Summer Personal Development Groups
June - August 2026
Personal Development (PD) groups form an integral part of humanistic therapist training. These groups - both essential and unique - provide space for trainee therapists to safely reflect, connect, share, learn and co-create important personal awareness. As an experienced PD facilitator, I see on a regular basis - at first hand - the transformative impact brought about by the PD experience.
A Person-Centred Experiential way of working (and being)
The first Summer PD group will take place on a Monday evening.
The group will begin its PD journey within a Person Centred Experiential spirit. Members will be asked to approach both intra and inter-personal aspects of experiencing with realness, empathy, curiosity, acceptance (of self and others), and a commitment to be fully present. Experience tells me that each and every PD group takes on its own unique style and character - a true celebration of the people and the interpersonal dynamics within it.
Group members must be either trainee, newly qualified or experienced counsellors/psychotherapists. By enrolling on a of the PD group, you are confirming that you are either a trainee, newly qualified or experienced counsellor/psychotherapist.
During your first PD session, your group will discuss an agreed way of working (or 'working' contract) to ensure that the space remains safe and respectful. As you will have familiarity with PD, it is expected you will know that it does not constitute group counselling or group supervision.
Dates, times and group numbers
There will be 8 sessions. Sessions will last for 1.5 hours, starting at 7pm and finishing at 8.30pm (BST). There will be a maximum of 9 group members. I (Tom Meaney), will facilitate every session.
The Monday PD group sessions will take place on:
15th June
22nd June
29th June
6th July
13th July
20th July
27th July
3rd August
9 places max.
The price
The price of the 8 PD group sessions is £100. This works out at £12.50 per 1.5 hour session.
Sessions cannot be purchased individually and must be bought as an 8 session bundle. This is to ensure consistency within the group - as the coming and going of new (and inconsistent) attendees can be a highly disruptive and unsettling experience for the rest of the group.
How to book
You have 2 options:
Pay in 3 separate installments over 3 months
If you feel that this would make being a part of a PD group more affordable and accessible then email me directly info@practicalcounsellingskills.com
There'll be no questions asked, no judgement and no need to justify. We'll arrange a plan for you to spread the cost over 3 months. Details of payment plan (or anyone utilising a payment plan) will not be made known to anyone else in the PD group.
A payment plan of 3 separate installments might look something like the following example:
30th May - £30
30th June - £30
30th July - £40
Pay amount outright
The booking fee (imposed by third party booking agent) has been absorbed within the price of the 8 PD sessions - to prevent the additional cost being passed onto you.
To pay outright to attend the Monday evening PD group click here
Please note: for ethical and professional reasons, this service is not available to trainees currently enrolled on Counselling and Psychotherapy courses at the academic institution at which I work.