CPD Workshops
Over the last 24 years, CMCS has established itself as a prime provider of continuing professional development training which focuses on issues and needs in ministers and their families.
Each year we arrange a Saturday
Workshop, repeated on several dates to enable as many as possible to attend.
These Workshops are open to all interested counsellors, but with a priority booking period and reduced fee for those who are members of the CMCS Register of counsellors.
Workshops in 2026
We are delighted to welcome back Rachel Hudson as facilitator and the title will be:
Collared & Constrained - Life in clergy/ministry households
The peculiar challenges faced by ministers, spouses, and children are often quite different than others expect. We will look at some of the risks and unconscious dynamics that can emerge in relation to expectations of congregations on the church leader, their spouse and family.
Rachel Hudson was a CMCS Consultant until 2019, moving to full time ordained parish ministry in 2020. She served as Bishop’s Adviser for Counselling and Wellbeing, alongside her psychotherapy practice specialising in working with church ministers. Rachel has been married to Chris for 45 years and they are adoptive parents. It is hoped Chris will be involved in the Workshops to offer his perspective. Rachel herself was a clergy child, experiencing the challenges this brings. In retirement she leads retreats, writes Bible reading notes, and offers pastoral supervision.
Dates
These are Saturdays, all on Zoom:
21 February 2026
25 April 2026
16 May 2026
3 October 2026
Cost
£95 for counsellors on the CMCS Register
£105 for counsellors who are not on the CMCS Register
Booking
The
online booking process is hosted on the ‘Baptists Together’ website.
A link will be added here in January, when booking opens for counsellors who are not on the CMCS Register.
This link was included in the November 2025 Bulletin
for counsellors on the
CMCS Register, to launch the priority booking period
Refund policy
If there are spaces available on a different date,
your booking can be transferred at your request.
If your booking cannot be transferred to a date that suits you:
100% if you need to cancel more than a month ahead,
50% if between a month and a fortnight ahead.
If you find yourself unable to attend less than 2
weeks before a Workshop,
or on the day, sorry but no refund; however, please do let us know if we
need not be waiting for you to join us.
Feedback from recent Workshops
For our 2025 Workshops the facilitator was Janice Gittens and the theme was Addressing the impact of racialised trauma on individuals
Feedback from 18 October 2025 Workshop
"Having the slides and other materials sent out ahead of the session
was much appreciated. The day was paced well"
"It was a powerful and emotional day, full of aspects of the topic
to take away and explore further"
"Great balance between Janice's presentation having a spontaneous feel ...
and the more 'formal' provision of information on power point slides"
"I really appreciated the workshop content and tone, it was informative
and opened the door for curiosity to take things further
in personal reflection and relationships"
"It was a very good mix of clear, informative presentations
and time for discussion"
"The number of participants (ten) was big enough to bring together a good
range of experience but small enough to allow a sense of
connection with others"
"I came away informed and better equipped to face the issues in my
own work. I shall keep the notes as a good resource to return to"
"All the information about racialised trauma was deeply informative and
thought provoking. It continues to challenge and sharpen my values"
(from some responses, more than one excerpt has been quoted above)
Feedback from 20 September 2025 Workshop
"Excellent communication and I had all the things I needed beforehand"
"The practical arrangement worked well, both the workshop mailings,
which were informative, and the length of breaks in the day"
"I find online workshops very accessible, without the worry of travelling
time and cost, and finding the venue"
"Janice's presentation was very helpful and gave
in depth analysis of the subject"
"Janice presented lots of useful information - not just facts and theories
but from her own lived experience which was invaluable ...
(and) there was such a wealth of experience in the group"
"There is not much training on this important topic, so it was good
to attend the day and be challenged"
(from some responses, more than one excerpt has been quoted above)