An opportunity to look clearly at one's own bias in terms of ageing.

Ageism is one of the most socially accepted yet least examined forms of discrimination, with significant impacts on mental health, identity, and help-seeking across the lifespan. This one-hour practical session explores how age-based stereotypes, assumptions, and internalised beliefs shape clients’ experiences and therapeutic work, drawing on evidence highlighted by the World Health Organization. Through reflection, discussion, and applied examples, counsellors will examine their own assumptions about age and learn how to recognise, challenge, and work ethically with ageism in clinical practice.

This is the third in the series of Enhancing Practice: CPD Lunch Hour a regular one-hour online training session for counsellors and therapists, designed to support high-quality, reflective professional practice.

By the end of this one-hour session, participants will be able to:

• Define ageism and recognise its forms, including overt, subtle, and internalised biases

• Describe the psychological, social, and clinical impacts of ageism across different stages of life

• Reflect on their own attitudes, assumptions, and potential biases related to age

• Identify ways ageism can appear in counselling practice, assessment, and therapeutic relationships

• Apply strategies to challenge age-based stereotypes and foster age-inclusive, respectful, and empowering interventions for clients of all ages

NB Times are in CET