2-day workshop

The Therapeutic Power of Language

– a psychotherapy skills masterclass

The language we use has a huge impact on others – on this practical, inspiring course you will learn how to combine solution-focused techniques and effective language skills to help relieve distress and improve outcomes, as quickly as possible…

Course Factfile

Therapeutic Language Training Masterclass

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  • Accredited CPD: 12 hours

  • Length 2 days (9:30am - 4:00pm)

  • Tutor: Dr Gareth Hughes

  • Price: £396 per person

Includes lunch, refreshments and course notes

£396.00

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Excellent course! I’ve learnt so much and been inspired so much. Gareth has a wonderful style of delivery...

Mary Flynn

BOOK EARLY – Limited to 24 places
Next date: 
Tues 4th & Wed 5th February, Bristol.
Join our Diploma tutor Gareth Hughes for this essential skills workshop – all venues and dates.

This course is suitable for anyone working with adults, teens or children – the knowledge and skills you will gain have a wide range of applications in addition to therapy and counselling, including coaching, healthcare, teaching, motivation, overcoming resistance, emotional turmoil and much more.

CPD Provider Logo

You will leave with a powerful toolkit of precisely-targeted and creative therapeutic language skills, as well as a range of effective brief therapy strategies. These can be easily tailored to any individual and used to successfully help people resolve a wide range of conditions and problems as quickly as possible.

If you want to be more effective in what you do, these are core skills to have…

Denise Winn previously taught this course, it is now delivered by Gareth Hughes

Why take this course

Language is key to everything we do – being aware of the power of language to help or do harm is essential when we’re trying to help people. Knowing how to use it well can make all the difference to a successful therapeutic outcome.

Paying attention to the language we use is central to the human givens approach to therapy and counselling: our choice of words is crucial in building rapport with people, learning more about someone – their unique qualities and abilities – in listening and responding, in providing motivation and in collaborating to agree goals and strategies for the effective resolution of their problems.

The careful use of language is essential for other areas of life too: at work, home, with family and friends – and this  2-day course is accessible to all. It can be taken as part of the Human Givens Diploma or as a stand-alone course.

You will gain a solid foundation in the most effective brief solution-focused strategies and language skills that are essential if you want to be able to help people as quickly as possible. By distilling the essence of proven brief therapy approaches and working in tune with the givens of human nature, outcomes can be dramatically improved and suffering successfully reduced.

You will also learn how any team of professional healthcare workers can safely incorporate brief therapy techniques into their work with patients suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, anger, OCD, eating disorders, addiction and relationship/marital/family problems, thereby improving outcomes and reducing suffering on an even wider scale.

Good to know

Good to know

This course gives you essential skills that are used in the successful treatment of a wide range of conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depression, addictions, self-harm, OCD and the rewind technique for treating trauma and phobias. They are also fundamental skills to have when using guided imagery and visualisation.

This course is an essential component of Part 1 of the HG Diploma.

I feel very excited and energised. I can't wait to start using these techniques...

Occupational Therapist

What will you learn

  • The essential skills needed for successful brief therapy
  • New information about the APET™ model – why it is so important to construct therapy that is in tune with our how brains work (our emotional reactions come first) – this speeds up therapy and explains why purely cognitive and behavioural approaches can take so long
  • An ability to get to the root of the matter quickly by establishing which innate needs are not being met and why (the essence of effective brief therapy)
  • Quick rapport building skills
  • How to use the RIGAAR™ structure to improve therapy outcomes
  • Reflective listening and reflective reframing
  • How to use therapeutic language skills directly and indirectly to initiate change
  • Ways to use solution-focused questioning to create a framework for change
  • How to identify and use your client’s own life resources
  • An understanding of why the human givens approach dramatically increases the likelihood of therapy being brief, regardless of the presenting problem
  • A range of psychological interventions to use with common psychiatric problems: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, intrusive thoughts, relationship difficulties and so on
  • Promoting cooperation by developing realistic and achievable goals
  • How to identify exceptions (when the problem doesn’t occur) and get the patient to take credit for them
  • How to generate motivation for change in your patients
  • Separating the patient’s core identity from their problem
  • How to minimise or overcome resistance
  • How not to be drawn in to a client’s negative self-view
  • Great use of case histories to illustrate the skills covered
  • How to use the psychological laws of positive expectancy and concentrated attention
  • An understanding of why taking this collaborative human givens stance, reduces stress and pressure on you
  • Plenty of opportunity to consolidate what you are learning by practising the skills yourself

Dates and venues

How is the course structured?

