Once again the Complex Trauma Institute is pleased to be one of the 2026 York Festival of Ideas partners (free events)
.png)
Title: Fear in the Therapy Room
Psychotherapist and CTI Trainer Michael Guilding returns to the York Festival of Ideas for his third contribution. As each talk builds on the previous ones, you may wish to watch his 2024 talk, Reflections on Fear, Anxiety and Depression, 🔗 Watch here &
and his 2025 talk Reflections on Fear and Love 🔗 Watch here
💬 With decades of experience, Michael shares practical insights into how trauma affects the nervous system—and how we can respond.
Date: Thursday 4 June 2026,
Time: 7.00 - 8.30 pm
Venue: Online (Zoom Webinar)
🎓 1.5-hour CPD Certificate for live attendees
Booking Link: Click Here to Book your Free ticket
What happens in the therapy room between client and therapist? Why do some people find it really helpful and others are disappointed? How does it work and what can prevent it from being effective? Is the rationale behind therapy a lot of aspirational hot air, or is it grounded in a scientific understanding of the human body and mind? Is it just an approach for alleviating distress, or can it be a step towards living a fuller life? What has fear got to do with it?
Michael Guilding, a psychotherapist and CTI trainer with 30 years of clinical practice lifts the lid on the process of counselling and psychotherapy. Based on his book “Fear in the Therapy Room”, due to be published on 25 June 2026, he uses the perspective of our biological fear-system, to examine what goes on in the room between therapist and client, what it feels like for both, and how this rather strange activity can sometimes be derailed and help no-one, but has the potential to heal trauma and enable transformative personal growth.
This event will take place live on Zoom Webinar. Upon completing the registration
process, you will immediately receive a link to join the event. Additionally, reminders
will be sent to you 1 day and 1 hour before the event begins to ensure you have the
information readily available. During the event, you can ask questions via a Q&A
function, but audience cameras and microphones will remain muted throughout.
About the speaker:
Michael Guilding
Michael Guilding worked as a therapist for 30 years including over a decade in the NHS, where he was Head of Primary Care Counselling within the York and Selby NHS trust. He has had a long-standing interest in our biological fear-system and its impact on our patterns of relating to others.
Michael has written several papers for the Complex Trauma Institute’s Journal on the theory of complex trauma (which he sees as a biological fear-system disorder) and on the practical applications of this theory for psychotherapy. He runs workshops for the Complex Trauma Institute’s Advanced Certificate in Complex Trauma Practice, on understanding and working with the therapist's fear system, and he is currently writing a "survival guide" for working with complex trauma entitled "Fear in the Therapy Room". Or you can book his workshops without enrolling in the full course here.
There will also be an in-person presentation of this talk on Saturday 30th May at 2.00pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York, YO1 9RL. Tickets for this can be booked yorkfestivalofideas.com once the brochure for the 2026 festival is available - coming soon