Spring and Summer 2012

Anaesthetic remedies: new perspectives in prescribing – Dr Elizabeth Thompson, 17 March, Bristol

Elizabeth Thompson will be discussing the anaesthetic group of remedies many of which have been in our materia medica for a long time. She will bring cases of chronic fatigue, bipolar disorder and cancer to illuminate this fascinating group of remedies. The session will help you revise the hydrocarbon themes and the themes of row two of the periodic table. By the end of the day you should feel empowered to prescribe more comfortably for people with serious illness.

Elizabeth is lead clinician for an outpatient service from the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital with a team of seven doctors. She is the Academic Director for a seven-year academic teaching programme and also runs the Complementary Cancer Care Service. She is a fellow of the Faculty of Homeopathy and was elected Vice President of the Faculty in February 2011.

Victor Meldrew and the sensation method – Gurmej Virk, 20 April, London

With a little help from friends like Victor, and a variety of teaching tools such as film and group work. Gurmej will deliver a thoroughly entertaining and informative session that will highlight that the building blocks of the sensation method are not theoretical constructs, but all around us. We are all “doing” the sensation method, whether we realise it or not! Identifying and recognising these elements in our everyday lives helps us recognise them in our patients, which will enrich our practice, whichever method of case-taking we use.

Gurmej is Principal of the Aroga School of Homeopathy, which has taught the sensation method (postgraduate) since 2006, and from September 2011 enrolled its first year of undergraduates. Gurmej has long thought that teaching the sensation method through cases at seminars is not the most effective way to communicate these new concepts, and he has worked hard to develop newer, more interactive teaching tools, to enable students to grasp the method in an accessible way, resulting in the best implementation in their practice.

Drugs, alcohol and addictive behaviour – Sarah Carter, 21 April, Edinburgh

As well as running her own practice, Sarah has worked for over five years at a supported housing scheme which houses people with mental health and drug/alcohol issues, many of them ex-offenders. She has treated people with suicidal depression, schizophrenia, OCD and anxiety, many of whom are on long term medication.

Following many requests from people who have attended her other workshops, Sarah has developed a session to look in detail at addictive behaviour – the psychological aspects, aetiologies, materia medica, repertory work and case management. During the day we will take a closer look at therapeutic prescribing for those patients who are addicted to drugs and alcohol as well as the related physical pathology and side effects that can be a result of long term addictions.

Sarah will cover a range of topics including:
• prescribing for withdrawal from a variety of street drugs
• issues around other addictions such as smoking, sex, gambling and shopping
• some of the key remedies that come up regularly for patients with addictive behaviour.

There will be the opportunity to look in detail at some cases so it would be useful to bring along a repertory and materia medica – Murphy can be really useful in this kind of work..

Periodic table made easy – Geoff Johnson, 11 May, Cardiff

Geoff Johnson is one of our most popular teachers and we are delighted that he has agreed to present this workshop in Cardiff.

Geoff has called the day ‘Look how many electrons I’ve got – the periodic table made easy’. Geoff will take us on a journey from hydrogen to plutonium explaining the interpretation of the rows and columns and how to use this amazing tool in your practice. He will use both human and animal cured cases to illustrate the day.

Geoff qualified as a vet from Cambridge in 1987 and has also studied and practised homeopathy for the last 16 years. In 2003 he opened a homeopathy-only practice for both humans and animals in his home village of Wiveliscombe, Somerset. If he had to describe himself he would probably say he was a sensation homeopath. Geoff is now a sought after homeopathy teacher, and lectures widely nationally and internationally.

Working collaboratively – Julia Briscoe and Lindsay Hickey, 25 May, Cambridge

This workshop will explore ways in which we can work collaboratively with other practitioners and so extend the range of services we are able to offer. We will consider opportunities for homeopaths to work in contexts other than sole private practice and discuss how we might set up relevant networks and structures.

