Practitioner Retreat: Working with Depth Psychology in Functional Voice Problems
A 5 day, IN-PERSON intensive group process around the philosophy and psychology of voice disorders at the beautiful VOICE CARE CENTRE, Devon.
Dates
20th – 25th April 2026
Fees:
£1,750.00
(£1,450.00 if booked in March 2025)
Where:
VOICE CARE CENTRE, Devon
26D Tower House
The Strand
Bideford
EX39 2ND
There is lunch and snacks provided for this course, but accommodation is not included.
There are only 8 spaces available.
Course content
Humans thrive on relationship and how we relate to others can be both joyous and problematic. Now, there are numerous examples of Functional Neurological Voice Loss (psychogenic) that occur from an event that leaves someone voiceless.
How do we begin to cultivate a practitioner process to support these people? People who have lost their voice because of:
Trait Theory of Personality and Voice Loss, Functional Neurological Disorders or other psychogenic factors (Baker et al., 2021, Butcher 1990, Mersbergen 2014)
Conflict Over Speaking Out, COSO (House and Andrews 1988) – where there is often a problem if you do use your voice, or you don’t
Powerlessness In The System – where people, particularly anyone in a minority group has a voice that is not equal to others
Identity Dissonances – Grieving a Previous Voice (King 2024) and The Role Related Dysphonia Trigger (King 2025) are both ways we can begin to understand and help someone who, after experiencing an event of loss or change, loses not only themselves but their voice too
Over the 5 days, you will work with the Lydia Hart SLT and Stephen R King from the VOICE CARE CENTRE in an intimate and creative way to examine the parts within you that might stop you being able to help your clients and students with voicelessness in this way.
There will be formal education around the transition from Freud’s “Conversion Disorder” to “Psychogenic Voice Disorder” and finally to “Functional Neurological Voice Disorders” as per Baker’s Contemporary Framework.
You will explore Stephen’s shift into the tradition of Body Psychotherapy and learn some concepts about how to work with people from this somatic perspective.
You will also be thinking about the process of wholism, spirit and peace within this most important work, and how we might use out own voices in an ‘anti- conflict’ way to better our own relationships, both professional and personal.
Daily Timetable: Each day runs from 09:30am - 15:30pm
09:30-11:00 am
Check-in and introducing the focus, theory and concept for the day
11:00 – 11:20 am
Morning Break
11:20 – 12:30 pm
Creative exploration / workshop on the theme
12:30 – 13:30 pm
Lunch
13:30 – 15:00 pm
Group process with a thematic focus
15:30 pm
Check out
Those of you who have attended workshops or training by Stephen or Lydia before know how carefully held and interesting the process can be.
To register, book below
”“ Dear Stephen,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the incredible training. It was truly next level and has already had a huge impact on my approach to therapy. The depth and intensity of the course were challenging, but absolutely rewarding. Every session was filled with so much valuable knowledge and practical application that I can already see how it is transforming my work.
I really appreciate your expertise, your way of teaching, and the passion you bring to the field. This was an experience that will stay with me, and I’m excited to implement what I’ve learned.
Looking forward to staying in touch and hopefully joining another training in the future!
Best regards,
Michael @stimmkontor (via instagram)
Michael”
