Final call for 2026 weekends! Residential training weekends in person-centred, contact-orientated, nature-based therapy

​The Heart Wood Certificate Level Training Course is an in-person residential course, being offered as a modular six-weekend experience in 2026 and 2027, totalling 100 hours of CPD. The course is led by Rab Erskine and Chip Ponsford.

“This is unlike any other training I have experienced. There is a wonderful warmth in the Heart Wood Community.” Stephen

The course looks at working with groups and one-to-one in nature, and the many ways of being, philosophy, ethics and structures necessary for practitioners wanting to work outside the counselling room, with a focus on working in a way which does not assume psychological contact and with clients who struggle to make meaningful connections with self, other and the shared reality. This may be as a result of:​Trauma/PTSD including developmental trauma and Dissociative Process, Fragile Process, Brain injurym, Autism, Severe depression and anxiety

​​“The Heart Wood Training Certificate trusts in our innate ability to learn & grow through experiencing”

​​The 100 hours of training includes a minimum of five days of input in ‘Contact’ work by including the Extended Certificate in Pre-Therapy (contact reflections) certified by the Pre-Therapy International Network. 

​This course is not a qualification as such, but a rich experiential training opportunity, in line with person-centred training values, which recognises practitioners as responsible for their own learning. ​

​​"This group has started me on my nature based and pre-therapy journeys. I feel confident now to work with individuals one-on-one in nature, and much more prepared to start working with woodland groups." Holly

​Heart Wood have been running person-centred, contact-orientated, nature-based groups since 2018 with men who experience complex and enduring poor mental health.  Rab and Chip have separately been offering one-to-one nature-based therapy for over 15 years. They started running in-person CPD training weekends in 2021 and ran the first Certificate Level Training CPD Course in 2024. 

“My supervisor says I light up when I speak of this course. I know I do inside.” Alison

“A great opportunity to learn from gifted and experienced practitioners. They embody the very principles that they seek to teach.” ​​​Bill

2026 weekends: 8-10 May, 5-7 June, 3-5 July

2027 weekends: 7-9 May, 4-6 June, 2-4 July

This is a modular course and it is recommended that a minimum of three weekends are attended. See website for full info and to register your interest.