Diagnosis and Treatment in the Mental Health Care System

Counsellors and psychotherapists require a more rigorous understanding of how mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated in the UK’s mental health care system today. This not only supports clinicians to gain an appreciation of the language of psychiatry, but also to better understand the experiences of our clients who may be navigating through these systems and processes whilst also in our care. Counsellors and psychotherapists should also know how to recognise complex and severe mental health conditions as they present in our practice, so that we can work effectively, safely and in collaboration with other mental health colleagues whose support our clients might require.

This 6-hour workshop will support counsellors and psychotherapists to gain a more comprehensive understanding of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, as well as a critical appreciation of the socio-political, historical and cultural assumptions that underpin these current frameworks. As a result practitioners will be able to effectively understand mental health difficulties as they emerge in our practices, whilst maintaining a client-centred, collaborative and safe approach to managing this.

Workshop aims

• To gain an understanding of how mental illnesses are classified
• To support recognition of more complex, significant and enduring mental health issues as they might appear within the counselling and psychotherapy context
• To develop a critical and reflexive awareness of the intersectional influences on diagnosis, including socio-economics, class, race, gender, sexuality, disability, body type, age, culture and religion
• To understand how and when to refer on to appropriate professional agencies
• To deepen awareness and reflexivity so that counsellors and psychotherapists can work in a client-centred and safe way
• To support counsellors and psychotherapists to think about the treatment that they provide as a part of a wider package of care and how to do this safely, ethically and effectively

Mental Health Familiarisation Placement

This training has been designed to meet the aims of the 'Diagnosis and Treatment' component of the UKCP’s requirements for a Mental Health Familiarisation Placement. It can be attended as a standalone workshop or as part of the complete Mental Health Familiarisation Placement Series being delivered by The Link Centre between Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026.

Pre-Course Requirements: Participants should be qualified or trainee counsellors or psychotherapists.

Delivery: Live online event (Zoom) - workshops will not be recorded

Recognition: A Link Centre Certificate of Attendance for 6 hours.

Dates and times: 17th January 2026 09.30-16.30 (with a lunch break)

Cost: £110.00

Group booking discount: A discount of 10% will be applied to group bookings of all four workshops for a total of £396. Details of how to make a group booking will be sent after a workshop in the series has been purchased.

Presenters

Giovanni Felice Pace - Giovanni is is an Integrative-Relational Chartered Counselling Psychologist (CPsychol, AFBPsS, and HCPC registered), a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist (CTA), and a Clinical Supervisor.

He has over a decade of experience in the Mental Health sector as a Psychologist, psychotherapist, manager, and in supportive roles.