Julia Briscoe is head of complementary therapies at Whipps Cross University Hospital, where she runs a service to meet the needs of cancer and palliative care patients. Lindsay Hickey is co-director of the Complementary Medicine Centre at Hartismere Hospital in Suffolk, which provides a wide range of therapies. Julia and Lindsay are both members of the Society’s NHS committee, which is currently preparing materials to support members wishing to work in NHS contexts: drafts of these materials will be available at the meeting..

Working with patients with mental health issues – Sarah Carter, 25 May, Leeds

As well as running her own practice, Sarah has worked for over five years at a supported housing scheme which houses people with mental health and drug/alcohol issues, many of them ex-offenders. She has treated people with suicidal depression, schizophrenia, OCD and anxiety, many of whom are on long term medication.

Sarah will explore and examine the key issues that emerge when working with patients with mental health issues, for example, ethical issues and practitioner support. Through discussion, debate and group work around specific scenarios, a range of topics will be covered including:

• Prescribing alongside medication
• Case taking and case-management
• Acute situations
• Suicidal depression

Sarah will also include an introduction to therapeutic prescribing for patients with addictions and alcoholism

Healthy Practice – Building an enjoyable and sustainable homeopathic career: Tricia Griffin and Marie McShea, 26 May, London

This day for both newly-registered and established members will enable you to:

• Explore and review the vision for your homeopathic career
• Clarify the qualities and skills which will lead to your success in homeopathy
• Develop a personalised programme of how to market yourself to achieve your personal vision
• Review your ongoing plans for professional development and take stock of where you are

In this interactive and practical day we will focus on our personal visions and the qualities needed for success in the morning, and on practical effective marketing and advertising strategies in the afternoon. Our aim is that everyone will leave with a personal action plan to build the homeopathic career they desire.

If you are completing or reviewing your portfolio you will have the opportunity to review your plans and clarify what you need to do. The day will be facilitated by Tricia Griffin and Marie McShea, two experienced members of the Society’s Facilitation Team

Talk it up – Tina Burchill, 15 June, Northampton

Tina will discuss how to turn homeopathy and your practice into the good news that local media and the community want to hear about. This session will be workshop based, and focus on communication and how to effectively spread the word to generate more patients. The day will include:

how to explain homeopathy quickly and effectively both in social conversations and in
networking situations
how to simply explain homeopathy in writing
finding the news in your own “story” and practice
how to write effective marketing material
how to write a press release and get it published

Prior to qualifying from the School of Homeopathy in 2005, Tina Burchill RSHom worked for 18 years as a journalist in regional newspapers and as a freelance, writing articles for the Telegraph, the Times and national magazines. She has been the editor of the Society’s Newsletter since 2003 and media consultant since 2007.

Research day: Understanding Immunity – Angelina Mosley and Rachel Roberts

15th June, London

This CPD day will provide participants with the opportunity to take an in depth look at the immune system, including how specific immune responses are generated and what factors contribute to an individual’s immunological susceptibility. This educational section will lead onto a discussion of immunity and what is required for protection against infectious disease. Time will then be spent exploring the principles of both conventional and homeopathic prophylaxis, as well as the current findings from associated research studies.

The overall aim of the day is to give an informed and balanced insight into the complex debate behind health policies designed to protect both individuals and communities.

The day will be co-presented by Rachel Roberts, research consultant for the Society and chief executive of the Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI), and Angelina Mosley, member of the Society research committee and post-doctoral scientist with experience in lab-based immunology research.

Using the internet & social media to promote your practice:
Alison Robinson

14 May, Winchester

Alison will provide an overview of various methods for marketing our practices on the web, including Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter and provide take-home worksheets full of tips and ideas for participants to implement in their own time.

This workshop is for people who are familiar with the internet and comfortable with computers. Bring your laptop if you have one as you may wish to use it during the session.
Alison worked as a Business Systems Analyst/Designer for various companies and software houses and now practises in various locations in Berkshire and North Hampshire. She gets about 50% of her clients through the internet and implements internet marketing techniques for other health practitioners and small businesses.