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.

• Tuesday 4 November 2025, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).
• Thursday 5 March 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).
• Tuesday 30 June 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).

This course costs:

• General public: £110
• Concession rate: £75

A concession rate is available to the following:

• York St John University Counselling students.
• York St John Communities Centre Placement Students.
• There is a limit of 3 concession places available for each date that the course runs.

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

Domestic Abuse and Mental Health course

“I highly recommend the training. It was an incredible learning experience.”

“Jeannette’s knowledge and insight into the subject was incredibly useful and thought provoking.”

“It felt relational, inciteful and delivered with compassion and honestly.”

“It was really useful to gain further understanding of Domestic Abuse, its theory, how it can happen, and the impact on mental health. I went away with greater understanding and more awareness to my own personal reflections on the subject area too.”

• 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 13 November 2025, 3.00pm to 6.30pm (York St John University Campus)
• Tuesday 24 February 2026, 2.00pm to 5.30pm (Online)
• Wednesday 29 April 2026, 10.00am to 1.30pm (York St John University Campus)
• Friday 12 June 2026, 10.00am to 1.30pm (Online)

This course costs:

• General public: £55
• Concession rate: £35

A concession rate is available to the following:

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

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

Introduction to Menopause

“This was an excellent training session - very engaging, warm and supportive, with wonderful open dialogue about such an important topic.”

“Found this course so helpful to pass info and knowledge especially nutrition to employees going through difficult times.”

“This was an excellent training session - very engaging, warm and supportive, with wonderful open dialogue about such an important topic.”

“The session was really interesting, led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable trainer who fostered a really engaging, open and safe environment in which attendees felt they could actively engage in discussions and share experiences and good practice.”

“Fantastic course! I would highly recommend it to ALL organisations where women work.”

“Very informative session too which helped improve my knowledge and understanding and gave me useful ideas and suggestions to inform working practices and the ways in which we support staff.”

• 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.

• Monday 24 November 2025, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus)
• Monday 2 February 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus)
• Wednesday 22 April 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus)
• Monday 15 June 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus)

This course costs:

• General public: £110
• Concession rate: £75

A concession rate is available to the following:

• York St John University Counselling students.
• York St John Communities Centre Placement Students.
• There is a limit of 4 concession places available for each date that the course runs.

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

Bereavement Awareness

“Stef was a great facilitator to the course and was really easy to understand.”

“Stef is lovely, welcoming and encouraging of different ideas.”

“…how well discussion was facilitated. It was really interesting hearing the ideas and experiences of others.”

• Develop a True Understanding of Neurodiversity: Gain clarity on what neurodiversity really means and how it shapes experiences in daily life and work.
• Recognise the Strengths of Neurodivergent Minds: Discover the unique talents, perspectives, and innovations neurodivergent individuals bring.
• Challenge Misconceptions and Bias: Learn to identify and unlearn common myths, while fostering a more inclusive mindset.
• Build Empathy Through Experience: Engage in practical activities that help you step into the lived experiences of neurodivergent people.
• Create Inclusive, Supportive Spaces: Take away practical tools and strategies to ensure your workplace and services are welcoming for all.
• Champion Neurodiversity in Practice: Develop confidence in celebrating, valuing, and supporting neurodivergent employees and communities.

• Suitable for managers, line managers, and educators across schools, colleges, and universities.
• Relevant for health, nursing, and counselling professionals supporting neurodivergent individuals.
• Beneficial for council and community staff working directly with diverse groups.
• Open to neurodivergent individuals themselves, as well as anyone passionate about creating change and fostering inclusivity.
• No prior experience required - just a willingness to learn and engage.
• The training combines theory, lived experience, real-life scenarios, individual reflection, pair and group activities, and practical tools for creating more inclusive spaces.

As a neurodivergent practitioner who has experienced first-hand the challenges of mainstream education, Stef delivers training that is not only educational but also authentic, engaging, and impactful.

With over 27 years’ experience working across diverse communities, Stef brings both deep professional insight and powerful lived experience to her neurodiversity training. A qualified educator, youth worker, and Dramatherapist, Stef holds a PGCE (Post-16), a postgraduate qualification in Dramatherapy, and a BA (Hons) in Communication Arts/Drama.

• Wednesday 11 March 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).
• Thursday 4 June 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).
• Monday 13 July 2026, 10.00am to 5.00pm (York St John University Campus).

This course costs:

• General Public: £110
• Concession rate: £75

A concession rate is available to the following:

• York St John University Counselling students.
• York St John Communities Centre Placement Students.
• There is a limit of 4 concession places available for each date that the course runs.

Further information and sign up coming soon.