Regional Training Groups
Our Regional Training Groups offer a safe and encouraging space for counsellors to come together for training and support. Counselling can be lonely work and RTGs provide an ideal opportunity to connect, while refreshing and learning new creative counselling skills, practising with peers to gain more confidence.
Groups usually meet up to six times a year for three to four hours, either in person or online, and are led by a Deep Release counsellor. Sessions include group supervision, with some groups offering optional additional supervision. Most members share a Christian faith, so spiritual issues and prayer may sometimes be explored, but people of all faiths and none are warmly welcomed.
Sessions usually cost £30-£40, with bursaries sometimes available. Refreshments, creative materials and CPD certificates are provided; participants are asked to bring lunch, pens and paper.
Current Regional Training Groups
Hampshire/Wiltshire (SO51)
Meets around 4-5 times a year on a Monday
Debbie Waldron and Liz Strain co-coordinate the Hampshire and Wiltshire Regional Training Group. Debbie brings extensive experience in counselling, supervision and Christian spirituality, while Liz is a UKCP-registered therapist, supervisor and Spiritual Director with a strong interest in creativity, the arts and spirituality. Both bring a wealth of experience and a shared love of creative, reflective practice.
Online Group via Zoom
Meets around 5-6 times a year on a Saturday
Hazel Barton has a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, a Diploma in Supervision, and is accredited with the Association of Christian Counsellors. She has been integrating Deep Release into her practice since 2004 and is an experienced trainer with both Deep Release and Barnabas Counselling Training. Hazel is married with two children and four grandchildren.
East London (E17)
Meets around 6-8 times a year on a Friday
Morag Barker has a Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy, a Diploma in Counselling & Theology and a L5 Certificate in Integrating Creative Interventions in Counselling. She is a trained Deep Release therapist, and you will often see her pop up on our training days as a Q&A host and at our conferences as a trainer. She has her own private practice based in Walthamstow, East London.
Kent (TN12)
Angie Petrie is a Deep Release counsellor with a diploma in Integrative Counselling and a Level 5 Certificate in Creative Counselling. She is an experienced group leader with a passion for creativity.
Worcestershire (Evesham)
Christine Cooper is coordinator of the Worcestershire Regional Training Group. She is originally from New York and has lived in the UK for the last 24 years. Christine holds a FdA in Counselling, a qualification in Supervision and works in her own private practice part-time alongside also working as a tutor/curriculum lead for counselling courses. Christine has a background working in education, in particular with those that struggled with a school setting which led her to go on to train as a counsellor. She has a love of all things creative, in her work and also in her downtime. Tie the two together and a creative counsellor emerged who sees the benefit it can have.
Norwich (NR5)
Meets around 5-6 times a year on a Saturday
The Norfolk Deep Release Regional Training Group takes place in New Costessy, Norwich, at the home of Dr Chris and Pauline Andrew. We warmly welcome all qualified counsellors to come and join us for encouragement, networking and support. The sessions include learning new creative skills to practise with your peers, and all training materials and a CPD certificate are included.