Being able to conduct a comprehensive intake assessment while establishing rapport with a new client is an essential skill for psychologists. This session will focus on the aims of an intake assessment, how to introduce the process effectively, and setting realistic expectations for therapy. Strategies for addressing tricky client questions and ensuring necessary information is gathered for case formulation and treatment planning will be discussed. The session will also highlight essential intake assessment skills to enhance client engagement and rapport. Through role-play activities and facilitated discussions, you will have opportunities to actively engage, share insights, and reflect on best practices to strengthen your approach. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

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Assessing a client’s mental state and risk-related concerns is a fundamental responsibility for psychologists in every session. However, introducing questions about suicide risk can often evoke anxiety in practitioners. This session is designed to build your confidence and skills in these critical areas. 

The first half will focus on conducting a comprehensive Mental Status Examination (MSE), including an overview of key domains to assess, their relevance to client care, and practical application.  

The second half will focus on suicide risk assessment, addressing common fears, outlining key areas to explore in risk assessments, and discussing strategies for introducing sensitive questions about suicide risk in a client-centred way. While this session will build skills in suicide risk assessment, it will not cover the development of a suicide safety plan. Facilitated discussions and reflective exercises will provide you with opportunities to deepen your understanding and refine your approach in a supportive learning environment. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Case formulation is a core skill for psychologists that allows translation of information obtained during initial assessment, into a working understanding of a client’s presenting concerns, to aide development of a therapeutic plan. This session will present to you the 5 Ps model of case formulation and explore how this can be used to guide effective therapy processes.  

A key focus will be on delivering case formulations collaboratively with clients, fostering engagement, and creating a shared understanding in therapy. Facilitated discussions and interactive activities will consolidate your learning and enhance your confidence in using collaborative case formulation in practice. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Measuring progress is an important component of effective therapy, helping to evaluate outcomes and guide treatment. This session will explore the role of outcome measures, their importance in tracking therapeutic progress, and strategies for overcoming common barriers to their use.

You will also be introduced to feedback-informed treatment, including the use of measures to assess therapeutic alliance and enhance collaboration with clients. Practical activities and facilitated discussions will help you consolidate your learning and address challenges in integrating these tools into everyday practice. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Accurate and effective clinical documentation is a cornerstone of professional practice, ensuring clear communication and adherence to professional, ethical, and legal standards. This session will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the key information to include in case notes and correspondence with other professionals, particularly letters to GPs and other referrers. 

Topics will include the purpose and content of case notes, ethical considerations and scenarios, strategies for troubleshooting common challenges, and how to explain the importance of taking notes to clients in a professional and reassuring manner. You will also explore the essential components of effective professional correspondence to referrers. Facilitated discussions will support you to refine your skills and address individual pain points. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Navigating ethical dilemmas is a critical skill for psychologists, requiring sound judgment and clear boundaries. This session will introduce you to a structured ethical decision-making framework to guide thoughtful and professional responses to common challenges in practice. 

Through interactive discussions and examples, you will explore a variety of ethical scenarios, including the nuances of appropriate self-disclosure. Practical guidance, including reflective questions to help determine when self-disclosure is appropriate, will support you in making informed decisions.  

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Working with children and young people brings a unique set of ethical considerations, especially around informed consent and confidentiality. This session will focus on the complexities of obtaining informed consent when working with minors, including navigating the challenges of separated families and understanding the roles of parents, guardians, and other significant adults. 

You will explore how to explain the psychologist’s role, the concept of confidentiality, and what children and young people can expect from therapy. Through case discussions and role-playing activities, you will gain practical experience in addressing these sensitive topics in a way that is developmentally appropriate and ensures clear communication with both the child and their family. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Effective therapy with children and young people requires tailoring approaches to meet their developmental needs. This session will focus on how and when to involve caregivers in the therapeutic process and adjust therapeutic strategies to suit the developmental stage of the child or young person. 

You will explore the different stages of development and how to adapt techniques for children and young people; considering cognitive, emotional, and social factors. The session will also cover strategies for engaging caregivers in therapy, ensuring their role in treatment remains supportive, while maintaining a child-centred focus. Through discussion and case examples, you will gain practical insights into making these adjustments and ensuring effective and developmentally appropriate interventions. 

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Bishop

Register online here!

Supporting perinatal mental health is a crucial aspect of psychological practice. Particularly as it involves the mental health and wellbeing of both parents and infants during a sensitive time. This session will explore common concerns during the perinatal period, including anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, and how these impact both the parent and child. 

You will be introduced to some key guidelines and resources for supporting perinatal mental health, and focus on screening and risk assessment strategies. The session will cover areas which we may need to provide psychoeducation to parents in, as well as the role psychologists play in supporting perinatal mental health. You will practice applying your knowledge using case studies. 

