Beginners workshop
This is an intensive residential weekend, which takes place within a therapeutic environment. We have run these workshops since 2003 and they are highly successful. Over 90% of attendees make progress. We limit attendance to small groups, so that the workshop leaders can give you all individual support.

We know that the thought of facing your fears may sound impossible to you, so we help you decide your own starting point, so that you can feel totally safe. There is no set target over the workshop. You will progress at your own pace and at your own comfort level.

Confidentiality is key. You will have opportunities to discuss your progress during a workshop, on your own, with the workshop leaders in private.

The beginners workshop fee is £165.00.

Please note you will need to pay your own accommodation costs.

Online beginners workshop
The online workshops are a shortened version of our regular beginners workshops, with all the activity taking place within one full day on Zoom. It is now possible for people who would have difficulty leaving home, to have the workshop experience online. These workshops are also very popular with people from other countries as long as they have a working knowledge of English.

In order to take part in an online workshop you will need the following:

• A good internet connection.
• Zoom installed on your smartphone, tablet or laptop (desktop will not work, because you will need to move it around).
• A level of privacy and access to your own private toilet, so that you can do virtual graduated de-sensing at home.
• To be available for the full day (from about 9:00 am to 6:00 pm) with a break for lunch.

The online workshop fee is £75.00.

Follow-up workshop
Follow-up residential weekend workshops are open to anybody who has attended either of the beginners workshops. There is less theory and there are more opportunities to practice in the follow up workshops.

The follow up workshop fee is £165.00.

Please note you will need to pay your own accommodation costs.

WORKSHOP FAQS

Are the workshops run by health professionals?
It is important to note that the UKPT does not provide professional treatment. Instead it uses a self-help ethos, where the trained volunteer leaders are not medically or psychologically qualified, but are recovering from the condition having been through the workshop system themselves. They pass on what they learnt in a layman’s capacity. It is not the aim of the UKPT to be a replacement for professional therapy. Instead, it provides support, especially where professional resources are not available. 

Will I be cured in one workshop?
Some people need two or three workshops, sometimes even more to make major progress. The majority find the first workshop enables them to make a significant start to understanding and gaining control over the condition. It helps them to see a way forward and make an action plan.

I want to come on a workshop, but I can’t afford it.
If money is a problem for you, don't let it put you off attending a workshop. The policy of UKPT is that lack of money should not prevent anyone participating. We have funding from The Hospital Saturday Fund, which is available for individuals based in the UK, who might otherwise struggle to attend. If you need financial help in order to attend a workshop, contact us before you register and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help you. 

I don’t live in the UK – can I still come to a workshop?
People from outside of the UK who have paruresis are welcome to attend our workshops, and they often do. Our two city workshop locations are Reading and Manchester. Both of these locations have excellent airport, road and rail links.

It seems to be mostly men who have paruresis. Are workshops suitable for women as well?
Women can have paruresis too. Their needs for information about paruresis are largely the same as for men, but their support needs are different. Our workshops are fully open to women, but we need to make advance arrangements to ensure that we have the correct support available. It is also important that other women attend the same workshop to share experiences and enable you to benefit the most. 

Most women prefer to consider an online workshop via zoom. We can more readily ensure you have the necessary support, and it is much more likely that there will be other female attendees. So in the first instance it would be helpful for us if you could get in touch via email at admin@ukpt.org.uk if you’re a woman interested in booking a workshop. We can discuss your needs and identify which is going to be the best way for you to benefit from the workshop experience.

How many workshops have you run and how many people have attended them?
To date we have run 166 workshops attended by 886 people.

Do you have any feedback from people who have attended workshops?
You can read about workshop experiences under Workshop Feedback.  

Here are some examples of feedback we have received.

"Yesterday I was able to use office urinals for the first time ever, absolutely stoked about it!"

“Very pleased with my progress on the workshop day, better than expected, practising in my home made a big difference”

 “I could not see how they could be any better. A few words come into mind. Empathy, Caring, Humility and Passionate people.”

“I am amazed by how much progress I made in just 1 day and I can now really see that I may be able to overcome this problem. All the workshop leaders were lovely, and I felt very comfortable talking to them. I am excited to get out there and practice different toilet situations. Thank you so much for the help and I would really recommend these workshops, don't suffer in silence”

“The actual desensitisation was carried out within each person’s comfort zone with no pressure, and the co-ordinators couldn’t have been more sensitive and supportive.”

How do I book?
Go to Book a workshop and fill in the booking form.