Events and training

• Deepen Your Understanding of Domestic Abuse: Explore key psychological theories behind abuse, how it happens, and its impact on mental health.
• Enhance Your Ability to Support Recovery: Learn how to positively support individuals in rebuilding confidence, self-esteem, and trust.
• Understand the Barriers to Seeking Help: Recognise how abuse-related trauma affects decision-making and access to services.
• Improve Service Accessibility: Identify ways to reduce 'did not attend' (DNA) rates and make services more inclusive and attractive.
• Strengthen Supportive Relationships: Discover strategies to help individuals feel safe, heard, and engaged with services.
• Apply Research-Based Approaches: Gain insights into best practices for supporting survivors in both professional and personal contexts.

• Suitable for professionals and trainees working with domestic abuse survivors, including therapists, healthcare workers, and support staff.
• Open to non-professionals supporting someone affected by domestic abuse.
• No prior experience required.
• Combines theory, practice, case studies, group work, and personal reflection.

The workshop will be led by Dr Jeannette Roddy, PhD. Jeannette is a qualified counsellor/psychotherapist and is an accredited member of BACP. She has been working with and conducting research into client experiences of domestic abuse counselling and mental health support for the last 15 years. She is the author of ‘Counselling and Psychotherapy after Domestic Violence: a client view of what helps recovery’ (Palgrave, 2015), ‘A competency framework for domestic violence counselling’ (with Lynne Gabriel in 2019), and editor and main contributor to ‘Working with client experiences of domestic abuse: a handbook for counsellors, psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners’.

After a career in higher education, she is used to teaching, yet she describes her teaching style as ‘Essentially pragmatic'. "What matters most to me is helping people to understand and to support their clients more effectively. I find exploring the reality of situations that can occur with hints and tips for how to respond can be as helpful to people as the theory.

• Thursday 5 June 2025, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).
• Tuesday 4 November 2025, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).

This course costs £100.

For further information and to sign up, please visit the below webpage.

Domestic Abuse and Mental Health course

• Build Confidence in Working with Risk: Develop a deeper understanding of how to work with suicidal clients in a therapeutic setting.
• Explore Your Own Perspectives: Reflect on your personal thoughts and feelings around suicide to enhance your self-awareness and practice.
• Integrate Latest Research and Frameworks: Learn about current guidance on suicidal thinking and how to apply it within therapy.
• Create a Supportive Space: Gain practical tools to support both your clients and yourself while navigating risk.
• Move Beyond Risk Management: Understand that working with suicidal thoughts is part of therapy, rather than something to simply manage.
• Enhance Therapeutic Engagement: Learn ways to actively support clients experiencing suicidal thoughts within the therapeutic relationship.

• Designed for counsellors, psychotherapists, and therapeutic coaches, qualified or in training.
• Includes a formal presentation with interactive group discussions.
• A safe, facilitated space for reflection. Personal disclosure is not required.

Professor Andrew Reeves is an experienced counsellor, psychotherapist, social worker and educator with over 35 years of practice in mental health and counselling. Andrew was a Trustee for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for 6 years and was chair of the BACP for 5 years. He is also the Chair of the York St John University Communities Centre Advisory Board and is a Professor in Counselling Professions and Mental Health at the University of Chester.

Andrew combines academic expertise with real-world therapeutic insight, making his training workshops engaging, practical, and deeply informative. He has published extensively on counselling practice, ethics, and suicide prevention, and his compassionate, evidence-based approach empowers practitioners to build confidence and enhance their skills. As a dynamic presenter, he creates a supportive learning environment, encouraging open discussion and personal growth.

Thursday 26 June 2025, 1.30pm to 4.45pm (Online)

• General Public: £65
• Concession rate: £40

A concession rate is available to the following:

• York St John University Counselling students
• York St John University Psychology students
• York St John University Communities Centre Placement Students

For further information and to sign up, please visit the below webpage.

