Strengthening the Objective Observer: Enhancing Reflective Capacity and Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice
The therapeutic process demands a dynamic and nuanced dance between empathic joining (I am with you) and mindful reflective detachment (I am watching and thinking about what is going on). This webinar examines the role of the 'objective observer'—a core practice of professional self-awareness that enables clinicians to monitor their own internal responses, the client’s presentation, and the evolving intersubjective interaction.
Drawing on relevant research and theories, this webinar will present (a) the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying the objective observer such as self-monitoring, bias recognition, and bracketing, and (b) the features and practices of critical thinking as a scaffold for maintaining therapeutic neutrality, protective scepticism, and objective clinical judgment.
Learning Objectives:
- Conceptualise the observer function in therapeutic dialogue
- Identify key components of critical thinking relevant to the observer function
- Situate these processes within the broader model of reflective practice
Venue: Live Webinar (Zoom registration required. Please check your booking confirmation email).
Date: Wednesday, 7th October, 2026
Time: 6.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. (Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra Time)
Cost: Free (Live Webinar Only)
$19 (Live Webinar &/or Access to Recording for 60 days)
CPD Certificate: 1.5 Hours. CPD certificates are issued to attendees who meet one of the following criteria: attend the live webinar with at least 80% attendance, or watch the webinar recording and complete the associated assessment component.
About Zern Liew: Zern has three decades of multidisciplinary professional practice across Counselling, Design, and Business. He consults with clients to solve 'wicked problems' in their professional and personal lives. He also writes, teaches Counselling at university, facilitates alcohol/drugs counselling groups, and sits on the board of Men's Health and Wellbeing WA. Zern is currently working on an interdisciplinary PhD in Psychology. He has a Master in Counselling and tertiary qualifications in Business Management and Design.
About eiseEducation: eiseEducation delivers exceptional webinars, short courses, and professional development training to the mental health, social services & community services sector across Australia & New Zealand. Findout more at eiseeducation.com. Find out more at eiseeducation.com
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