Continuing Professional Development
We provide a variety of professional development opportunities. Some of these are available only to our members whilst others are available to other qualified psychotherapists and counsellors and we are committed to developing training provision aimed at giving an attachment orientation to other professionals.
Clinical Forums
Toxic Attachment
Saturday 26th September 2026 | 11 am to 1 pm
Speakers: Linda Cundy
Synopsis:
We are social mammals, born with an instinctual need for attachment and belonging. However, this innate drive can be perverted by those who aim to manipulate and control for their own purposes. There are many kinds of relationship where this happens, and where the attachment imperative keeps the ‘victim’ trapped. There are also situations where healthy or secure attachment obstructs escape from danger.
This Clinical Forum talk is based on a new book, Narratives of Attachment, Danger and Survival. It focuses on the relational dynamics at play in trauma bonding, the intense ambivalence that besets those needing to break free for their sanity and survival, and the ongoing impact of such experiences. What can we do as psychotherapists to help patients finally claim freedom?
Bio:
Linda Cundy trained at the Bowlby Centre in the 1990s. She has a private practice in North London, supervises, is a conference speaker and has provided seminars nationally and internationally. She is also an author and has curated, contributed to and edited five books to date, with a sixth in the pipeline. Narratives of Attachment, Danger and Survival was published by Karnac in July this year.
Date: Saturday 26th September 2026
Time: 11.00am – 1.00pm (UK time)
CPD: 2 hours (CPD certificate provided)
Cost: £30 non-Bowlby Centre members | £10 Students from other organisations | Free for Bowlby Centre Members and Students
Location: Online via Zoom (Please note these sessions are not recorded)
Conference
Psychotherapy, Attachment and Intellectual Disability
A one-day online conference in partnership with the International psychotherapy and disability (IPD)
The 29th Annual John Bowlby Memorial Conference
Saturday 10th October 2026 |
Details coming soon
Date: Saturday 10th October 2026
Time estimated : 10.00 – 4.30 (UK time)
Location: Online via Zoom
Cost: Early Bird Tickets £125 | Bowlby Members and Supervision and Certificate Students £100 | Bowlby ABPP & APL Students Free
Events
Working with Suicidality and Safety planning – A Cross Modality Approach
A two-hour workshop designed and facilitated by Lynn Findlay
Monday 15th June 2026
What is it about? This workshop is part of the specialised safeguarding training courses and is now offered as a stand-alone seminar. We discuss working with suicidality and distress in the therapeutic context, exploring risk assessment and management, and drawing upon techniques from a range of therapeutic modalities to offer a toolkit for understanding and intervention. We locate this within the safeguarding framework and therapeutic contracting.
Is it for me? It is for therapists and allied professionals working with both adults and young people. We continue to focus on joined up thinking across services and networks. You can be in private practice or employed by an organisation.
What will I learn? The SASP session covers:
- The Government Suicide prevention strategy.
- How to work with risk assessment and risk management.
- Techniques from different of therapeutic approaches.
- Understanding risk and protective factors.
- Confidentiality and contracting in this context.
- Space for thoughts and reflections.
How is it delivered? This is currently via Zoom, with information sharing, whole group discussion, and opportunities for questions and personal reflection.
Please read before booking
- Due to the interactive nature of the training, sessions are not recorded and course content is only provided to attendees after the session. Any Case Studies, references, reading or weblinks will be sent in advance of the session.
- Colleagues from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and other countries are welcome, but any safeguarding legislation and practice guidelines referred to applies to England.
About Lynn:
Lynn is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, working with both adults and young people. She is a registered social worker with over 25yrs experience working in safeguarding with many years’ experience designing and delivering training in social care and therapy. She is now an independent safeguarding consultant and trainer.
Date: Monday 15th June 2026
Time: 1.15pm – 3.30pm (UK Time)
Cost: £40 non-Bowlby Centre members |£30 Bowlby Centre members
CPD: 2 hours (CPD certificate provided)
Open Days
Psychotherapy Training Open Days
The Open Day provides an opportunity to meet staff from the Bowlby Centre to find out more about our approach and the details of our training programme. The event is a facilitated workshop, with an overview of the curriculum, a clinical vignette and a discussion about our approach and the theoretical influences that have informed our work. It is also an opportunity to meet some of those who may be training alongside you, should you decide to join us.
The Open Days will be held in person at the In-person Training Centre: Highbury Grove School, 8 Highbury Grove, London N5 2EQ
Upcoming Dates:
• Saturday 28th March 2026
• Saturday 9th May 2026