Newsletter: June 2026
This months top news
Excitement and wonder!
May has been such an exciting month! Our Level 7 Certificate, Creative Clinical Supervision course was sold out. 14 wonderful students began their journey with Susannah.
We had an amazing time at Geek Therapy with Josue Cardona who explored the Affinity Model of Geek Therapy. Embracing our clients interests in geek culture through games, fathoms, films etc., to build connection, deepen engagement and create meaningful therapeutic conversations.
As previously mentioned, having our courses accredited by an independent external awarding organisation, CPCAB, was very important to us. We are delighted to have recently received our Independent Verification Report for our first cohort of qualifying Relational Play and Creative Therapy for Young People students.
Reading the assessor’s comments:
“Learners’ work is creative and of a high standard and was a pleasure to verify”,
“The learners’ work was fantastic to review, and it was evident that a lot of time, thought, and care had gone into the pieces of work”, and “It is evident that there has been a lot of work invested by both the learners and tutors alike”
We feel incredibly proud, not only of our students, but also of what we have achieved and continue to strive for with everyone who learns with us.
We would also like to send our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has emailed recently asking for new dates for many of our courses. We are delighted to let you know that dates are now available for both the Relational Creative Therapy with Adults course and the Relational Play and Creative Therapy for Young People course.
Lastly, we are delighted to launch a Book Club for Therapists. This is a wonderful way to explore theory and gain deeper insight to support our practice. If you would like to know more or join the group meeting on 9 June 2026, please email [email protected] for more information.
Coming soon...
ONLY ONE SPACE REMAINING
Level 6 Certificate in Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work
Starting 18 July 2026
We are delighted to share that only two spaces remain on our Level 6 Certificate in Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work course beginning this July.
This specialist training has been designed for Play Therapists, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Social Work Assistants, Foster Carers, and professionals supporting displaced children and young people.
The course provides a clear and ethical framework for supporting children in care, adoption, or displacement through creative therapeutic life story work. Students will explore how to help children develop a concrete and sequential narrative of their life experiences, strengthening identity, emotional wellbeing, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Grounded in trauma-embedded and relational practice, the course explores attachment, developmental stages, communication, and the impact of displacement and loss. Across four practical modules, students will develop confidence in planning and delivering creative life story work sessions that safely support children in exploring and understanding their experiences.
Developed in consultation with practitioners and adoptive families, this training offers both therapeutic insight and practical skills to support meaningful, life-changing work with children and young people.
Course Dates
18 & 19 July 2026
19 & 20 September 2026
17 & 18 October 2026
14 & 15 November 2026
Quarterly tutorials: dates and times will be agreed with the cohort.
If you would like to secure one of the remaining places, we encourage you to get in touch soon.
NOW ENROLLING
Level 7 Diploma Relational Play and Creative Therapy Children and Young People – Dubai – Crewe – Bristol
We are excited to announce new intakes for our unique and dynamic Play Therapy training courses, with new cohorts commencing in Dubai in July 2026, and Crewe and Bristol in October 2026.
This inspiring Level 7 Diploma offers an in-depth, relational and creative approach to therapeutic work with children and young people, combining theory, clinical practice, creativity, and reflective learning.
Accredited by CPCAB, the course is designed for professionals who are passionate about supporting the emotional wellbeing and therapeutic needs of children and young people.
We would be incredibly grateful if you could help us spread the word about our courses and upcoming Information Events.
For more information about this dynamic course, course dates, venues, and Information Events, please visit:
https://schoolofpact.com/level-7-diploma/
Level 6 Certificate Relational Play and Creative Therapy Young People’s course
New Course Dates Announced
Eileen will be delivering our Level 6 Certificate in Relational Play and Creative Therapy for Young People begins on 19 September 2026.
Now entering its fourth cohort, this specialist programme continues to support qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, play therapists and allied professionals developing advanced skills in relational and creative work with adolescents and young people.
Grounded in contemporary humanistic, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice, the course places strong emphasis on adolescent development, attachment theory and the therapeutic use of self. It is designed to strengthen clinical confidence and support practitioners in applying theory directly to practice with young people aged 12–18 years, and up to 25 years for care-experienced young people and those with special educational needs.
Delivered over seven training days and supported by 60 hours of supervised clinical practice, this qualification offers structured learning focused on relational depth, creative interventions and reflective clinical practice.
Places are now open. Early booking is recommended as previous cohorts have filled quickly.
We look forward to welcoming you this autumn.
Our Level 6 Certificate in Relational Play and Creative Therapies for Young People is independently accredited by CPCAB, the UK awarding organisation for counselling and psychotherapy qualifications.
19th September Online.
10th – 11th October Face to face
24th – 25th October face to face
21st – 22nd November Face to face
For more information go to our website: https://schoolofpact.com/pq-courses/
Level 6 Certificate Relational Creative Therapy with Adults
Following the success of our first Adult course we are pleased to announce the dates for our second post qualifying course.
