Visiting U.S. Therapist, Author, Songwriter Dr. John Murphy

MEDIA RELEASE

Visiting U.S. Therapist, Author, Songwriter Presents Workshops and Gig for New Zealand Community Sector

19 March 2015

For Immediate Release

Social Service Providers Aotearoa and Wesley Community Action (WCA), a Wellington-based service, are working together to host Psychologist, Author, Trainer, Singer-Songwriter Dr. John Murphy from Arkansas to lead a series of seminars, co-facilitated by Wesley’s Manager of Practice and Development, Robyn Pope.

“For many years there have been calls for better and more effective client engagement. These have led to the development of the Partners for Change Outcome Management system (PCOMs) which supports increased client empowerment, continual quality improvement and better accountability”, says David Hanna, Director of WCA. “Dr. Murphy will demonstrate how PCOMs can significantly improve effectiveness in real clinical settings as well as substantially reducing costs related to length of treatment and provider productivity”.

North & South published a piece “Counselling: Cure or Con” in March 2013 by Donna Chisolm. PCOMs addresses some of the valid questions raised in that article about whether therapy works, and how we know if it is not helping.

The workshops will provide practitioners with the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to put PCOMs into immediate action by administering two remarkably efficient and powerful tools—the Outcome Rating Scale and Session Rating Scale—and adjusting services based on the client’s feedback on these scales.

“They are directed at New Zealand practitioners and organisations that believe in treating social work and counselling clients with dignity and respect and want to dramatically improve the quality and impact of services. We expect about 75 professionals from government and non-government services to attend and receive the training”, says Tara D’Sousa, Manager Social Service Providers Aotearoa.

Client feedback is not a practice just for social services. Ongoing feedback has been shown to be a key predictor of achievement in schools by Prof John Hattie. This feedback allows teachers to see learning through the eyes of their students. It makes learning visible and facilitates the planning of next steps [Visible Learning for Teachers (2012) J Hattie and International Guide to Student Achievement (2013) by Hattie and Anderman.]. Dr. Murphy will also be working with Ministry of Education to make learning visible and enable teachers and students to progress towards challenging learning intentions and goals.

Dr. Murphy is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Arkansas, Mental Health Consultant with Conway Public Schools, and Consultant/Trainer with other agencies and school districts in the United States. He is a popular workshop presenter who has trained thousands of helping professionals throughout the country and overseas including psychologists, counsellors, therapists, social workers, teachers, and administrators. Dr. Murphy's workshops are consistently rated as informative, practical, and engaging.

Dr. John Murphy is also a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has played music since the age of 15. His work as a psychologist and counsellor provides a constant source of song themes and stories. John was a member of Wooden Nickel, a popular Cincinnati-based trio, and has performed as a solo act in many venues throughout Arkansas and elsewhere.

SSPA and WCA are also hosting a gig showcasing Dr. John Murphy’s music and song. This will be for seminar participants and the general public.

Workshop Venues:

Wellington - Wednesday 25 March 2015, St John’s in the City, Corner Willis & Dixon Streets, 9.00 – 4.30pm
Christchurch - Thursday 26 March 2015, St John of God Waipuna, 349 Woodham Road, Avonside, 9.00 – 4.30pm
Auckland - Friday 27 March 2015, Lifewise, 3131 Great North Road, New Lynn, 9.00 – 4.30pm

Gig Venue: Meow, 9 Edward St, Wellington

24 March 2015, 4.30pm onwards, entry by koha

ENDS

About Social Service Providers Aotearoa:

SSPA is a national umbrella body for about 200 New Zealand NGOs working with children, families and community. By establishing strong regional networks and by co-ordinating Best Practice Workshops and training opportunities SSPA empowers member service providers to make a positive and significant difference in their communities through their work with children, young people and families.

About Wesley Community Action:

Established in 1952 by the Methodist Church, Wesley Community Action has been pioneering innovative approaches to social justice and quietly helping create just and caring communities ever since. The Wesley Way is to engage with people in a way that brings out the best in all.

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