Ageism has been highly detrimental to the development of psychotherapeutic models and the provision of psychological services for older people in the twentieth century. Key figures in the development of psychotherapy theories have dismissed the potential of older people to engage in psychotherapeutic work and this prejudice is reflected in the paucity of services available to older people. Ageism will be described as a psychological defence mechanism and an ageist paradigm will be used to inform psychotherapy theory and clinical practice. Training and supervision are likely to be important in overcoming ageism in mental health services. Following speakers will demonstrate the applicability of specific psychotherapeutic models to work with older people.
Back to Psychological therapies with older people.
Back to Symposia
Back to The IPA European Regional Meeting (1-4 April 2003) of IPA