47 Psychologist courses delivered Live Online

Keeping Yourself in Mind: An ACT-informed programme for people supporting a family member with JHD We are pleased to invite you to our virtual course for parents and family carers of people living with Juvenile Huntington’s disease. The course will be run by Sarah Gunn, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of Leicester, and will be based on the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a therapeutic approach which focuses on learning to manage difficult thoughts and feelings, and to live a life which feels valuable and meaningful despite the struggles we encounter. This is an opportunity to explore the difficulties that can be associated with caring for a person with JHD (for you and within the family), to identify the values that matter most to you, and for you to think about how to move towards a more rich and valued life than you may have now. This is an eight-week course running from Wednesday 7 February to Wednesday 27 March 2024. The sessions will be on a Wednesday afternoon 1-2.30pm. Here is a very brief session outline: Week 1: Introductions: To ACT, to the programme, and to each other Week 2: Impacts of Juvenile Huntington’s on the “carer”* and wider family Week 3: Psychological wellbeing when supporting a person with Juvenile Huntington’s Week 4: Coping and adjustment: Living with, not battling against Week 5: What matters to you: Finding your values Week 6: Moving forward: Taking steps to align with your values Week 7: Living a valued life alongside Huntington’s: Plans and coping strategies Week 8: Reflection and ending: What’s next? *Note: Some people don’t like this term, so here we’re using it in quote marks. During the course, we will discuss which term would be preferred by the people attending. For more information on what information we collect and how we use it when booking onto one of our events, please see our privacy policy on our website.

Person Centred Planning (PCP) is a powerful tool for visioning, future planning and team building. It gets everyone on the same page and creates a progressive, constructive atmosphere so it is especially useful for people who are feeling ‘stuck’ or in a really desperate situation. The PCP processes we teach are called “PATH” and “MAPs”, and are both used for different situations. “To facilitate a group, family, team or organisation in thinking together around a given challenge or issue. Here is an opportunity to experience for real the person centred, futures planning tool – MAP/PATH” (Pearpoint, Forest, O’Brien. 1989). PCP can focus on an individual, with family and friends in the room supporting them, or focus on a group who want to set goals, and realise their potential as a team. PCP focuses on hopes and dreams, so is a very positive approach to planning, and utilises graphic facilitation, making it a very friendly way of working that is accessible to everyone.  This unique, hands on PCP training course explores the difference between ‘person-centred thinking’ and ‘service-centred thinking’. Traditionally, we have not always listened deeply enough to the needs of those we are planning for. Often ‘medical model’ thinking dominates our planning for those with the most complex needs. Typically we plan ‘about’ rather than ‘with’ children and adults.  We examine this ‘service centred’ approach that most professionals are used to, and question its limitations. This values based approach to inclusion will give participants the ‘theory’ behind why thinking and working in a person centred way is so important, and challenges people to strive for more for the people we are planning around. In addition to the knowledge and theory, this course empowers participants to facilitate their own Person Centred Plans using the PATH or MAPs process and provides the skills to do this effectively. Learning objectives  Strengthen understanding of how to think in a person centred way Knowledge of the steps of PATH / MAPs process Ability to facilitate PATH/MAPs process Ability to graphically facilitate a PCP meeting Develop problem solving and planning skills Inclusive Solutions offer: We could provide training for a team of staff, or we could facilitate a PATH or MAP around a disabled person. We can also offer bespoke training packages, please enquire for more details.  1 day “Introduction to PCP” with up to 100 attendees focusing on ‘Person Centred Thinking’ – includes live demonstration of PATH or MAPs Process (for a member of the group / with a student and their family/friends). 2 day “PCP Skills training” – More skills focused, lots of practice. Includes Graphics academy, Process academy and Coaching (Best with under 30 attendees). 2 day “Introduction to PCP with Skills training” – includes live demonstration of PATH or MAPs process, Graphics academy, Process academy and Coaching (Best with under 30 attendees). Half day PATH or MAP for a disabled person, led by two experienced Inclusive Solutions facilitators. Full day PATH or MAP for a team, organisation or group such as a full school staff led by two experienced Inclusive Solutions facilitators. Typical Structure of 2-Day “Introduction to PCP with Skills” Training This course is most useful when delivered over 2 days so we have time to cover the ‘skills’ behind facilitating a PATH or a MAP. Here is an example of what usually happens. If you need us to, we can tailor any of our courses to suit your specific needs.  Day 1 AM What makes a good welcome?Service centred thinking and working – what does it involve, how does it make people feel?Reflections on current practices – what is useful and what is harmful?Introduction to underpinning values of person centred thinking and working In depth exploration of the fundamentals of inclusion – encouraging identity, focusing on gifts and capacities Sharing success stories, and personal insight from experienced psychologistsShowcasing a number of practical PCP process in actionIntroduction to the “5 service accomplishments”, or “5 ordinary needs” PM  Full PATH process demonstration, led by 2 experienced facilitators – one process facilitator and one graphic facilitatorVolunteers will make notes on what they see the facilitators doing and feedback at the end of the dayFeedback, Q&A Day 2 AM Graphics Academy – we will ease you into the world of graphic facilitation and show you how simple it really is – includes live coaching and graphics tutorial, then participants will practice on each other by facilitating the first 1 or 2 sections of the PATH Process Academy – we will give you some pointers about holding the group, and facilitating in an inclusive way, this is another chance to practice your new graphics skills PM The group is divided up, and volunteers are selected to facilitate PATH meetings The group then run the PATH’s simultaneously with an experienced coaches in the room to guide and to be available for questionsWe reconvene to feedback about the process and digest all we have learntBrief Q&A session and then final reflections

