CPD Workshops
Over the last 25 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.
Our first CPD day was held in October 2001. Each year since then, we have arranged 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 - fully booked
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 25 April 2026 and 16 May 2026 Workshops
"Good
to have personal experience from Rachel and Chris. Open, honest
and frank ... Very
thorough, exploring whole range of challenges"
"Clear timing, a manageable length, breaks timed well"
"The pre-workshop mailings were efficient and helpful. Very useful to have handouts and case studies in advance"
"Thanks to Rachel’s husband for communicating his perspective so well"
"Useful to have the slides prior to the session to make notes on"
"Thank you Rachel and Chris for being so honest and wise"
"My
expectations were exceeded and I thought they were pretty high
to begin with!"
Feedback from Workshop on 3 October 2026
"Helpful
to receive info leading up to the event to enable time to download
and prepare
for the day"
"Communications
from CMCS were timely, informative and considerate...
The day itself
was run really well with enough time to stretch my legs
and let my thoughts
settle"
"Much more informative than I anticipated"
"Rachel’s
wide knowledge about both worlds of ministry and psychotherapy
was very
grounding"
"The
content was very insightful, engaging and there was enough time
to think about
the case studies in small groups without it feeling rushed"
"Sticking
to time! This was refreshing, and really appreciated! ...
My
first experience of a CMCS workshop and will definitely do more"
"Keep up the good work! I am looking forward to Alistair Ross"
(from some responses, more than one quotation is shown above)