Home » The Link Centre Social Responsibility Conference – Workshop outlines

The Link Centre Social Responsibility Conference – Workshop outlines

‘Belonging’ – Where did I come from and where am I going?

Join us for the second annual Link Centre Social Responsibility Conference on 12th July 2025. This year’s theme invites us to explore social responsibility through the lens of Belonging. Drawing on the rich knowledge and diverse experiences within our training cohort, we will come together for a day of thought-provoking discussions, workshops and community-building.

Here are the workshop outlines:

11:30 – 13:00 Workshop 1 

1a: Understanding and working with neurodivergence in the therapy room with Gen Nugent (She/Her) and Dan Pearson (He/Him)

In this 90-minute experiential workshop, Gen and Dan will delve into the unique challenges and barriers that Neurodivergent individuals often encounter. With an emphasis on understanding these experiences, we will explore the relationship between the core Self and the sense of self, informed by recent research by Aldridge & Stillman. This exploration will focus on how these dynamics may manifest within a therapeutic setting.

By the end of the workshop, participants will gain valuable insights into how to support Neurodivergent clients effectively, utilising neuro-inclusive practices that cater to their specific needs.

1b: “Let’s get drunk and be somebody” Alcohol and Belonging with Katy Jones (She/Her)

Join Katy and she leads you through an engaging and thought-provoking workshop that delves into the complex relationship between alcohol, mental health, and our desire to belong. Through a mix of research, personal reflections, and interactive activities, we’ll explore alcohol’s role in our lives and in therapy.

What to Expect:

• Understanding the Impact of Alcohol: Discuss the statistics around alcohol’s contribution to poor mental health in the UK, both directly and indirectly.
• The Power of Advertising: How the drinks industry uses the message of belonging to sell alcohol.
• Social Influence: Reflect on the role alcohol plays in social settings—what it gives us and what it may take away.
• Therapy and Alcohol: Explore the importance of addressing alcohol use in therapy, even when it’s not the primary issue.
• Personal Reflection: Examine the normalization of drinking behaviors and how alcohol is often seen as an acceptable way to relax, compared to other substances.
• Alcohol Addiction and DSM: Discuss the limitations of the DSM diagnoses for alcohol addiction and how we define unhelpful drinking behaviors.
• Research Insights: Share findings from Katy’s primary research on women who stopped drinking and their experiences of belonging (or not) and stigma.
• Case Study: A real-life example of a client’s journey to understand her relationship with drinking and rediscovering a sense of belonging to herself.
• TA Model: A simple model to help practitioners understand their own and their clients’ relationships with alcohol.

Delivered through slides, music, small group discussions, and paired exercises, this workshop offers a comprehensive exploration of alcohol’s impact on mental health and belonging, and how as practitioners, we can help bring these conversations into the therapy room.

1c: “I was lost, then found, now I’m lost again…” – Understanding and supporting clients with Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) with Elyse Lake (She/Her) and Kayley Lawrence (She/Her)

Join Elyse and Kayley as they invite you to explore their personal journeys of experiencing the psychological impact of being involved in fundamentalist religious groups. Through their stories, they will explore:

•  Understanding RTS: What is Religious Trauma Syndrome, and how it affects one’s sense of identity, belonging, and mental health.
• The theme of belonging: How feelings of belonging within these groups were fostered, and the emotional toll of losing that sense of belonging when leaving.
• Psychological impact: The deep trauma that results from being part of an authoritarian or abusive religious group, and how it manifests in feelings of grief, shame, and loss.
• Common symptoms of RTS: Loss of self, dissociation, grief, shame, and autonomy, and how to recognize them in clients.
• Therapist considerations: How therapists can support clients who have experienced religious trauma, avoid re-traumatization, and create a safe space for healing.
• Resources and further learning: Insights into the most effective resources available to understand RTS and help clients reclaim their sense of self and autonomy.

You’ll hopefully leave this workshop with a greater awareness of the complexities of RTS and some ways to better support those who’ve experienced it.