Supervision is an essential component of professional development in the field of clinical hypnotherapy. It provides a structured space where therapists can reflect on their clinical practice, receive constructive feedback, and explore new strategies to enhance their therapeutic skills. Our supervision sessions are tailored to meet the unique needs of clinical hypnotherapists, ensuring that you receive relevant guidance and support.

Neuro EMDR Workshop will teach people how to use EMDR with people who have cognitive problems. 6 CPD Credits from the UK EMDR Association have been applied for.

If you have already undertaken some training in Motivational Interviewing (at least half a day)*, you are welcome to join our MI Skills Club (MISC), which is a free community group for Educational Psychologists wishing to practise their MI skills within a small and friendly group. Because MI is a conversational style, rather than a discrete skill, it is not something that can be mastered by attending a one-off training session. While MI is a learnable approach, it takes practice, reflection and supervision to improve. Learning MI on your own is hard, and receiving objective feedback and expert feedback are helpful in developing and maintaining competence in MI (Miller & Rollnick, 2023). Cathy Atkinson and Fi Coley, who are both members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), are collaborating to build an MI Learning Community for EPs. MINT (2019) defines a learning community as a network of practitioners interested in the same topic, and the community can serve as both a resource and a forum for developing practice. In each 90-minute online session we will focus on one small aspect of MI (micro-skills practice) and use breakout rooms with small groups to practice skills and give /receive supportive feedback. This event is open to Educational Psychologists, Trainee Educational Psychologists, and Assistant Psychologists. We are unable to accommodate aspiring EPs at this event. *If you are just starting out on your MI journey, or you would like to refresh your skills, you can join our one-day Introduction and Refresher training on Friday 27th September 2024 - Motivational Interviewing for Ed Psychs: Introduction and Refresher Tickets, Fri 27 Sep 2024 at 09:00 | Eventbrite

