Creative CPD
for therapists
Embedded Files
Creative CPD for therapists
Creative CPD for therapists
Dates and links
Dates and links
Wed. 22 October 2025: 7.30 pm to 9:30 pm. Peer support group meetup.
Creative Application of the Five Elements: CAFE
Creative Application of the Five Elements: CAFE
I developed a deep appreciation for how the Five Element metaphors could support our holistic wellbeing when I encountered the Touch for Health system in the 1990s. After experiencing profound healing benefits, I trained in this complementary therapy and this in turn guided me to the Gestalt approach to psychotherapy as it sits well with the holistic, dynamic and embodied nature of the Five Elements.
Since qualifying as a counsellor, I've developed a practical and creative way to integrate the richness of this ancient legacy into my practice. While I think it's up to each of us to find our own way to pay homage to the Five Elements, I've used and refined CAFE extensively with my clients and hope it could help nurture your own, unique relationship with the life-affirming, metaphorical qualities of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
This Creative Application of the Five Elements could help you develop:
Practical ways to represent subtle and holistic connections between relationally-embodied beliefs, feelings, strengths and needs.
Collaborative, accessible and evolving therapeutic formulations with your clients.
Creative strategies to help slow things down and support awareness as you gently and playfully explore and connect with what's going on with different parts of the mind.
I've run a pilot workshop using CAFE ideas and methods and am exploring ways to share the value of this wonderful wisdom tradition with therapists starting in 2025/26. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to find out more. I'll advertise dates for the options on this page when confirmed.
Two day CAFE workshop with optional certification
Two day CAFE workshop with optional certification
15 hours in total. Made up of 10 hours of experiential/collaborative learning and 5 hours of guided online preparation and reflection.
Optional certification after successful completion of five CAFE case studies.
Learn to creatively use Five Element metaphors to help you collaboratively map, track and work through complex therapeutic issues.
Practice embodied parts work that supports Internal Family Systems and related approaches.
Use acupressure-based mindful, embodied balancing inquiry to support therapy.
Explore personal issues during skills practices.
Support practical workshops with extensive online resources and optional peer and/or facilitator supervision.
Relate
Relate
Have restoring time with colleagues as you explore and experience the CAFE process.
Create
Create
Make pompom metaphors and use other versatile resources in your box of creative goodies.
Navigate
Navigate
Learn to use both physical and virtual CAFE resources to support formulation and therapy.
Two hour CAFE introduction
Two hour CAFE introduction
Meet some aspects of this ancient metaphor model.
Try a simplified version of the main CAFE creative method to experience how this can help to map and guide therapeutic exploration.
Practise a mindfulness-based, balancing Energy Psychology technique rooted in the wisdom tradition that includes the Five Elements.
'You are always moving towards balance
and always disturbing that balance
in living and growing.'
Donna Eden
Peer support group + energy psychology
Peer support group + energy psychology
As well as two hours of CPD, potential benefits of group meet-ups include:
No cost other than travel to Bitterne, Southampton once every three months. If the group expands to the point where we need to meet in a larger venue in Southampton, there'll be a nominal fee to cover this. Meetups can also be live-streamed.
Get to know colleagues who share similar energy psychology interests.
Explore therapeutic integration strategies for these practices.
Peer supervision.
Develop your referral network.
A place to relax and recharge.
Enjoy group and paired energy psychology practices to promote everyone's wellbeing.
'Energy Psychology is a contemporary application of methods that are at least 4,500 years old... that provide you with potent tools for navigating your way through life's challenges more skilfully, more effectively and more joyfully.'
Feinstein, Eden and Craig.
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