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 (booking closes on 3 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.
To find out more, or to book a place at a
Workshop, please follow this dedicated shortcut link: www.baptist.org.uk/cmcsWorkshops
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
Feedback from 21 February 2026 Workshop
"Pre-course information was valuable and well organised"
"Rachel was energising, humorous, authentic and engaging in sharing generously the product of her experience"
"The workshop far exceeded my expectations"
"All very relevant to
the role of counsellors working within CMCS
and I would certainly
recommend it to other counsellors"
"High quality workshop helping us to explore important issues for our clients"
"Rachel covered many aspects of issues clients had brought over the years. Plus, a few I hadn’t dreamed of yet … I will keep re-reading my notes"
"It was much more than could be expected from a day’s training.
The best
training I’ve had for a long time!"
(from some responses, more than one quotation is shown above)