Workplace Mediation

Need a PATH? A person-centred plan?  This is a planning process not a training day. Let us facilitate your planning and refocus your story whilst strengthening you and your group, team, family, staff or organisation.  This tool uses both process and graphic facilitation to help any group develop a shared vision and then to make a start on working out what they will need to do together to move towards that vision.  Is your team or family stuck? Want to move on, but haunted by the past and cannot get any useful dialogue started about the future? Facing a challenging transition into a new school or setting? Leaving school? Bored with annual reviews, transition plans and review meetings? Want to find a way of making meetings and planning feel more real and engaging? Need an approach, which engages a young person respectfully together with his or her family and friends? Want the ultimate visual record of the process of a meeting, which will help everyone, keep track? Want to problem solve and plan for the future of a small or large group, service or organisation up to the size of an LA Give your team the opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most to them about the work they do. The act of listening to each other creates relationship and strengthens trust and inclusion within the team – in creating a shared vision, groups of people build a sense of commitment together. They develop images of the future we want to create together, along with the values that will be important in getting there and the goals they want to see achieved along the way. Unfortunately, many people still think vision is the top leader’s job. In schools, the vision task usually falls to the Headteacher and/or the governors or it comes in a glossy document from the local authority or the DfES. But visions based on authority are not sustainable.  Using the planning tool PATH (Pearpoint, Forest and OBrien 1997) and other facilitation sources we use both process and graphic facilitation to enable the group to build their picture of what they would love to see happening within their organisation/community in the future and we encourage this to be a positive naming, not just a list of the things they want to avoid.  Outcomes  To create a shared vision To name shared goals To enrol others To strengthen the group To explore connections and needs To specify an Action Plan To create a visual graphic record of the whole event Process Content  PATH is a creative planning tool that utilises graphic facilitation to collect information and develop positive future plans.  PATH goes directly to the future and implements backwards planning to create a step by step path to a desirable future. (Inclusion Press, 2000). These tools were developed by Jack Pearpoint, Marsha Forest and John O’Brien to help marginalised people be included in society and to enable people to develop a shared vision for the future.  PATH can be used with individuals and their circle of support, families teams and organisations.  Both MAP and PATH are facilitated by two trained facilitators – one process facilitator who guides people through the stages and ensures that the person is at the centre and one graphic facilitator who develops a graphic record of the conversations taking place in the room.  Follow the link below to read a detailed thesis by Dr Margo Bristow on the use of PATH by educational Psychologists in the UK.  AN EXPLORATION OF THE USE OF PATH (A PERSON-CENTRED PLANNING TOOL) BY EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS WITH VULNERABLE AND CHALLENGING PUPILS  The findings indicate that PATH impacted positively and pupils attributed increased confidence and motivation to achieve their goals to their PATH. Parents and young people felt they had contributed to the process as equal partners, feeling their voices were heard. Improved pupil- parent relationships and parent-school relationships were reported and the importance of having skilled facilitators was highlighted. Although participants were generally positive about the process, many felt daunted beforehand, possibly due to a lack of preparation. Pre-PATHplanning and post-PATH review were highlighted as areas requiring further consideration by PATH organisers. Recommendations to shape and improve the delivery of PATH are outlined together with future research directions.

