Expert-Led CPD for Today's Therapist

Practical, relevant, and engaging professional development for UK counsellors and therapists. Build your confidence, enhance your skills, and strengthen your private practice.

Explore Our Courses

Training Rooted in Clinical Experience

Welcome to Natasha & Will Training. As qualified supervisors, experienced tutors, and full-time practitioners, we understand the complexities of modern therapeutic work. Our CPD is designed to bridge the gap between theory and the realities of the therapy room. We deliver focused, practical training that equips you with the tools and confidence you need to thrive in private practice, developed from our combined decades of experience in the NHS, online practice, and tutoring.

Meet Your Trainers

Natasha Lusty, BA (Hons), PGCE, MBACP

Co-founder & Lead Trainer

Natasha brings a lifetime of experience in education and therapy to her training. Beginning her career as a teacher (BA & PGCE), she has a natural gift for making complex topics accessible and engaging. As a therapist, she has extensive experience on the front line, working in NHS crisis teams and tutoring hundreds of counselling students.

Today, alongside running a thriving private practice, Natasha is a qualified supervisor, guiding other therapists in their clinical work. Her training is grounded, practical, and built on a deep understanding of what practitioners truly need to feel competent and secure.

William Smith, BSc, MSc, MBACP (Accred)

Co-founder & Lead Trainer

Will is an accredited BACP therapist, qualified supervisor, and member of EMDR UK with over a decade of experience in the field. His thriving online practice gives him a sharp, contemporary insight into the needs of both clients and therapists in a digital age.

With a BSc in Psychology and a specialist MSc in Gender Studies, Will has a deep academic and clinical grounding in his specialism of Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD). He is passionate about helping therapists build truly affirmative practices. Will’s training style is knowledgeable, warm, and dedicated to fostering genuine inclusivity.

Our Current CPD Workshops

Risk Assessment & Client Intake for Private Practice

Build a safe and ethical foundation. This workshop provides a robust framework for managing risk and conducting effective, boundaried client intakes.

Led by: Natasha Lusty
CPD Hours: 6
Format: Live Online Workshop

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Working with Clients in Crisis

Navigate high-stakes moments with confidence. Learn practical strategies for de-escalation, safety planning, and managing your own response.

Led by: Natasha Lusty
CPD Hours: 6
Format: Live Online Workshop

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Creating an Affirming Practice: Working with LGBTQ+ Clients

Move beyond tolerance to true affirmation. This essential training covers terminology, pronouns, and the key clinical themes for working respectfully with LGBTQ+ people.

Led by: William Smith
CPD Hours: 6
Format: Live Online Workshop

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In-Depth Training Programs

For practitioners seeking a deeper dive, our multi-week programs provide a structured, supportive environment for significant professional growth.

Your Private Practice Foundation: A 6-Week Journey

This comprehensive course is your step-by-step guide to launching and growing a successful private practice. We go beyond theory to cover the practical realities of business, marketing, ethical frameworks, and clinical confidence, helping you build a sustainable and fulfilling practice from the ground up.

Duration: 6 Weeks
Format: Weekly Live Group Modules & Q&A
Includes: Business templates, peer support group, marketing guidance.

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Holding the Space: Skills for Working with High-Risk Clients

As statutory services face increasing pressure, more clients with complex needs are seeking support in private practice. This course equips you with a robust framework to confidently and ethically manage risk, create a secure holding space, and work effectively with clients presenting with high-distress issues, all while maintaining your own resilience.

Focus: Advanced risk assessment & safety planning
Format: Interactive workshops with case study analysis
Includes: De-escalation techniques, managing vicarious trauma, ethical navigation.

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Risk Assessment & Client Intake for Private Practice

The first contact with a client is critical. It sets the tone for the therapeutic relationship and is your primary opportunity to assess suitability and risk. Drawing on her experience in both NHS crisis services and private practice, Natasha provides a clear, step-by-step framework for everything from the initial phone call to the first session contract. We’ll cover how to ask difficult questions, what to document, and how to create boundaries that keep you and your clients safe.

What You Will Learn:

A structured approach to pre-session screening and client intake.
Key questions to assess for risk, including suicide, self-harm, and harm to others.
Best practices for record-keeping and GDPR compliance in private practice.
How to confidently decide if a client is a good fit for your skills and service.
Strategies for making appropriate referrals and managing client expectations.

Working with Clients in Crisis

Working as an independent practitioner means you are the first and often only responder when a client is in crisis. Informed by Natasha's front-line experience in NHS crisis teams, this workshop is designed to build your competence and resilience. We will explore practical models for de-escalation, immediate safety planning, and post-crisis follow-up. Crucially, we will also focus on managing your own physiological and emotional responses, enabling you to stay grounded and effective under pressure.

What You Will Learn:

To identify the signs of a client moving towards or being in a state of crisis.
Practical de-escalation techniques that work online and in-person.
A collaborative approach to creating immediate and effective safety plans.
Understanding your ethical and legal responsibilities, including when to break confidentiality.
Self-regulation techniques to manage your own anxiety and stay present for your client.

Creating an Affirming Practice: Working with LGBTQ+ Clients

A truly inclusive practice requires an understanding of the specific challenges, language, and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. Drawing from his MSc in Gender Studies and extensive clinical work with GSRD, Will provides a foundational understanding of gender, sexuality, and identity. We will cover the practicalities of using names and pronouns correctly and respectfully, and explore common clinical themes such as coming out, minority stress, and intersectionality. Our aim is to give you the language and confidence to create a space where LGBTQ+ clients feel not just accepted, but truly seen and affirmed.

What You Will Learn:

Key terminology related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and attraction.
The importance of pronouns, and practical skills for asking about and using them correctly.
An understanding of 'minority stress' and its impact on mental health.
How to adapt intake forms and practice policies to be more inclusive.
Insight into key therapeutic issues, from exploring gender identity to navigating family dynamics.

On-Demand Training Videos

Perfect for self-paced learning. Purchase once and get immediate, lifetime access to these focused video workshops.

An Introduction to GSRD

A foundational video training led by Will, covering the essential terminology, concepts, and clinical considerations for creating a truly affirmative practice when working with gender, sexual, and relationship diversity.

90 Mins Lifetime Access

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Setting Your Fees Ethically

Struggling with setting your fees? This practical guide from Natasha walks you through the key considerations for setting a sustainable and ethical fee structure for your private practice, helping you build confidence in your value.

60 Mins Lifetime Access

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Get in Touch

We would love to hear from you. For general questions, or if you're interested in bespoke training for your organisation, please send us a direct email or use the form below.

hello@natashaandwilltraining.co.uk