This session will introduce you to the principles of neurodiversity affirming practice, emphasising a strengths-based approach to understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families. Using the social model of disability as a foundation, you will explore the importance of focusing on individual differences and capabilities rather than perceived deficits. 

Key terms and concepts related to neurodiversity will be clarified, along with an overview of the neurodiversity affirming paradigm—what it is, what it isn’t, and its implications for psychological practice. Learning activities and case discussions will help you apply this framework in their practice effectively and confidently. 

This session will provide you with an overview of ADHD, focusing on both the diagnostic criteria and a broader, strengths-based approach to assessment. You will explore the DSM criteria for ADHD and discuss its limitations, emphasising the importance of looking beyond the DSM to understand the diverse presentations of ADHD across individuals. 

Key considerations for differentiating ADHD from other neurodevelopmental differences and mental health conditions will be covered.  An interactive activity will guide you in reframing ADHD diagnostic interview questions to be more affirming and inclusive, as well as identifying subtle traits of ADHD that may emerge during assessment. This session combines foundational knowledge with practical skills to enhance confidence and competence in affirming ADHD assessment. You are expected to have foundational knowledge of neurodiversity affirming practice to fully engage with the content. 

This session will provide you with a foundational understanding of autism assessments, building on the principles of the neurodiversity affirming paradigm. You are expected to have prior knowledge of this framework to fully engage with the material. 

We will cover general concepts and considerations in autism assessment, exploring the DSM criteria and their limitations while emphasising the importance of understanding autism beyond diagnostic checklists. Key topics include assessment considerations, navigating differential diagnoses, and critically examining the concept of “levels” within autism diagnoses. 

Through discussion and case examples, you will deepen your understanding of strengths-based and individualised approaches to autism assessments, equipping you to work effectively and respectfully with neurodivergent clients. 

Delivering assessment feedback is a critical step in the assessment process, offering clients and their families valuable insights and understanding. This session will provide you with a structured framework for delivering assessment feedback in a professional, clear, and affirming manner.

You will learn how to communicate psychometric assessment results in ways that are accessible and strengths-focused, ensuring clients and families can understand and use the information meaningfully. The session will also explore strategies for addressing questions and concerns during feedback sessions. 

This session provides an overview of the assessment and understanding of psychosis, focusing on the key features of psychotic disorders and strategies for therapeutic management. You will learn to navigate common myths and stereotypes about psychosis, fostering a more accurate and compassionate understanding of clients’ experiences. 

The session will cover the DSM criteria for psychotic disorders, key features to assess, and considerations for differentiating psychosis from other conditions. You will also explore the concept of psychotic prodromes, gaining insights into early indicators and how to approach them clinically. 

Practical therapeutic interventions for managing core symptoms will be introduced. Facilitated discussions will encourage you to reflect on and consolidate your understanding, share experiences, and explore how to apply your knowledge in practice. 

The ability to engage in reflective practice and professional reflexivity is a core competency for psychologists, supporting ongoing growth and ethical practice. This session will clarify the distinction between reflection and reflexivity, with a focus on how both processes contribute to professional development. 

You will explore frameworks for reflective practice, which involves critically evaluating your actions and decisions in professional settings. This includes recognising your strengths, identifying areas for improvement, considering alternate approaches, and planning for future practice. Professional reflexivity will extend this understanding by examining how personal biases, values, and assumptions can shape interactions and decision-making in therapeutic contexts. 

The session includes structured activities and discussions to guide you through the reflective and reflexive processes, equipping you with tools to enhance self-awareness, accountability, and effectiveness in your practice. 

Self-care is a core competency for psychologists, and is essential for maintaining personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness. This session will explore the importance of self-care in preventing burnout, managing stress, and fostering resilience in the demanding field of psychology. 

You will learn how to identify signs of stress and burnout in yourself and others, understand the unique challenges psychologists face in prioritising self-care, and explore strategies for integrating self-care into your daily lives. The session will also emphasise ethical obligations for self-care as part of sustaining professional competence and the ability to provide high-quality care to clients. 

Through facilitated discussion and interactive activities, you will reflect on your current self-care practices, identify potential barriers, and develop personalised self-care plans to support your long-term wellbeing. 

Understanding the role of psychotropic medications is an essential aspect of psychological practice, allowing psychologists to provide holistic care and support collaborative treatment planning. This session will introduce you to the fundamentals of psychopharmacology, focusing on the psychologist's role in recognising when medication may be beneficial, providing psychoeducation, and supporting clients in managing their treatment. 

You will learn about commonly prescribed medications for mental health concerns, including their purposes, potential effects, and key indicators for review. The session will also cover strategies for discussing medication use with clients, addressing concerns or misconceptions, and fostering adherence to prescribed regimens to optimise therapeutic outcomes. 

Facilitated discussions and applied learning activities will provide you with opportunities to consolidate your understanding and consider how to effectively integrate psychopharmacology knowledge into your practice.