The Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) has put together a far-reaching programme of talks, workshops and training events by leading professionals and academics for its seventh national conference and training event from 25 to 28 January 2007.

The conference will cover a wide variety of topics and issues immediately relevant to modern-day living, including crisis in marriage, drug use and suicide, and in each case a specialist will look at the related counselling issues and needs arising.

In a featured presentation entitled "Don't believe yourself sick", internationally-renowned psychotherapist, author, speaker and counselling teacher Dr Ulrich Giesekus will look at whether or not religious beliefs help to maintain emotional health, or whether they undermine it.

The keynote speaker will be Dr David Muir, Public Policy Director of the Evangelical Alliance. He was a member of the government's Policy Action Team, advisor to the Home Secretary on citizenship and former deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority. Taking as his subject the main theme of the conference, "Walk in His Ways", Dr Muir will reflect on the implications for Christian counsellors of proposed government regulation of counselling, new anti-discrimination laws and the drive towards professionalism.