Saturday, July 12

The Link Centre Social Responsibility Conference

Join us for a day of exploring social responsibility through the lens of Belonging and connecting as a training community.

By The Link Centre

Date and time

Saturday, July 12 · 9am - 5:30pm GMT+1. Doors at 8:30am

Location

AgriFood Centre

Wales Farm Lane Lewes BN7 3AE United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Agenda

Workshop outlines

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Workshop 1

1a. Understanding and working with neurodivergence in the therapy room

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 experi...

1b: “Let’s get drunk and be somebody” Alcohol and Belonging

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 res...

1c: Understanding and supporting clients with Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS)

with Elyse Lake (She/Her) and Kayley Lawrence (She/Her)

Elyse and Kayley 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:...

1d: How do we do Belonging? A Neuro Linguistic Programming workshop

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 ...

2:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Workshop 2

2a: Empowering Change: Tackling systemic violence against women in clinical se

Jazz Rehal (She/Her) and Althea Cribb (She/Her)

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...

2b: The importance of cultural competency in therapy

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, co...

2c: ‘Belonging in Practice- co-creating kinship in relationship’

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? H...

2d: The Sex Workshop!

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 playf...

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM

Workshop 3

3a: Journey to Stillness: Tai Chi Chaun and Qigong workshop

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 gent...

3b: How does being a spiritually aware therapist enable greater 'Belonging'?

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 ...

3c: Singing circle

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 t...

3d: The wisdom of oppression

Nada Khader

About this event

Event lasts 8 hours 30 minutes
Free venue parking

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

Join us for the second annual Link Centre Social ResponsibilityConference 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.

The day will open with an insightful panel discussion on the concept of Belonging followed by a range of interactive workshops led by trainees, tutors and guest speakers. Workshop titles and guest speakers will be confirmed shortly.

Schedule:

08:45 - 09:10 Registration and light breakfast

09:10 - 09:30 Welcome and introductions by the Social Responsibility Committee Members

09:30 - 11:00 Panel discussion on Belonging with Will Daniel-Braham, Geoff Hoping and Nada Khader

11:00-11:30 Break

11:30 - 13:00 Workshop 1

1a: Understanding and working with neurodivergence in the therapy room with Gen Nugent and Dan Pearson

1b: “Let’s Get Drunk and Be Somebody” Alcohol and Belonging with Katy Jones

1c: "I was lost, then found, now I'm lost again..." - Understanding and supporting clients with Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) with Elyse Lake and Kayley Lawrence

1d: How do we do Belonging? A Neuro Linguistic Programming workshop with Mel Yea

13:00-14:15 Lunch

14:15 - 15:45 Workshop 2

2a: Empowering Change: Tackling systemic violence against women in clinical settings with Jazz Rehal and Althea Cribb

2b: The importance of cultural competency in therapy with Carole Carter (they/them) and Michele Okuda (she/her)

2c: ‘Belonging in Practice- co-creating kinship in relationship’- with Maria St Hilaire

2d: The Sex Workshop! with Liz Beresford (she/her) and Alan Wardle (he/him)

15:45-16:15 Break

16:15-17:00 - Workshop 3

3a: Tai Chi/Qigong workshop with Robert Bowley

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

3c: Singing circle with Dr Rachel Hopping

3d: The Wisdom of Oppression with Nada Khader

17:00-17:30 Closing Remarks from the Social Responsibility Committee Members

Further details on how to book into the workshops will be sent out by May.

What past attendees said about our 2024 Conference:

"Fantastic that trainee’s and newly qualified therapists are given a platform to be seen and heard bringing new voices and ideas into the profession."
"A one day conference didn’t feel overwhelming and looking forward to next year already!"
"Stunning location and premises with current key note speaker and workshops addressing real issues not often offered."
"Awesome networking and catching up with friends."

Venue: AgriFood Centre, Plumpton College, Wales Lane Farm, Plumpton, Sussex, BN7 3AE

Attendees: Should be qualified or trainee counsellors or psychotherapists.

Certificate: Attendees will receive a Link Centre Certificate of Attendance for 8.5 hours.

Catering: A light breakfast, lunch, afternoon cake and refreshments throughout the day. Dietary requirements will be accommodated where possible, and the menu options will be shared closer to the event.

Organized by

The Link Centre

£110