Welcome to our ‘noticeboard’ for counsellors and supervisors, where you can find links to useful articles, Marriage Care news and announcements, upcoming events, CPD opportunities, and messages from the National Support Team

Disclaimer for External Training Recommendations and articles
Marriage Care may, from time to time, offer recommendations or links to external training resources, courses, or materials. Any external resources you decide to pursue are your personal responsibility. They are not affiliated with or endorsed by Marriage Care unless explicitly stated. We cannot be held liable for any consequences resulting from the use of such training.
Any purchase or engagement with external resources is solely between you and the external provider.

 

 

  • Marriage Care National Conference 2025 “…this is the hour for love”. Saturday 15th November 2025, 9.30am to 4pm, in person, North London. We will be joined by guest speaker David Wells and welcome all volunteers to join us for the day. Bring your own lunch, and maybe a little more to share if you can. Please spread the word among your peers and centres, and contact Mark for further details if you can join us – mark@marriagecare.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there! (Posted 13th August 2025)
  • Attention supervisors: Supervision of Supervision. We have an experienced supervisor requiring supervision of supervision support. Please let me know if this is something you can offer and are in a position to welcome someone new. so that I may make an introduction between you both. Additionally, it would be great to know of any other supervisors requiring this support, and any individuals or groups who can provide it so I can connect you all. Thank you (Posted 11th August 2025) 
  • Initial Appointments. Important change for all those who deliver IA’s : With immediate effect, the Appointments Service will now be creating the Initial Appointment form for you on the portal when they assign you a new IA. This is to hopefully resolve the issue of  forms not saving when clients names return an error. Any ongoing queries or issues with the forms, either creating or saving, let the Appointments Service know. (Posted 4th August 2025)
  • Heroes : We know there are lots of you out there, and we love to receive nominations for those who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer role. Has someone within the organisation gone above and beyond for you? Is someone doing something perhaps unnoticed but that you really appreciate? Send your nominations through to heroes@marriagecare.org.uk stating their name and why you are nominating them. You can nominate as many heroes as you want, every month, where the winner will be drawn at random and rewarded with a £10 gift voucher. Furthermore, all nominees are entered into the draw for the ‘Room to Reward’ scheme, which grants the lucky recipient a short break in a hotel of their choice. Get voting now – heroes@marriagecare.org.uk (Posted 4th August 2025)
  • Update! Skills practice group posted below :After some interest and a discussion with group members, we have decided to settle on an evening slot for the newly launched skillshare group after a summer break. The next session will therefore be Monday September 1st at 7pm. If you would be interested in joining, please contact tricia.moore@marriagecare.org (Posted 4th August 2025)
  • Expression of Concern skills practice : We plan to put together a selection of case study resources to be used in supervision, for skills practice. We ask whether you could share a scenario with us which you’ve been involved in, where the EOC was used; or perhaps a situation where you weren’t sure whether it should be used. We also welcome ethical dilemmas and moral mazes. I will anonymise all cases, and gain your full and final consent before sharing amongst practitioners. Drop me a line if you think you have something you can share – rachel@marriagecare.org.uk. Thank you. (Posted 29th July 2025).
  • Vacancies within a skills practice group : Would you like to join a group of Marriage Care practitioners, who meet monthly online on a Thursday morning, for skills practice? Full details can be found in the flyer emailed out to all counsellors/supervisors on 23rd July, or for more information, contact Tricia Moore directly on  tricia.moore@marriagecare.org (Posted 23rd July 2025)
  • One Plus One Digital Resources for Clients: Informational guidance on the digital resources made available to our counselling clients has been shared with you all by email, but you can also access this information in the Initial Appointments and Counsellors Resources section of the Members Area. You have been given FREE access to these resources as a Marriage Care counsellor! (Posted 9th July 2025)
  • BACP: New accreditation routes available from February 2026. The routes will enable members to move membership categories where they have the skills, knowledge and training to do so. You can read more about this, and the SCoPEd framework here (Posted 25th June 2025)

 

  • Can’t log into the portal? There have been a number of practitioners reporting that the link they normally use to access the portal is no longer working. If you find yourself in this situation, use this link instead: https://marriagecare.my.site.com/login and your usual log in credentials. Alternatively, give Karen and the team a call at Appointments Services (Posted 17th June)

 

