Our story so far...
How it started
At its heart, Connexus Institute is more than a place to study. It is a community where people learn together, challenge each other and look after one another along the way. Excellence and integrity sit comfortably alongside warmth and welcome here, and the splendid refreshments and rather lovely biscuits in our tea breaks have become something of a tradition.
The idea for Connexus took shape between training sessions, over cups of tea and long conversations. We dreamed of psychotherapy and counselling training that went beyond the traditional classroom: a place where professional knowledge and human connection go hand in hand, and where personal growth has room to flourish.
Our founding team brings experience from universities, schools and professional development as well as therapy. That combination means we understand how adults learn, and it shapes training that is academically sound and practically useful. You can meet our management team.
Connexus was founded by three of us: Patrick Brook, John Maxwell and Lisa Bedford-Cooper. Lisa stepped down as a director in 2025, and we remain grateful for everything she brought to Connexus in its early years.
From vision to reality
What started as a single course has grown into a lively community of students, practitioners and tutors. Alongside our NCPS-accredited counselling training and our psychotherapy route to UKCP registration through UKATA, we now offer one- and two-day workshops, certificate and diploma programmes, including relationship therapy and clinical supervision, and regular CPD for counsellors and psychotherapists, whether in training or qualified. Our all upcoming courses page is a handy way to see everything we offer.
In our students’ words
I didn’t just learn skills here. I felt a shift in how I approach my work and even how I see myself.
What stood out for me was the interactive nature of the sessions. There was space to bring our own experiences into the learning.
I love, love, love what you’ve created.
A beautiful place to learn
Brighton and Hove was the natural home for us: a city whose energy and openness match our own. Our building is a calm place for reflection and exploration, with the sea air a few minutes away and everything a city offers on the doorstep.
Learning as adults
We believe adults learn best when their experience is valued. Our courses are interactive and experiential, so you bring your own practice into the room, reflect on it, and leave with skills you can use. You are trusted to shape your own learning, while we hold the standards that professional training requires.
Looking ahead
We will keep developing our programmes as professional frameworks change, and keep the warmth and personal touch that have been part of Connexus from the start. Our graduates now work as counsellors, psychotherapists and supervisors across the UK and beyond, and we have welcomed leading figures in the field to teach here. Together, we are shaping a future where connection and change can flourish: one conversation, one insight, and, yes, one cup of tea at a time.