1d: How do we do Belonging? A Neuro Linguistic Programming workshop with Mel Yea (She/Her)

Join Mel for this 90-minute experiential workshop, where you’ll explore the power of belonging through the lens of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Instead of just talking about belonging, you’ll experience it firsthand and understand how it shows up in our body and mind.

What to Expect:

• Anchoring Technique: Using NLP, we’ll anchor the sensation of belonging, understanding how the mind and body are deeply connected.
• Physiology of Belonging: What happens to our posture, breath, and movement when we feel safe and accepted, and how does it change when we don’t?
• Interactive Exercises: In pairs, you’ll share internal dialogue about not belonging, notice its impact on your body and emotions, and then shift to a more compassionate and empowering statement.
• Building Your Own Power of Belonging: You’ll leave with a physical sensation of belonging that you can anchor and carry with you into any space.

This workshop is a unique opportunity to connect with yourself, shift your internal dialogue, and leave feeling empowered to walk into any room with a strong sense of belonging—starting from within

14:15 – 15:45 Workshop 2

2a: Empowering Change: Tackling systemic violence against women in clinical settings with Jazz Rehal (She/Her) and Althea Cribb (She/Her) – Independent Domestic Abuse Consultant

This impactful workshop delves into the deep-rooted factors that shape women’s experiences in toxic and abusive relationships, exploring generational, familial, and cultural influences. We’ll examine how societal systems perpetuate violence against women and how, as clinicians, we can actively contribute to meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the Impact of Scripting: How early cultural and familial teachings shape our expectations of relationships, often leading us to unknowingly remain in emotionally harmful or abusive dynamics.
• Domestic Abuse as a National Crisis: In the UK, one in four women is affected by domestic abuse, which is now the leading cause of depression among women.
• Challenging Systemic Oppression: How oppressive societal systems contribute to the vulnerability of women, especially in times of rising right-wing politics, and how we can challenge and change these systems.
• Redefining Violence: Broadening our understanding of what constitutes violence, beyond physical abuse, to encompass the full spectrum of control, manipulation, and systemic oppression.

This workshop is designed for clinicians, advocates, and anyone seeking to better support women in navigating abusive relationships. Through education, dialogue, and actionable insights, we’ll explore how we can reshape our approach to support and empowerment, helping to challenge and dismantle the systems that perpetuate violence against women

2b: The importance of cultural competency in therapy with Carole Carter (They/Them) and Michele Okuda (She/Her)

Join Carole and Michele in this workshop on cultural competency, which aims to encourage both students and therapists to embrace cultural competency and enhance their ability to provide effective, compassionate care. By acknowledging and respecting clients’ cultural identities, therapists can offer more personalised treatment approaches, leading to more positive experiences and better outcomes for those they serve.

What to Expect:

• Cultural Competency: Understanding its importance in therapy and how it can improve client-therapist relationships.
• Personalised Treatment: How cultural awareness leads to more tailored, respectful, and effective interventions.
• Positive Outcomes: How embracing cultural identities in therapy fosters more successful treatment and deeper connections with clients.

Join us to explore how cultural competency can transform your therapeutic practice, creating an environment of understanding, respect, and healing for all clients.

2c: ‘Belonging in Practice- co-creating kinship in relationship’–  with Maria St Hilaire (She/Her)

In this workshop, Maria will encourage you to explore the powerful concept of belonging and how systems of bias often feel out of our control and if we accept this, how do we as therapists respond? How can we co-create a sense of kinship and belonging in the moments and spaces where we have influence?

What to Expect:

• Personal Reflection on Belonging: We’ll begin by defining what belonging means to you and share personal experiences of where you’ve felt you belonged – and where you haven’t.
• The Core Need for Belonging: Delve into how the need for belonging impacts us cognitively, behaviourally, and emotionally.
• Isolation and its Impact: Discuss the toxicity of isolation, its effects on the body, and how it influences overall well-being.
• Marginalised Groups: We will briefly explore how belonging is experienced by marginalized groups, and the unique challenges they face when attempting to belong.
• The Five Pillars of Belonging: Explore the five pillars – being welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected – and how the absence of one can affect the sense of belonging.
• Creating Belonging in Therapy: Share ideas on how to co-create a sense of belonging in the therapy room, particularly with clients from marginalized groups, by exploring identity, power dynamics, and confronting stereotypes.