To be held in Bristol
3rd – 4th October
7th – 8th November
19th – 20th December
9th – 10th January
The Level 6 Certificate in Relational Creative Arts Therapy for Adults is an innovative and inspiring course designed specifically to deepen your therapeutic work with adult clients. Building on your existing experience, this programme supports you to work ethically, creatively, and confidently with adults experiencing trauma, neurodivergence, attachment difficulties, and complex emotional or relational challenges.
Grounded in a humanistic, client-centred approach, the course integrates talking therapy with creative arts practice, drawing on the work of Rogers, Jung, Freud, Bowlby, Siegel, Porges, and others. A strong emphasis is placed on developing the therapeutic alliance with adults, recognising this relationship as central to meaningful and lasting change.
You will explore how creative media such as art, clay, sand trays, movement, story, and music can support adult clients to express thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to articulate verbally. Working with metaphor and symbolism helps bypass the inner critic and access deeper insight and self-awareness.
Blending experiential creative practice with rich theory, this course keeps the adult client at the heart of the therapeutic process, supporting growth, understanding, and transformation.
For more go to our website: https://schoolofpact.com/pq-courses/
Psychological First Aid. A new CPD
6 hrs, 10.00 – 5.00 on the 19/07/2026
Become a first responder!
Heart Centred Psychological First Aid. (PFA)
In a world where we are surrounded by events that psychologically injure us this 6 hour CPD course will equip you to respond to children, young people and families. This experiential course will enable you to connect to your inner resources, understand the steps of PFA , and how it can be applied in practice through exploring real life scenarios.
Check out this brand new course on our website
https://schoolofpact.com/courses/
This course is facilitated by Dr Carolina Herbert
Consultant, Trainer (PGCE), Clinical Supervisor (UKCP), Integrative Arts Psychotherapist (UKCP). MA, PhD.
Carolina is an Arts Psychotherapist, trainer, supervisor, and consultant with over 25 years of experience working with children, young people, families, communities, and organisations across the UK, Asia, and international humanitarian contexts.
Something to ponder on...
Why build a den?
When I was young, children just ran out of the back door and down the street to the park or the woods or the railway line to play. I had a little group (gang) of friends and we would spend hours in the wild. We would fish for newts in the stream, ride our bikes in the fields, play in the building sites, (there were fantastic sand pits) but one of my favourite things to do was to build dens in the woods. Sticks, branches, leafs, string, rope, plastic bags, anything that would create a place. A sanctuary. A secret. An adventure. An identity. Somewhere that was free from adults. A place to make our own rules. There is a certain magic that is held within the den. The smell of earth and vegetation combined with the faint echo of whispered secrets and promises.
And even now when I see one that has been made and abandoned I am drawn to it. There is a pull… a lure… I’m like a fish swimming around a baited hook.
To make a den is to annex a small part of the world just for you. A child owns the space that is their den no matter whose land or house it is in. To have that sense of having a place in a world that has kept you at arms length is a joyous thing.
During our Level 7 Diploma course we explored the power of the den and here are some poems that our Level 7 Diploma students were inspired to write as they sat in the dens that they had made. Enjoy.
The Magical Den
The magical den where you and I hide
You count to ten and I will climb inside
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10!
Ready or not here I come!
What can I see?
BANG!!! BOOM!!! POP!!!
It’s falling down…
STOP!!!
By Dee and Amy
The Hideaway
Under the dinosaur canopy
2 little girls hid away
from all to see
Playing cafes and
making each other
laugh
They had great fun
in their hideaway
by the sea
The Den
The den is cozy
The den is warm
The den is shelter and calm
The den is all the things I want
It keeps me safe from harm
When I am in the den I feel
Like the world belongs to me
Nobody tells me what to do
How to think or how to be
If I could make the world a den
I’d do so every day
So everyone could feel this good
As they do when they can play
By Alice
Our Den
Secret place
Sweaty hands
Dark space
Cosy tent
Exciting possibilities
Escape in imagination
Hidden from the world
Adventure in your mind
Endless opportunities
By Lucy and Ellen
The Hideaway
Hidden in a corner
Deep in the woods
Is a fantastical café
That sells something good
A world of imagination
With gallons of tea
Plus deliciously yummy food
Just for my friend and me
Feasting in our secret place
Giggling and free
Everything feels so good
Safe in our den
Just my friend and me
By Nicola
The Den
In the warm cosy nook
We giggle in safety
Making memories and mischief
With secret challenges
We can see you
But you can’t look in
As we hide from the world
By Lauren and Jenny
Spotlight
Karen Durkin has written a book titled Creative Supervision – 50 Creative activities for Reflective Practice grew out of my own journey alongside practitioners sitting with them in moments of uncertainty, insight, and growth, and noticing how much richer supervision becomes when it feels alive and creative.
My years as a primary school teacher first sparked my love of metaphor, imagination, and experiential learning, and those threads have stayed with me as I moved into clinical work and supervision. Over time, I found myself developing and sharing simple activities that helped unlock reflection in a more natural, human way with approaches that felt both grounding and gently transformative.
This book is a collection of those ideas, shaped by my Play Therapy training at Canterbury Christ Church University and by the many practitioners who have trusted me to share their reflective space. I wrote it because I wanted supervision to feel less like a task to complete, and more like a space to think, feel, and grow with curiosity, compassion, and creativity at its heart.
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