Cheque amount:
□
Please add £2.00 service charge.
£
Purchase Order Number if applicable
Invoice details, if different from mailing address:
CANCELLATION POLICY:
 COSCA will accept late bookings subject to availability and immediate payment in full.
 A change to a named delegate attending will be accepted, but no guarantee can be made to change
the original details for badges, delegates list, etc.
 No refunds can be made for cancellations.
 Those who have booked a place at the event and fail to attend are not eligible for a refund and/or will
be invoiced in full for the event fee.
GENERAL INFORMATION
 PHOTOGRAPHS may be taken by COSCA during events for publicity purposes.
If you do not wish to appear in these photographs, please tick here:
□
 MEMBERSHIP OF COSCA
I am not a member, please send me a COSCA membership application pack, please tick here:

PUBLICITY:
□
Publicity flyers/leaflets can be displayed at no cost to those attending.
 PERSONAL LINFORMATION
The personal information that you supply for this event will be used by COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in
Scotland) to manage your registration for and attendance at the event. Unless you advise to the contrary, in writing and
in advance to COSCA, relevant information will be made available in a list of delegates to attendees. The information you
supply will be retained by COSCA, unless requested in writing to COSCA not to do so, and may be used in future to
inform you about other appropriate services and events.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360
COSCA 8th COUNSELLING RESEARCH DIALOGUE
The Cultural and Social Contexts
of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tuesday 22 November 2011 – 10 am to 4 pm
Terraces Hotel, Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND
Student Strand

The Student Strand will be in place again this year at the COSCA Counselling
Research Dialogue. This Strand encourages counselling and psychotherapy
students to not only attend the Dialogue but to present a research paper or
poster, or lead a workshop or panel.

If you decide not to present a paper or deliver a workshop, you could do a poster
on your research. Even if you were unable to attend the Dialogue and you wished
to do a poster, we would display it for you - free of charge -so that all the
delegates could look at your research findings.

To prepare a poster, all you need to do is produce a visual display on A1 flipchart
paper. This would be designed to show what you had done in your research.
In your poster, you could use schematic diagrams, arrows, and other strategies to
direct the visual attention of the viewer. Because the poster needs to be viewed
from a distance, using 16-24 font size, double-space text and a much bigger font
for the title banner is strongly advised. A maximum of 2-3 colours and selfexplanatory graphics with a minimal amount of text materials as supplements
seems to work for most posters.
Designing your poster to address one central question will help to catch the
essence of your study. What you should also aim to do is to provide an explicit
take-home message. Finally, if you are able to summarise the implications and
conclusions of your research (preliminary or otherwise) in user-friendly language
you will give delegates an idea of what your research has achieved.

If you would like to present a paper or poster, or lead a workshop or panel at this
year’s Dialogue, please complete the Abstract Submission Application Form
and return it to COSCA by FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2011.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360
COSCA 8th COUNSELLING RESEARCH DIALOGUEEE
The Cultural and Social Contexts
of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Tuesday 22 November 2011 – 10 am to 4 pm
Terraces Hotel, Melville Terrace, Stirling FK8 2ND
Presenting at COSCA’s Counselling Research Dialogue
Some Tips and Suggestions to Help You in Delivering Your Presentation/Poster
The COSCA Counselling Research Dialogue encourages submissions from individuals and
organisations from across the counselling/psychotherapy field in Scotland.
Planning the Presentation of your Study:
General Points

Be sure that the study you are presenting is valid and its methodology sound i.e. it should not be
opinion.

Make the strengths and limitations of the research clear.

Decide where the focus should be, and the 3 key points you want to make. If it is a large piece of
research, e.g. a PhD, only include key issues. Develop a logical and clear structure. Take account
of colleagues' and friends' comments.

Imagine the audience and try to relate your presentation to them. Most delegates at COSCA’s
Counselling Research Dialogue will be counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling skills users and
trainers. Fewer will be academic researchers. Most (but not all) will have some knowledge of
research. Some will be experts but usually only very familiar with one or a small number of areas.

If you are using audio-visual aids (OHP or Power Point slides) in your presentation use no more
than 7 pieces of information on each slide. Present only key points or illustrations - not a script.
Make each slide clear, readable from the back of the room, and appealing. Allow at least one
minute for each slide.
Structure:

Introduce yourself and your topic, and outline your aims/plan for the presentation.

Describe the context of your study and why you did it.

Explain how you did the study and any criticisms of it.

Present your findings and any weaknesses in your evidence.

Discuss its implications and how far these can be generalised.

Sum up - clear conclusions are strong ones (no matter whether they are popular or positive in
themselves).
On the day:

Check that the equipment you need is there and working for your presentation.

Be positive, enthusiastic and get excited. Above all, do not worry. People have come along to
hear your presentation.

Enjoy giving your presentation.
Paper (30 Minutes)

Allow up to 15 minutes for the presentation and rehearse the presentation in full to ensure that it is
no longer than 15 minutes.

Allow 15 minutes for questions and feedback (rehearse questions you can expect).

Give the main body of your research and its conclusions/implications at least 10 minutes in your
presentation. Limit the presentation of your methods to between 3 and 5 minutes. Leave sufficient
time (15 minutes) for discussion after your presentation.

Include references, your literature review and the details about your methodology in a handout.

You will get valuable feed-back during the 15 minute discussion after your presentation.
Poster

Prepare your poster presentation on A1 flipchart paper.

Place it on a designated flipchart stand at the Dialogue.

Show what was done – use schematic diagrams, arrows, and other strategies to direct the visual
attention of the viewer.

Use 16-24 font size throughout to allow it to be read at least 6 feet away.

Double-space all text.

The title banner should be readable from 15-20 feet away.

If space permits, use first names for authors to facilitate interactions.

Use maximum of 2-3 colours where possible to unify and enhance.

Use self-explanatory graphics with a minimal amount of text materials as supplements.

Catch the essence of your study – design the poster to address one central question.

Provide an explicit take-home message.

Summarise implications and conclusions in user-friendly language (preliminary or otherwise).
Workshop (90 minutes)

Identify the goals of your workshop before you begin developing the programme.

Ensure that your workshop is as focused as possible.

After you have designed your workshop programme, create a brief evaluation form to be filled out
at the end of the workshop.

Create a hands-on component to your workshop to encourage active participation. Make sure
there is dialogue between you and the participants.

Consider co-presenting your workshop with one of your colleagues or a member of your target
audience. Try to see your role as a catalyst for bringing people together rather than as an expert
on the issue.

Try to have break-out sessions so people aren't sitting in the same place the whole 90 minutes.
COSCA Journal: Counselling in Scotland
Presenters are encouraged to prepare their presentations as papers for the COSCA Journal,
Counselling in Scotland, after the Dialogue. Information on style and format for submissions is
available from the COSCA office.
COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
16 Melville Terrace | Stirling | FK8 2NE
e: marilyn@cosca.org.uk
www.cosca.org.uk
t: 01786 475 140
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC018887
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland No. 142360