By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with practical tips and ideas to foster a sense of belonging in your therapeutic practice, develop thoughts around your clients feeling welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected.

2d: The Sex Workshop! with Liz Beresford (She/Her) and Alan Wardle (He/Him)

Sex is a topic often left unspoken in both therapy training and practice, yet it plays a central role in many people’s sense of identity, belonging, and overall well-being. In this engaging and playful workshop, we’ll create a space to explore the challenges and opportunities of talking about sex in the therapy room.

What to expect:

• Reflecting on barriers: We’ll explore the personal, cultural, and societal factors that make it difficult for many of us to openly discuss sex, both as therapists and clients.
• Ideas and tools: Learn some ways to incorporate sex-positive discussions into therapy, aiming to create an environment for clients to share more openly.
• Fun & play: Our approach is lighthearted, ensuring the workshop feels enjoyable and engaging. With a small group of 20 participants, we want to create a space for honest conversations and learning.

Join Liz and Alan for a workshop that blends learning and reflection with creativity and fun, aimed to build your confidence in having conversations with clients about sex. We hope you’ll leave with fresh insights and a new perspective on this vital topic.

16:15-17:00 – Workshop 3 

3a: Journey to Stillness: Tai Chi Chaun and Qigong workshop with Robert Bowley (He/Him)

In this workshop, we will explore the ancient healing wisdom of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong, integrating movement, breath, and mindfulness to deepen our connection with the present moment.

Through gentle, flowing movements, you’ll cultivate a heightened internal awareness, allowing the mind and body to harmonize. As this awareness deepens, it naturally leads to a state of profound Stillness and Tranquility—a space of renewal, clarity, and inner strength.

Designed for counsellors, this practice offers powerful tools to support personal well-being while enhancing your ability to be fully present with clients. No prior experience needed—just an open heart and mind.

3b: How does being a spiritually aware therapist enable greater ‘Belonging’? with Olivia Shone

This workshop invites you to explore your own attitudes and experiences with spirituality and how cultivating spiritual awareness as a therapist can enhance your ability to foster belonging. Through short talks, group discussions, collaborative exercises, and spiritual reflection, we’ll explore how spirituality helps us feel connected and create a sense of belonging, both personally and in therapy.

What to Expect:

• A held discussion on spirituality, belonging, and its role in therapy.
• Space for reflection on your own feelings about spirituality to identify any barriers or biases, followed by group sharing.
• Group Collaboration: Using a creative “mind balloon” exercise to explore and define spirituality in a collaborative way.
• In-Depth Exploration: A deeper dive into various understandings of spirituality—existential, wellbeing, therapeutic, and religious—and how it helps us feel connected to ourselves, others, the earth, and a transcendent ‘other’. We’ll also explore spirituality from a TA perspective, including concepts like Physis, Inner Core, Autonomy, and the therapeutic goals of spirituality.
• Spiritual Practice – Indoor: Mindfulness with spiritual awareness to ground your practice.
• Spiritual Practice – Outdoor: If weather permits, a grounding practice in nature (or an alternative indoor practice if needed).

By the end of this workshop, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how being spiritually aware enhances your ability to foster a sense of belonging for yourself and your clients.

3c: Singing circle with Dr Rachel Hopping (she/her)

Counselling and psychotherapy theory and practice all too often prioritise individuals and talking to attend to the wounds of our clients. This neglects the power of many ancient healing traditions that cultivate the role of the collective in healing through belonging. This workshop will use the ancient healing practice of a singing circle to provide participants with an experience of belonging as it emerges through the collective.

Come and join is for what has the potential to be a magical experience for participants, using voice, song and circle to commune with our hearts rather than our heads. Absolutely no previous singing experience or ability to hold a note necessary. 

3d: The wisdom of oppression with Nada Khader

TBC