Click to read more about this training, in which we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. Course Category Inclusion Parents and Carers Behaviour and relationships Problem Solving Description In this training we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. ‘Family Circles’ is an evolving new approach to problem solving with families and is based on our years of family work and the development and use of the Circle of Adults process. Inspired by our own Parent Solutions work and the Circle of Adults process as well as Family Group Conferencing and other Restorative Interventions we bring you Family Circles. Essentially the approach involves gathering a family together for a process that is facilitated but majors on the family members offering each other their wisdom and ideas. The approach is capacity focused, person centred approach to working with families rather than the dominant deficit oriented and ‘medical model’ of viewing and planning for or doing things to families. This training can be modelled with a group of professionals or better still with a family. In our work with families we develop the importance of naming stories or theories and seeking linkages and synthesis between what is found out and explored about the family situation and its history. We like participants to sit with the uncertainty, to reflect on the question ‘why’ but without judgement of each other. Deeper reflections may span a whole range of perspectives from ‘within person’ considerations, to situational or systemic possibilities. Health or emotional issues can be reflected on alongside organisational or transactional aspects of what is going on for the family. The better the shared understanding the better the strategy or actions which emerge from these meetings. Quality hypotheses with a close fit to reality lead to more effective implementation in the real world. We encourage ‘loose’ thinking, a search for connections, deeper listening, an ‘open mind’, speculation and exploration without moral judgements. From this stance self-reflection as well as reflection on the situation can produce remarkable insights. The quality of theories or new stories generated is directly influenced by family members’ experiences and the models of learning, behaviour and emotion, systems, educational development, change and so on that they have been exposed to.  Learning Objectives To provide opportunities for: Shared problem solving in a safe exploratory climate in which the family will find its own solutions. Individuals to reflect on their own actions and strategies An exploration of whole-family processes and their impact Emotional support and shared understandings of issues at a child, parent, family, school and community level. Feed back to each other on issues, ideas and strategies that are agreed to be worth sharing with them. Who Is It For? Anyone interested in working with families in a way that builds and makes use of their capacities rather than focus on their challenges and difficulties. Social Care teams School staff Community organisers Educational Psychologists Course Content True family empowerment Deepening shared stories and understandings Facilitating groups Problem solving process Handling family group communication Allowing direct feedback and challenge between participants in a safe way Building relationships Process: Family members are welcomed: Introductions are carried out, ground rules and aims clarified whilst coffee is drunk. A recap from the last session is carried out: To follow up developments and reflections after the last meeting. One issue is selected for the main focus Issue presentation: The family member who raised the concern is asked questions to tell the ‘story’ of the issue or problem. Additional questions/information from the group about the problem are gathered: Ground rules may need to be observed carefully here. Individual participants need to be kept focused and prevented from leaping to premature conclusions or to making ‘helpful’ suggestions about strategy. Relationship aspects to the problem are explored. Metaphors and analogies are invited. How would a fly on the wall see your relationship? If you were alone together on a desert island, what would it be like? Impact of previous relationships/spillage from one relationship to another are explored. Eg what situation they are reminded of? For instance, does this situation remind you of any of those angry but helpless feelings you had with your other son when he was an adolescent? This provides opportunities to reflect on how emotions rub off on other people. The parent feels really frustrated, and on reflection we can see that so does the child System/Organisation factors (Family system/school and community systems and so on): What aspects help or hinder the problem? For instance, does the pastoral system of the local school provide space, or time and skilled personnel able to counsel this young person and work actively with their parents? Synthesis. At this stage the Graphic facilitator summarises what they have heard. They then go on to describe linkages and patterns in what they have heard. This can be very powerful. The person doing the graphic work has been able to listen throughout the presentation process and will have been struck by strong messages, emotions and images as they have arisen. The story and meaning of what is happening in the situation may become a little clearer at this point. Typical links may be ‘mirrored emotions’ strong themes such as loss and separation issues, or repeated processes such as actions triggering rejection. This step provides an excellent grounding for the next process of deepening understanding. What alternative strategies/interventions are open to be used? Brainstormed and recorded. ’Either/ors’ need to be avoided at this time also. This needs to be a shared session in which the family member who is presenting the concern contributes as much as anyone. Care is needed to ensure that this person is not overloaded with other people’s strategies. The final selection of strategy or strategies from the brainstormed list is the problem presenter’s choice. Strategies might include: a special time for the young person, a meeting with the child’s parents to explore how she is being managed at home and to share tactics, a home-school diary, counselling, or an agreed action plan that all are aware of, agreed sanctions and rewards and so forth. Strategies may productively involve processes of restitution and restoration, when ‘sorry’ is not enough. Making it right, rather than punishments or rewards, may then becomes the focus. First Steps. The problem presenter is finally asked to agree one or two first steps which they can carry out over the next 3-7 days. It can help to assign a ‘coach’ who will check in with them to ensure they have carried out the action they have named. This is a time to be very specific. Steps should be small and achievable. The person is just ‘making a start’. A phone call, or making an agreement with a key other person not present at the meeting would be ideal examples. Final reflections. Sometimes referred to as a ‘round of words’ help with closure for all involved. Reflections are on the process not the problem. In large families this is best done standing in a circle. In smaller groups all can remain sitting. Passing around a ‘listening stick’ or something similar such as a stone or light heighten the significance of the process ending and improve listening. Finally the problem presenter is handed the ‘Graphic’ this is their record of the meeting and can be rolled and presented ceremoniously by the facilitators for maximum effect! If you liked this course you may well like: Parent Solutions

