The Art of Therapy

In Episode 10 of The Art of Therapy, Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explore how emotional closeness and distance influence every therapeutic encounter.They unpack how therapists can observe connection—not just feel it—through subtle cues like eye contact, posture, and openness. The discussion shows how these observations reveal much about a client’s internal world and how emotional distance connects to their presenting problems.Designed for working therapists and psychologists, this episode offers a concise, restorative reflection on the art of observation—bringing clarity and presence to your practice without the exhaustion of heavy theory.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 9 of The Art of Therapy, Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explore how clarity—or the lack of it—shapes every relationship.

They discuss how a therapist can observe communication patterns that reveal much about a client’s presenting problem: clarity of expression, logical flow, and how intention and impact often differ. Even small communication lapses can influence connection, trust, and emotional wellbeing.

For therapists and psychologists who spend their days listening deeply to others, this episode offers a practical, accessible reflection on the art of communication—designed to inform, restore, and inspire without overwhelming.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 8 of The Art of Therapy, Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen introduce a new lens for understanding human interaction—the definition of relationship.

Building on the foundation of congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard, this episode explores how therapists can observe and describe how people relate. Dr. Phipps explains three fundamental relationship definitions—complementary, symmetrical, and parallel—and how each can influence communication, conflict, and well-being.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Season 2 Episode 7 of The Art of Therapy, Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explore the third and final element of Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach: unconditional positive regard.

They unpack what it means to experience true acceptance, to be regarded without judgment, and why this sense of being “okay as I am” is central to emotional and psychological wellbeing. The discussion connects congruence, empathy, and acceptance as interdependent qualities that shape trust, understanding, and self-actualisation in therapy.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 6 of The Art of Therapy, we explore the second essential quality of therapeutic relationships: empathy.

Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen unpack why empathy is more than just understanding,it’s the act of accurately entering another’s frame of reference. Drawing from Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach, they explain how empathy can be both profoundly healing and, at times, exhausting when misapplied.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 5 of Season 2, we look at the first key quality of relationships that supports mental wellbeing: congruence.

Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explore why congruence—alignment between what is said and how it is said, both verbally and nonverbally—is essential in therapy and in everyday relationships. They discuss how congruence builds trust, why in-congruence often leads to “double messages,” and how therapists can observe congruence both in the therapeutic relationship and in the client’s broader context.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 4 of Season 2, we ask why relationships matter so profoundly to mental wellbeing.

Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explore Carl Rogers’ person-centred principles—congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard—and how these qualities support self-actualisation and emotional health. They connect Rogers’ ideas to more recent research, including Liesl van den Berg’s 2008 study, which showed how the quality of our relationships directly shapes our mental wellbeing.

This episode highlights how meaningful, authentic relationships foster growth, while unhelpful or unfulfilling ones contribute to distress.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In Episode 3 of Season 2, we ask a key question: where should therapists focus their attention?

Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen unpack how context determines the meaning of behaviour and why this helps therapists know which relationships to observe. Drawing from Gregory Bateson’s work on systems and communication, they show how a client’s presenting problem can act as a “flashlight,” guiding where to look in the complexity of interactions.

This episode highlights the integrative power of combining person-centred care, communication theory, and systems thinking—creating a broader lens that helps therapists see more, understand more, and focus on what’s most relevant.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In this episode, we dive into the first step of diagnosis: describing

the client’s presenting problem.

Dr. Warwick Phipps and Marizaan Koen explain why careful description of

symptoms is often overlooked, and yet so essential. They show how

listening actively and accurately not only supports diagnosis but can

itself be profoundly therapeutic—sometimes the act of being heard is

already healing.

The conversation also begins to explore causal processes, distinguishing

between speculation about internal states and the value of observing

visible behaviour.

This episode lays the foundation for seeing problems more clearly and

working with them more effectively.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/

In the first episode of Season 2 of The Art of Therapy, we return to the foundational skills that shape meaningful therapeutic work: observation and diagnosis.

Join Dr. Warrick Phipps and psychologist Marizaan Koen on an exploration of the role of trained observation in therapy, not simply as a passive process of noticing, but as an active, clinical tool that shapes the entire therapeutic journey. From the initial understanding of a client’s distress to the evolving strategies used in treatment, observation is deeply intertwined with diagnostic thinking. Rather than viewing diagnosis as a one-time step, this conversation highlights it as a recursive process—one that continually refines and deepens the work of therapy.

🎧 Subscribe now and master the art of communication in therapy.

Learn more about CPD-accredited, in-person training at Treatment Works:

https://treatmentworks.co.za/training/