Held over two consecutive days, this skills-based practical workshop combines a blend of talks, demonstrations and exercises.  Each day starts at 9.30pm and finishes at 4.00pm, with 2 breaks for networking and refreshment and 45 minutes for lunch.

Course notes, refreshments and lunch are included on both days.

Who is this course suitable for?

You and your patients will benefit enormously from you attending these two days. If you are a counsellor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, mental health nurse, GP, doctor, nurse, OT, physiotherapist, youth worker, social worker, health visitor, support worker or any other caring professional, and wish to be more effective in what you do, this course gives you the perfect opportunity to discover new, subtle but highly effective skills with plenty of time to practise to help you assimilate them into your own work.

Many other professions – such as educational and business professionals – also find the skills and information covered highly applicable to and beneficial for their own work.

It is also suitable for anyone who is thinking of a career in this field as these are core skills needed for successful brief, solution-focused psychotherapy.


CPD Provider LogoThis therapeutic language and brief therapy techniques course has been independently accredited by the internationally recognised CPD Standards Office for 12 hours of CPD training.

On completion of this training you’ll receive CPD certificates from the College and the CPD Standards Office.

Register your interest – next date

If you can’t make this course, please complete the form below and we’ll email you when another date becomes available.

Reviews for this course

4.8/5 (53 Reviews)
  1. Mary Flynn

    There aren’t enough superlatives … excellent course! I’ve learnt so much and been inspired so much. Gareth has a wonderful style of delivery that makes, what seemed to me quite a daunting area in its complexity, actually fathomable and maybe someday achievable. Thank you!

  2. Sara-Jane

    I thought the course was wonderful. Informative, interesting, well-paced, interactive and very helpful and practical.

  3. Karsten Alva-Jorgensen

    Gareth was a masterful presenter and facilitator with a deep command of the material, relevant experience and an engaging presentation style. I gained a lot of value from both days.

  4. Karys Matthams

    A well structured course that built my understanding of how to use language effectively in therapy. I appreciated the practical opportunities and the accompanying course booklet which will allow me to reflect on the learning again and again.

  5. Zoe Tolman

    Very engaging, informative, easy to understand – a good balance of information and activities. Gareth’s delivery was excellent and I have left feeling inspired and excited about the rest of the diploma. Thank you!

  6. Louise Harris

    The course was extremely interesting, useful and relevant to my work and family. The language skills will be immediately put to use, and easy to grasp. Gareth was excellent, interesting to listen to, full of practical advice with helpful anecdotes that are relevant to my work.

  7. Wendy Simmons

    Thank you for some useful insights into Therapeutic Language Skills which I will be able to apply in my work. Gareth delivered the course in a way that was fun and engaging.

  8. Emma Scott

    Wonderful teaching that gives a great base for everything else that comes on the course.

  9. Alfie Astor

    Brilliant – such a good instructor. A lot covered, but I like that!

  10. Simon Bostock

    Drilling down into the language and understanding the various steps and protocols was extremely useful.

  11. David Longworth

    An excellent explanation of the use of language in therapy, presenting potentially powerful tools for positive change and potential pitfalls. Inspiring and encouraging a compassionate and supportive approach, regardless of the presenting problems.

  12. Stephen Carroll

    Very useful and very well presented. It was interactive with some fantastic examples of how positive language can provide positive progress.

  13. Philippa Brewer

    Informative, enlightening, well taught. Gareth is excellent – loved his teaching style.

  14. Robert Iannone

    Brilliant, very clear, great examples, instructive and inspiring.

  15. Rhonda Dow

    Really thorough in content. Lots of information – fun – and very helpful for my practice.

  16. Annette Henry

    Brilliantly practical and engaging real life skills in HG principles.

  17. Counsellor

    Very informative and resourceful as always.

  18. Juliette Jackson

    It was excellent. First I have done so I have a lot (lot, lot) to learn.

  19. James Stanney

    Engaging, well delivered, relevant examples. Good food and accommodating facilitator.