Peer Support as an anti-bullying strategy for schools is now routinely recommended by the DCSF and Ofsted. Many schools in the UK have individual schemes which show good practice within their own setting. However, it is rare to find co-ordination of multiple schemes within a Local Authority , or part of a Local Authority, or even within families or clusters of schools. Course Category Behaviour and Relationships Inclusion Peer Support Meeting emotional needs Description Peer Support as an anti-bullying strategy for schools is now routinely recommended by the DCSF and Ofsted. Many schools in the UK have individual schemes which show good practice within their own setting. However, it is rare to find co-ordination of multiple schemes within a Local Authority , or part of a Local Authority, or even within families or clusters of schools. Coordination of schemes provides opportunities for networking, sharing ideas, and mutual support amongst both adults and young peer supporters creates excellent practice. This approach also leads to: Stability and consistency of training A wealth of back up materials for adults and young people Consistent telephone and email support Opportunities for professional development for teachers, Teaching assistants and Learning Mentors Opportunity for national accreditation from MBF Testimonials The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation described this scheme as “a benchmark for Local Authorities Learning Objectives To discover how a centrally led Peer Support scheme enhances and promotes anti-bullying work across a number of schools. To take away from the day the means and the inspiration to set up a local scheme. To deepen insight into impact of strategic approach to peer support To learn about a real way of reducing bullying across a Local Authority Who Is It For ? Suitable for Anti-Bullying Leads Behaviour Support staff CAHMS TAHMS Learning Support and Guidance Staff Childrens Services Support Services Educational Psychologists Course Content The training day will be led by Inclusive Solutions, and a representative from a Local Authority who has successfully managed such a scheme for 10 years. This will be an interactive day with lots of opportunity for questions and exploration. What the day includes: How this work fits with an Inclusive Local Authority Key aspects and issues in running multiple Peer Support schemes from the centre Graphics workshop The 3 legged stool of Peer Support: Selection, Training and Supervision A chance to view and purchase some of the nationally accredited materials successfully used and developed over many years. f you liked this course you may well like: PEER COUNSELLING AS AN ANTI-BULLYING STRATEGY

In this course we explore how we have attempted to build inclusive circles of support around individuals and contrast this with a radical approach to problem solving with parents – the Parent Solutions Circle. Parent Solutions is a brand new approach to problem solving with parents based on our live group work in schools. A focus on challenging behaviour brings interest, energy and commitment.  Course Category Inclusion Peer Support Parents and Carers Behaviour and relationships Description In this course we explore how we have attempted to build inclusive circles of support around individuals and contrast this with a radical approach to problem solving with parents – the Parent Solutions Circle Parent Solutions is a brand new approach to problem solving with parents based on our live group work in schools. A focus on challenging behaviour brings interest, energy and commitment. Essentially the approach involves gathering a group of parents and carers together who recognise how challenging their own children are and would like some help to figure out how to be with them or how to manage an aspect of their behaviour. The process is facilitated but majors on the parents offering each other their wisdom and ideas. The directness that only peers can provide to each other makes the work both powerful and effective. Mobilising the wisdom and experiences of parents in a safe way is a delicate art. In this training we will explore how this can best be done. Parents who have been on all the courses and had all the professional advice in world love this way of working because they get to offer each other their experience, ideas and wisdom. The approach is capacity focused, person centred approach to working with parents rather than the dominant deficit oriented and ‘medical model’ of viewing and planning for parents. We work with rather than do things to a group of parents. This training can be modelled with a group of parents or can be demonstrated with a group of professionals. We prefer mixed groups. Learning Objectives For participants to learn how to set up a Parent Solutions Circle For participants to understand the underlying rationale and ethos of this way of working To learn the facilitation process and stages of the Circle process Who Is It For? Anyone interested in working with parents and carers in a way that builds and makes use of their capacities rather than focus on their challenges and difficulties. School leaders and managers Social Care teams Community organisers Psychologists Course Content True parent empowerment Facilitating groups Problem solving process Handling group communication Allowing direct feedback and challenge between participants in a safe way Building relationships Creating natural circles of support that can provide peer support and mutual problem solving If you liked this course you may well like: Creating Community Circles