  • The use of AI in Assignments. We have provided guidance to CRC trainees in the use of AI as they prepare to submit their assignments, however, this guidance is suitable for all our trainee volunteers in any capacity who may be looking to submit a written piece of work. You can find the guidance at Counselling Practitioners – Counselling Policies and Procedures – The Use of AI in Assignments (Posted 17th June 2025)

 

  • Grief and Bereavement. A new resource sheet ‘lesson from practice’ to view in the members area, from our own David Oliviere. We also plan to run another of David’s in-person training events in 2026. Find the resource sheet at Counselling Practitioners ~ Resources for Counsellors (Posted 16th June 2025)

 

  • Abuse isn’t always physical. It’s also abuse, if… A new document to view on the members area related to Domestic Abuse. Find it at Counselling Practitioners ~ Resources for Counsellors (Posted 10th June 2025)

 

  • EFT Support Group now welcoming new attendees. Please check your emails for further information on the group, or email Joanne Anderson joanne@andersonhouse.co.uk with any questions. (Posted 9th June 2025)

 

  • Having problems with your supervision report on the portal? We are aware of an issue when trying to save your entries, where it won’t let you, and you risk losing all the content you’ve entered so far. While we believe the issue to be centered around the name field of the counsellor, and how it dislikes any changes in this field, we appreciate this isn’t helping you submit your report. We suggest for each report you are collaborating on, just add one or two fields worth of entries and then save. Although it won’t prevent errors, it will highlight problems before you spend too much time filling in the whole thing. Top tip – Tab off or click out of the name field carefully leaving it unchanged. As always, contact Rachel Marsh for assistance if you encounter any of the above. (Posted 19/5/25)

 

  • Knowledge to share with Clients : Silent Solution. When you need to call 999 but can’t talk – the Silent Solution can help. The Silent Solution is a system that filters out large numbers of accidental, or hoax 999 calls while ensuring people can alert police and get help when they are in genuine need but unable to speak. You can read a post from Cambridgeshire Police here, highlighting how this can help someone in danger. Be aware, and share the knowledge with any client you feel may find themselves in a similar situation. You can read more about Silent Solution in our crisis links on the website here (Posted 22/4/25)

 

  • Supervision reports for the period 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025 are now due. Counsellors, please log into your portal to create the report. Your supervisor will then be able to see the report you have created in their own portal, and collaborate with you for completion. Once you are both agreed the report is complete, please sign off, which submits it to NST. The deadline for your reports is 31st May 2025. If you or your supervisor are unable to submit your report via the portal, manual forms can be downloaded here. Please email to rachel@marriagecare.org.uk when complete (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

  • Interim supervisor reports for CRC trainees ONLY are also due for the period up to 31st March 2025. These are not found on the portal; they are a standalone report, completed as a collaboration between you and your supervisor. Please email to rachel@marriagecare.org.uk when complete. The form is available for download here  (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

  • Information : Advancing professional Standards in Counselling and Psychotherapy; The SCoPEd framework – The Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework outlines the core training, practice and competency requirements for counsellors and psychotherapists working with adults. Learn more here    (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

  • Supervision Review : Thursday 4th September, 2-3.30pm, online. An invitation has been extended to all supervisors, please check your emails. We hope to see you there! (Posted 19th August 2025)
  • Supervisors Meeting : Monday 8th September, 11am-12pm for general supervisors and continuing 12-12.30pm for CRC supervisors only. Please check your emails for agenda and joining link nearer the time. (Posted 20th April 2025)
  • Supervisors Meeting : Thursday 30th October, 6pm-7pm for general supervisors and continuing 7-7.30pm for CRC supervisors only. Please check your emails for agenda and joining link nearer the time. (Posted 20th April 2025)
  • Supervisors Meeting : Tuesday 25th November, 11am-12pm for general supervisors and continuing 12-12.30pm for CRC supervisors only. Please check your emails for agenda and joining link nearer the time. (Posted 20th April 2025)   ** Followed by a break through December
  • National Tea Break : Wednesday 10th December 11am. Save the date, and further information will be shared in December. (Posted 22nd April 2025)

 

 

