It's not the big, important conversations that I miss most. It's the completely unplanned ones. The conversations that begin with a passing observation and somehow turn into an hour of creative connection spent exploring ideas, sharing experiences and seeing things from a different perspective.

We can be in contact with people throughout the day, exchanging messages, responding to emails and keeping up with what's happening. Yet that isn't necessarily the same experience as spending time together. And when diaries are full, getting together just to get together can easily slip down the list.

The course framework is rooted in TA's concept of life script; the early decisions we make about ourselves and the world, often formed before we had the language to question them. Andy reflects on something that will feel familiar to many practitioners: that when a child feels misunderstood by the humans around them, they often turn elsewhere. To a pet. To a tree. To the garden. There's something about the wider world that is different.

Working with groups offers counsellors and psychotherapists a powerful way to deepen their practice. From personal growth to transferable skills and creative connection, here are five reasons why learning to work with groups is a great next step in your professional development.