Training

I started training people in 1993 when I volunteered to run bike maintenance classes for cyclists in Wandsworth!

I now write and deliver training to counsellors and other support staff in a variety of organisations on how to work with anger and conflict; anxiety; bereavement; depression; internal psychological conflicts and trauma

I was formally assessed in July 2011 and achieved the highest level of 'outstanding' by Halton Borough Council using Ofsted criteria.

Since 1999 I’ve developed a specialism in families affected by someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use. I’ve written and delivered training on many topics, such as:

• How to understand family dynamics.
• How to support the families of drug and alcohol users.
• How families can support a drug or alcohol  user.
• Setting and keeping boundaries.
• Coping with conflict.
• Understanding drug use.
• Substance-related bereavement.
• Families' influence on drug treatment.

In addition I've written and delivered specialised courses, such as:

• Training for the Government's Family  Intervention Programme Key Workers.
• The Five Step method of working with  families.
• Working with men affected by someone  else's substance use.
• Engaging and supporting grandparents  bringing up the children of substance users.
• Ensuring equality and diversity in the  workplace through sensitive and inclusive  practice. 

Lastly, I've written a comprehensive training course to equip family supprt workers with the knowledge and skills required to support people affected by someone else's substance use.  I've delivered this course in London, Newcastle and Bristol.

I do most of this families work for Adfam, the leading organisation in Britain working for families affected by drugs and alcohol.  People I have trained include:

• Adfam staff and volunteers.
• Agencies specialising in the support of families, such as CASA, SPODA, RODA, Snowdrops, PACT, DrugFAM etc.
• Drug and alcohol treatment agencies, including Addaction, Turning Point and Addiction Recovery Agency.
• Drug and Alcohol Action Teams in Greenwich, Newcastle and Manchester.
• The Department for Education and the former Department for Children, Families and Schools.
• Local authority professionals.
• Prison based staff and Crimininal Justice based drug and alcohol workers across England and Wales.

All my training courses are experiential with a high degree of participant involvement. This develops peoples' knowledge, skills and attitudes. Each has a clear aim and a set of measurable learning outcomes.

They are consistently evaluated very highly by both the participants and the clients who commission the work.

I am an Affiliated Member of the Institute for Learning.