NORTHSIDE
TRAINING
Working With Our Clients’ Story In The Landscape
An ecological Approach To Life Script
A 2 day in-person course at Golden Acre Park, North West Leeds exploring the contribution of our landscape as a living metaphor and its vital relationship with our life story. We will be using practical exercises in the outdoor landscape to develop ways to bring this into our therapy practice.
30 & 31 May 2026 9.30am - 4.30pm Leeds
Course Information
Course content
Central to the two days are Golden Acre Park (course photo) and its neighbour Adel Dam Nature Reserve. Two distinct and different landscape environments.
We will be using these spaces for practical exercises, where we will develop ways to bring our learning into our therapy practice.
We will explore the contribution of our landscape as a living metaphor and its vital relationship with our life story.
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The course trainers are Helen Blackburn (PTSTA) and Andy Williams (TSTA).
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Learning Outcomes
Explore the contribution of landscape as a living metaphor and its vital relationship with our life story.
Details
Our base for the course is located at the Mercure Leeds Parkway Hotel, just a stones throw from our outdoor learning space. We will meet there and then venture outdoors.
Lunch and refreshments are provided.
We will explore the contribution of our landscape as a living metaphor and its vital relationship with our life story.
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Location: Mercure Leeds Parkway Hotel, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 8AG.
Times: 9.30am - 4.30pm both days.
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The full price tickets for the course are £270 and we are offering an early bird price of £220 for bookings made before 1 February 2026.
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As with any outdoor working, we ask that participants come prepared with suitable footwear and clothing for all weathers. We can use the training room at the hotel to store anything we aren't using.
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Who is this workshop for?
The workshop is for practitioners, counsellors, therapists and anyone who is interested in using the landscape within their work.
About the trainers
Helen Blackburn – PTSTA is a psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer based in rural Wales, where she practices both indoors and outdoors. Her work is held gently yet firmly within the context of Ecological TA. Helen is dedicated to the philosophy that it is deeply beneficial to include our reciprocal relationship with the land during psychotherapy and that our alienation from the land and other creatures is one of the causes of our disconnection from ourselves. Her work has a focus on moving from alienation to interconnectedness to help us to make sense of who we are and how we belong.
Andy Williams - TSTA has been working as a counsellor, psychotherapist and trainer for 25 years including working in the NHS as well as in private practice. He offers clinical supervision and consultancy to a wide range of practitioners and organisations.
He is a UKCP therapist and supervisor, MBACP qualified and BABCP accredited.
