Enjoyed running a workshop last night at the Mersey Counselling and Therapy Centre. A great crowd of people: lively and keen to participate. I introduced them to Edward de Bono's 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, something they might use when discussing possible projects at the Centre. It's amazing how many fresh ideas come pouring out of people when they use this technique.

Paula Young

The Internet makes it so much easier to link up with people all over the world but it also, perhaps, opens us up to a special kind of loss. All sorts of people, in all sorts of places and in all different walks of life become part of our world but there is always the risk that these people might leave without us ever meeting them in the 'real' world.

So it was with Paula Young. She and I first made contact a couple of years ago via Linked-In. We began writing to each other, spoke on the phone once and had plans to write a book together. I was struck by Paula's warmth, her humanity, her sense of humour, how much she cared for people and wanted to make a difference through her work as a therapist.

A few months ago, Paula told me that she was battling cancer. We didn't talk much about it. From time to time, I would hear about her visits to hospitals and the difficulties she was going through but she was so upbeat that I always felt confident she would pull through.

Early last month, Paula died. She lost this particlar battle.

I never got to meet her. I just have her e-mails and that one special phone call to remember her by. But she had an impact on my life and I know from what I have seen other people write that she had a positive impact on their lives as well.

Some of her thoughts are still accessible in her blog: A Therapist's Thoughts at http://therapiststhoughts.blogspot.co.uk/.

Delighted to attend Elliott Connie's two-day workshop on Soltion-focused couples counselling at Brief in London. He was an inspiration; the people at Brief are always so enthusiastic about what they do (there is a real buzz there); and it was great to be re-enthused about the Solution-focused approach. It was especially helpful to be able to witness live therapy sessions - don't often get the chance!

Great to see more of my supervisees qualifying! After all the hard work (producing those seemingly-endless portfolios and ploughing through all those practice hours), it's so satisfying to see the payoff.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a so-called 'alternative' therapy which has brought symptom relief to countless people around the world. It is becoming more widely known and a lot more popular. Many people who are initially sceptical about this seemingly-strange technique have been prepared to give it a try and have found that it has helped them to deal with a wide range of issues. It can be of particlar benefit to anyone who prefers not rely on doctors and chemical medicines which they prescribe, and which are known to produce a great many unwelcome and dangerous side effects.

EFT does not necessarily have to be used to 'fix' something that is 'wrong'; it can be used daily, as a relaxation technique, almost like a form of meditation.

Read more about it at: http://www.actualitycounselling.co.uk/eft.html