  20. General Practitioner

    This course takes training on communication and consultation skills to an even higher level

  21. Key Worker

    Informative, practical and accessible information on the therapeutic power of language. Superb delivery of information in an open and supportive environment. Great to be able to practise the techniques.

  22. Solicitor/CEO of Education Charity

    The course was well structured, challenging in a good way, encouraged engagement and was full of useful information.

  23. Counsellor

    Very informative and thought provoking. Delivered with a good balance of humour and relevance to my work.

  24. Social Worker

    Very interactive and dynamic.

  25. Director

    Very informative and well structured. Gives us a structure to follow and that is really helpful. The ideas are powerful and pragmatic.

  26. Social Worker

    Good balance of group working, teaching and exercises. Good food and relaxed, airy environment helps.

  27. Senior Wellbeing Officer

    This course has given me a great intro to marrying different techniques/approaches included in HG. Great focus on language and attention to APET has been helpful.

  28. Melanie

    Excellent course and tutor – great pace

  29. Outdoor Development

    A good overview of the principles of human givens and how to incorporate solution-focused ideas into practice

  30. Solution-focused, brief therapy therapist

    Thank you for a very enjoyable, well structured and informative course

  31. Psychologist

    Good balance of input (and revision) and group and pair work. SFT was revision for me. Dynamic tutor – lovely use of humour!

  32. Teacher/Therapist

    Denise is an excellent teacher. She imparts knowledge concisely and through the use of stories which I really enjoy. Denise sets clear boundaries and expectations which are useful to the group.

  33. Manager

    Very well structured and informative course – extremely well led by Denise

  34. School Counsellor

    Fantastic language skills for brief therapy outcomes.

  35. Retired Teacher

    An excellent, thought-provoking course.

  36. Yoga & Pilates Teacher, Hypnotherapist

    Both days were very interesting, delivered by Denise in a very professional, friendly and approachable manner. I have learned lots of helpful things which will help me in my practice.

  37. NLP coach and practitioner

    Denise explained and presented the content so clearly. The pace was good and we had plenty of time to practise and ask questions. Great input to the power of language. The case studies and reference to research was very helpful.

  38. Counsellor, Volunteer

    So many practical ways of engaging and drawing out even the most recalcitrant client – thanks for a great two days

  39. Reflexologist

    I loved the fact that the course was so interactive and that people were able to ask questions and make comments as we went along. Hearing all the case studies was really useful and interesting too.

  40. Student / Retail Worker

    All the information is useful and was relevant. The conversational techniques and language skills were helpful, especially suggestions in deep relaxation.

  41. SEN Teaching Assistant

    It has given me a further and better understanding of how to use language in a therapeutic manner.

  42. Housewife (training to be a counsellor)

    The course is very ‘human’ in its approach – and I’ve learnt so many new skills.

  43. Teacher

    `It was all very useful, but I particularly enjoyed the practical sessions where we were able to translate theory into practise.

  44. Operations Manager

    A real confidence builder in preparation to starting the journey towards becoming a therapist. Thoroughly enlightening, both personally and in terms of understanding others.

  45. Counsellor

    Very natural approach which was refreshing as it utilises everyday skills.

  46. Business Coach and Facilitator

    The examples given are rich and very helpful to the learning process. Some of the stories were phenomenal.

  47. Arts Education Consultant

    It was fantastic. Very helpful to know these fundamental brief therapy skills and particularly the language skills – very impressive and encouraging.

  48. GP / Health Team Leader for charity

    A really encouraging and confidence-building course. Lots of great tips which will be useful in practice.

  49. Teacher

    Thank you for a very informative two days, they will stay with me for a long time.

  50. Family Worker

    Véronique combined all the elements of good therapy in an easy-to-understand way – an extremely useful course, so much to take away.

  51. Business Consultant

    One of the most valuable courses I have attended. Some excellent, practical guidance to support therapy sessions. And I am leaving with a clear idea of how I can meaningfully incorporate presuppositions, truism-linked suggestions into my client consultations.

  52. University Lecturer

    Relevant and truthful – both to life and work.

  53. Support Worker – Women’s Refuge

    So many brilliant tips and techniques that I can use to explore ‘positively’ my client’s problems (eg solution-focused and reframing). I really enjoyed the time we have spent practising these skills.

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