Making Connections programme
Edinburgh, Wednesday 26 November 2025

We’re delighted to welcome back our free in-person Making Connections events.

These regular face to face conferences take place throughout the year and give you the chance to network with other members and our divisional executive members.

10.50am – 11.35am

The session will offer a decolonial, intersectional and anti oppressive approach to therapy challeging the individualistic approach. This is especially relevant in the current socio-political climate. The aim of the session is to explore key ideas of decolonial and anti oppressive practice- difference and common themes. Challenging the practitioner’s perspectives of therapy, speaking to the identities of both the clients and therapists in the therapy room, explore power both in the room and in the wider context of therapy. Finally, inviting the attendees to engage with the inherent tensions or discomfort that may arise while engaging in these ideas and the truth that there is no one answer that would radically transform therapy within a short period of time. This way of practice asks for vulnerability, self examination, discomfort, learning, relearning and accountability. The aim will be to offer attendees knowledge and invite their reflective participation to either embark or further themselves on working in this manner.

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11.45am - 12.30pm

Guided by the Â鶹ԭ´´ (2019) Ethical Framework, this session highlights the emotional demands placed on therapists and evaluates self-care strategies—including supervision, personal therapy, and creative practices such as food, exercise, and play—can support resilience and help mitigate burnout. The session acknowledges the vulnerability involved in emotion-based research and reflects on the blurred boundaries between personal and professional identity.

Session aims:

To explore therapists’ emotional responses to working with self-injury.

To examine the effectiveness of self-care strategies in supporting well-being.

To reflect on autoethnography as a research method.

To encourage dialogue around ethical, emotional, and professional sustainability.

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3.10pm – 3.55pm

This interactive session explores how nature-based practice can be woven into classrooms, counselling sessions and workplaces, even when we can’t be outdoors. Drawing on pluralistic and neuro-affirmative approaches, Allie Scott will invite participants to experience a brief grounding exercise and reflect on how nature connection can enhance inclusion, wellbeing and belonging in any professional setting.

Learning outcomes:

Understand the core principles of nature-based practice and how these can be applied across different professional setting, including counselling, education, supervision and private practice.

Experience and reflect on a brief nature-based grounding exercise, recognising its potential to enhance regulation, presence, and connection in therapeutic or learning environments.

Identify at least one practical, inclusive way to integrate nature connection into your own practice, whether through sensory awareness, metaphor, or environmental adaptation.

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