Working with suicide risk

• Understand Menopause: Gain insight into the signs and symptoms of peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause.
• Clearer Communication: Learn the correct terminology and appropriate language to confidently discuss menopause.
• Explore Health Impacts: Discover the long-term effects if menopause isn't addressed early, and how proactive measures can make a positive difference.
• Personal Reflection: Take time to explore what you need to support your menopause journey and create a better experience.
• Build Awareness: Raise awareness across your team about menopause, helping others recognise what to look out for and fostering open conversations around this essential topic.
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Normalising these discussions can reduce instances of women taking sick leave without feeling able to explain the real reason.
• Review & Improve Policies: Identify what support your organisation offers menopausal women and gather feedback to improve or implement policies that better meet their needs.

This training empowers both individuals and workplaces to create a supportive and informed environment for all.

• Training will be half a day - CPD UK has accredited I point for each hour completed, and candidates will receive a certificate after completion.
• The training course is interactive, it includes individual, pair and group work and there is space for open group discussions. 
• Inclusive for all and will give a space in time that is needed to make a better work environment for a woman during the menopause journey.

The course will be facilitated by Stef Bricklebank, who is a freelance practitioner for York Women's Counselling Service (YWCS) and at present is leading a research programme alongside York St John, YWCS and the community regarding menopause. Stef is also the facilitator for the Menopause Peer Support Group based at YSJ Communities Centre.

Stef has over 26 years' experience of working with people within diverse communities. With a PGCE in the post 16 sector, Stef is a qualified youth worker, has a postgrad in Dramatherapy and BA (Hons) in Communication Arts/Drama.

Based in York, Stef is an educator and therapeutic facilitator offering 1 to 1, group sessions and motivational speeches.

Stef's facilitative approach creates a comfortable and supportive space for participants to share, learn and explore with others. Stef's dedication to helping individuals achieve personal growth shines through in her engaging, positive, and practical sessions.

• Thursday 22 May 2025, 9.30am to 1.00pm (Online)
• 26 June 2025, 1.00pm to 4.30pm (Online)
• This course costs £50

For further information and to sign up, please visit the below webpage.

Introduction to Menopause

• Recognise Key Signs: Understand the signs and symptoms of bereavement to look out for in children and young people (CYP).
• Effective Communication: Learn the appropriate language to use when supporting a grieving child or young person.
• Real-Life Scenarios: Engage in practical exercises to explore real-world situations and develop effective responses to better support CYP.
• Improved Practices: Identify and implement better working methods for your school or college to enhance the support system for bereaved CYP.
• Focused Training Session: Spend a dedicated morning deepening your understanding of bereavement and learning how to provide the right support for both CYP and yourself as a professional.

This training equips you with essential skills to build a compassionate and supportive environment for children and young people facing bereavement.

• Training will be a full day. This course is accredited by CPDUK and is worth 3 CPD credits. On completion of the course you will receive a certificate.
• The training course is interactive, it includes individual, pair and group work and there is space for open group discussions.
• Inclusive for all and will give a space in time that is needed to make a better education setting for a bereaved child or young person.

The course will be facilitated by Stef Bricklebank, has 26 years of experience of designing, facilitating and evaluating groups. Stef is a freelance practitioner for Bereaved Children Support York (BCSY) and through her work she has developed this training and thus had it certified by CPD UK.

Stef has over 26 years' experience of working with people within diverse communities. With a PGCE in the post 16 sector, Stef is a qualified youth worker, has a postgrad in Dramatherapy and BA (Hons) in Communication Arts/Drama.
Based in York, Stef is an educator and therapeutic facilitator offering 1 to 1, group sessions and motivational speeches.

Stef's facilitative approach creates a comfortable and supportive space for participants to share, learn and explore with others. Stef's dedication to helping individuals achieve personal growth shines through in her engaging, positive, and practical sessions.

• Wednesday 21 May 2025, full day, at York St John University Campus.
• Monday 16 June, full day, at York St John University Campus.
• This course costs £100.

For further information and to sign up, please visit the below webpage.

Bereavement Awareness