My name is Lidia Fogliati. I am an English teacher as well as a PCE psychotherapist. I had my English teacher degree and I taught English for about ten years.I realized then, something was missing for me. I loved teaching and I found I naturally loved listening to others, as well. And I felt I definitelly needed professional training. So I decided to study Psychology. I have been a PCE therapist for more than twenty years now. I met Carl Rogers´ ideas for the first time in an introductory course at the late Argentinian Rogerian Association while I was at College, and I immediatelly fell in love.I found Rogers was expressing what I have always thought and felt about human relationships. So by the time I got my Psychology degree, I knew I was going to become a PCE therapist. Throughout all these years, I have had my private practice, engaged in training courses, supervision, organizing encounter groups, and presenting workshops in different Latin Amercan encounters. I also wrote a book called "Búsquedas", in Spanish, "Searches", in English, where I share experiences and testimonies of my practice as a PCE therapist. I have enjoyed writing it every minute of it. Becoming a mother was also another special moment in my professional search. While I was pregnant, I took maternity clases. And I Ioved those shared moments so much, that I decided to train for that activity as well. The process of accompanying pregnant women was of great learning for me. I worked with women undergoing "normal" pregnancies as well as high risk pregnancies. At the moment, and for several years now, I have been working with a reproductive specialist, helping couples who cope with challenging times, going through sometimes painful treatments in order to have a baby. I am also a lecturer at a Postgraduate course at the School of Psychology, at the Unversity of Buenos Aires. It is a programme about the role of psychologists in primary care. I realize writing this piece, that being a PCE therapist has hugely helped me in every task I have undertaken. Kidness, emphaty, open listening, presence, commitment, are such powerful resources! I sometimes feel amazed at what happens in a transparent, genuine encounter among people. As regards the PCE World Association, I cannot be more thankful. I was a member of the Board from 2010 to 2016. This is my second term as a Board member now. I have always been involved as co-editor of the PCE World newsletter. Over the years I have tried to include writings from prestigious people from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, so that more people can get to know what a strong PCE community we have in Latin America. This is part of what a "truly worldwide association" means to me. My experience of sharing time with people coming from different parts of the world has been indeed very stimulating. I have enjoyed having creative discussions, always accepting our differences, always coming to agreements, including our diversity. Another task I participate as a Board member is being part of the Grants committeee team. I am very pleased that our Association can stimulate and help students and psychotherapists finantially to be able to fulfill their research projects. If I become a Board member again, I would be more than glad to continue with the tasks I am having now, as well as being of help to the PCE7 Team, who will organize the PCE World Conference in 2028, in Argentina, as they did in 2014. Re-reading this presentation, I can only say how grateful I am for everything that has brought me here. Thank you! Lidia Fogliati
