I took part in the Big Chi gathering in August 2009. I mention it here because I consider my gi gong practice important to my practice as a therapist and the way I am with clients. It was a weekend retreat focussed on Tai Chi and Gi Gong. Gi Gong is the quieter more contemplative and more therpeutic practice with rewards for the mind and the body. I started gi gong about 3 years ago. I had done other spiritual practices before but with this teacher and my needs of the time, it took root and has become very much part of my daily life.
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As can be discerned from the date of this blog, I have fallen far short of my intention to blog my continuing professional development (CPD). However, this does not mean I have not been active, far from it. In fact, I have commenced a significant period of post qualification training in 2 separate but interrelated ways. I have begun post qualification doctoral studies at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling with an end point, subject to finances, of a Dprof degree from the Middlesex University.
This was a excellent event and well worth giving up a weekend for. Here's what I came away:
The mental health and well being of those identified as LGBT is not good - we are not a happy bunch! Nothing very surprising really, I suppose. Prof Michael King's keynote lecture reviewed world-wide reseach that suggests we suffer depression, anxiety and alcohol and drug misuse, and attempt suicide more often than hetrosexual people - between 2 and 4 times more, in fact!