Models of Assessment and Diagnosis: How the Mental Health Care System Understands Clients with Mental Illness (Online – 6 hours)
In order to effectively navigate and support our clients through the mental health care system, it is vital for counsellors and psychotherapists to familiarise themselves with the modes and methods employed in psychiatry to assess and diagnose ‘mental illness’. This is essential if we are to comprehend the language of psychiatry and collaborate with our mental health colleagues effectively to support our clients. In addition, counsellors and psychotherapists also need to appreciate the philosophical and historical assumptions that inform this medicalised approach, which assess and treat emotional and psychological disturbances as ‘diseases’. This will enable us to develop a critical appreciation of the narratives that are being used to define our clients’ experiences and thus position ourselves ethically and safely in relation to this.
What is more, core counselling and psychotherapy training does not sufficiently equip us to recognise severe and significant mental health difficulties as they present in our practice. Without the development of these skills we are not sufficiently able to monitor our clients’ mental wellbeing, take the necessary steps to safeguard our clients and our work or collaborate effectively with our mental health colleagues so that our clients can access the additional care and support that they might need.
This one-day online workshop has been designed to develop participants knowledge and awareness of a range of assessments and to support the development of the skills required for recognising mental health difficulties and accessing appropriate treatment for our clients.
Workship aims
- To provide an overview of a range of psychiatric and psychological assessments and critically appraise their theoretical differences
- To consider the place of safeguarding in all forms of assessment
- To critically appraise current systems of diagnosis and classification of mental illness
- To consider the role of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in the provision of collaborative care and how to support clients to access appropriate services including how and when to refer
- To consider how Counsellors and Psychotherapists recognise complex, significant an enduring mental illness in their practice
- To gain an appreciation of the current debates around evidence based research practice and treatment
Mental Health Familiarisation Placement
This training has been designed to meet the aims of the ‘A Range of Models of Assessment’ component of the UKCP’s requirements for a Mental Health Familiarisation Placement. It can be attended as a standalone workshop or as part of the complete Mental Health Familiarisation Placement Series being delivered by The Link Centre between Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026.
Presenter: Dr Rachel Hopping, BA (Hons), PG Dip. Int Psych, PG Dip Sup., DCPsych
Dr Rachel Hopping is a Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist who has been utilising an integrative relational model to work with clients presenting with a range of issues in both private practice and the NHS, including 10 years’ experience working with complex presentations in an NHS complex trauma treatment unit.
Since completing her doctorate, Rachel has developed a keen interest in practice-based psychotherapy research as a means to validate unique and nuanced therapeutic work as it occurs within the therapy room. In particular she is keen to encourage clinicians to consider ways in which they may develop themselves as researchers and thus contribute to the evidence-base with work that challenges the dominance of manualised therapeutic approaches.
Delivery: Live and interactive via Zoom. Sessions will not be recorded.
Cost: £110 per workshop. A discount of 10% will be applied to group bookings of all four workshops for a total of £396. Contact admin@thelinkcentre.co.uk to book. Link Centre Members please book via admin@thelinkcentre.co.uk
Participant numbers: Spaces are limited to 40 participants.
Recognition: A Link Centre Certificate of Attendance for the number of hours completed.
Pre-Course Requirements: Participants should be qualified or trainee Counsellors or Psychotherapists.
Fee:
£110 per workshop (Group booking discount available)Booking and Dates
6th March 2026
BOOK THIS COURSE
Upcoming Dates:
Friday 6th March 2026
09.30 – 16.30 (With a one hour lunch break)
Payment Options:
Individual workshops are charged upon booking. Options to make a group booking will be sent once an individual workshop has been booked.
£110 per workshop. A discount of 10% will be applied to group bookings of all four workshops for a total of £396. Contact admin@thelinkcentre.co.uk to book. Link Centre Members please contact the office to book.
Cancellation Policy:
50% refund will be given for cancellations with more than 7 days notice.
Location:
Online Event (Zoom)
Tutors:
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