  • CPD : CANCELLED All About Couples, being delivered in person by Michelle Hayes and Bridget Robinson, in Bath, on Tuesday 12th August, 9.45am to 1pm. All counsellors welcome. Check upcoming events for more information (Posted 14th July 2025) CANCELLED
  • CPD (External) : Conversations in Counselling, delivered online by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. Taking place Saturday 7th June 10am to 3.40pm online. Click here to learn more and book your place (Posted 5th June 2025)
  • CPD : CANCELLED Neurodiversity – An Insight into Inner Space, being delivered in person in Coleshill (West Midlands) to Marriage Care practitioners by external speaker Barrie Thompson. Taking place on Thursday 3rd July 9.30am-4.30pm. Click here to learn more and book your place (Posted 27th May 2025)  CANCELLED
  • CPD : Trauma, a two-part training being delivered in person in London to Marriage Care practitioners by external speaker Nikki Dhillon-Keane. Taking place on Monday 7th July 10am-4pm and Monday 28th July 10am-4pm. Click here to learn more and book your place.  (Posted 1st May 2025)
  • CPD : Psychosexual Lens and case focused discussion, a two part online CPD being delivered to Marriage Care practitioners by external speaker Dr Remziye Kunelaki. Taking place on Wednesday 4th June 1pm-2pm, and Wednesday 10th September 1pm-2.30pm. Click here to learn more and book your place (Posted 16th April 2025)
  • CPD : Intercultural and Interfaith couples, a 2hr evening online session offered to all practitioners, delivered by Michelle Hayes on Thursday 12th June, 5.30-7.30pm. Click here to learn more and book your place  (Posted 16th April 2025)
  • CPD : Working With the Couple in Mind, a 2.5 hr online session on the challenges of helping an individual client with their relationship, presented by external speaker Anne Power on Saturday 18th October 10am-12.30pm. Click here to learn more and book your place.  (Posted 16th April 2025)
  • CPD : Supervision with Attachment Theory as our Guide, a 2.5hr online session by external speaker Anne Power, Saturday 25th October 10am-12.30pm. Click here to learn more and book your place.  (Posted 16th April 2025)  **PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS FOR SUPERVISORS ONLY**

 

 

 

  • Article/Reading :  More from the BACP, including articles, podcasts, and an in-person supervisors event booking now. (Some content may only be accessed if you are a member) Read here (Posted 19th August 2025)
  • Article/Reading : A compilation of EDI-related blogs, articles, CPD and good practice resources from the BACP. (Some may only be accessed if you are a member).  – Read here (Posted 1st July 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Domestic abuse is ‘public health emergency’ – The Guardian. Read here (Posted 1st July 2025)
  • Article/Reading : What your therapist doesn’t know – The Atlantic. Read here (Posted 30th June 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Your ancestral inheritance: What you carry forward – Counselling Directory. Read here (Posted 5th June 2025)
  • Article/Reading : The four stages of ‘modern dating’ according to new research – Forbes. Read here. (Posted 5th June 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Systems are crumbling but daily life continues. The dissonance is real. “Hypernormalisation” – The Guardian. Read here. (Posted 5th June 2025)
  • Article/Reading : The psychological impact of ghosting and gaslighting – The Independent. Read here. (Posted 5th June 2025)
  • Blog Post : Why does money cause so many relationship issues? – Tavistock Relationships. Read here    (Posted 23rd April 2025)
  • Article/Reading : The Mankind Initiative is the principal, expert and specialist charity in the UK focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. The charity collaborates and works in close partnership with other organisations and practitioners to support these victims too. Read 70 key facts and statistics on male victims of domestic abuse here   (Posted 23rd April 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Questions to ask yourself … to fix your love life – The Guardian. Read here   (Posted 10th April 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Coercive Control, by SafeLives. Read here   (Posted 10th April 2025)
  • Article/Reading : Validation. How to make someone feel seen and heard – Psyche. Read here (Posted 10th April 2025)
  • Short Read : People everywhere are head down, lost in the oblivion of infinite scroll. Just stop and let the moment breathe…Our capacity to be present – The Guardian. Read here    (Posted 10th April 2025)
  • Article/Reading : My much older lover keeps reaching out, then pushing me away – The Guardian. Read here    (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

  • Video : TED talk by one of the UK’s best known sex experts, Dr Karen Gurney. Watch here  (Posted 10th April 2025) 
  • Video : Esther Perel ‘The issue underneath the issue’ Watch here  (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

 

 

 

 

  • Discussion topic for supervisors/supervision : Boundaries. A piece from the The National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society. Read here  (Posted 10th April 2025)

 

 

 

 

  • External learning and networking : Sessions Live 2025 with Esther Perel. Discover more here     (Posted 10th April 2025)
  • External Learning Opportunity : Masters Events Oxford 2025 Europe’s largest trauma, mental health and wellbeing conference. Attend in-person or online, 28th-30th September 2025 (Fixed fee £300) Discover more here      (Posted 10th April 2025)