Training Courses for Professionals
I run a range of training opportunities for professionals in the helping professions.
From September I will be running a short online - 6 session course - for professionals who wish to work with bereaved parents and siblings. The full details will be posted on Eventbrite and Onlinevents once they have been confirmed.
Other training courses can be found here: If you're looking for a CPD/Supervision group then please click here.
Becoming an Inspirational Trainer
A Series of 3-Hour Online Workshops with
Dr Cathy McQuaid TSTA(P)
Dates for 2024-25
This is a series of workshops is for trainers of counselling and psychotherapy, and for PTSTAs or those thinking of becoming a PTSTA, who really want to know more about what it means to be a trainer of counsellors and psychotherapists. We will explore the essential requirements and attributes of an effective trainer, consider learning theory, presentation skills, setting and marking assignments, managing group processes and dealing with challenging students, developing your own personal style and philosophy of training.
The workshops are for anyone who is at any stage of their development as a trainer. You may be a beginner or already have a few hundred hours of training experience.
Each online session will offer a mix of theory, practice and experiential work. In each workshop Cathy will be drawing on the findings from her research and her experience as a trainer with over 20 years experience to enable you to become the trainer you want to be.
Group Introductions and contracting. How to Write a Lesson Plan.
Saturday 14th September 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
This is the first seminar in a series for trainers and those thinking of becoming a trainer of counsellors and psychotherapists.
This first session will enable the participants to begin to get to know each other and to contract for their learning for this and future seminars.
Once complete the topic will be 'how to write a lesson plan'. This session assumes no prior knowledge and will enable the participants to understand the stages in devising a lesson plan. By the end of the session the participants will be able to write a lesson plan for a topic of their choice.
How to use Learning contracts with trainees/students.
Saturday 12th October 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
This workshop will focus on how you can use learning contracts to facilitate your trainees learning and development. Using the contracting started in session one you will develop your own learning contract for this series of seminars.
A basic introduction to Student Centred Learning.
Saturday 16th November 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
Student centred learning came from Carl Rogers, it is one of the most useful theories to consider when running training sessions. We will explore the key components of student centred learning and you will discover how student-centred learning could work for you.
A basic introduction to Transformational Learning.
Saturday 14th December 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
Transformation learning is probably one of the most exciting theories to use and works especially will for those who are training others to be counsellors or psychotherapists. Come and find out what transformational learning can do for you and how you can use it with your students.
All workshops are interactive, with teaching input from Cathy, small and large group discussions and practical exercises to facilitate learning.
Confidence Building.
Saturday 15th January 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
Standing up in front of a group of trainees is not necessarily an easy thing to do. This workshop will help you to consider your own needs as a trainer and discover what helps you to feel confident. So come along and bring all your questions, uncertainties, worries and concerns and leave with answers, probably more questions, and a plan for helping you feel more confident in your ability to be a trainer.
Presentation skills.
Saturday 8th February 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
This workshop will explore different ways of getting your message across to your trainees. We will experiment with different methods and make links to different learning theories. There will be an opportunity to practice your own skills and get feedback.
Devising and marking assessments for students
Saturday 8th March 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
Being a trainer not only involves 'teaching' the students but also involves devising strategies for assessment. How do you know your students/trainees have learned anything from your training?
This workshop will help you to consider what evaluation strategies you wish to use and how you can devise appropriate assessments for your students/trainees.
Additional learning theories.
Saturday 12th April 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
We have already briefly explored student centred learning and transformational learning. In this workshop we will look at the work of Kolb (Learning Cycle), Honey and Mumford (Learning Styles) and Knowles (Adult Learning Theory).
Using ice-breakers and Group exercises.
Saturday 10th May 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
This workshop will experiment with and explore different ways of using ice-breakers in your training sessions. We will also consider how to create and use experiential exercises in your own training sessions. So, bring along a topic and get some ideas.
Managing Group Processes and Dealing with Challenging Students.
Saturday 14th June 2024, 10:00 - 13:00
Group dynamics are fascinating and even more so on counselling and psychotherapy training courses. They can be enlightening, inspiring and challenging. They can also be abusive, threatening and downright scary. How were the process groups on your training run?
This seminar considers the stages of group formation, what to expect at each stage and how to define your role as the trainer/facilitator of the training group.
We will also consider how to deal with challenging students - they may be challenging because they challenge us as the trainer, they challenge their peers or indeed both. What is the meaning of a challenging student and how you can best manage them and yourself.
Cost: £75 per seminar.
Developing your own Personal Style and Philosophy of Training - Training Intensive
This workshop will be a 3-4 day intensive and will help you to define and refine your own philosophy and personal style as a trainer of counsellors and/or psychotherapists. There will be opportunities for: Live supervised teaching. One to one tutorials. Mock TTA exams. Theory discussions plus much more - the workshop will be tailored to the needs of the group participants. Participants can be at any stage of their training journey.
When: July 2024 Venue and Dates TBC.
Further enquiries: Please contact Cathy on 07428 551163 or via the contact form.
There are currently no training courses in this category.
