The Vital Skill of Clinical Assessment
Master the Art of Professional Client Assessment in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Why This Course Matters
Are you confident in your ability to assess clients effectively?
Client assessment is the critical foundation of successful therapy. When done skilfully, it builds trust and provides crucial insights. When done poorly, it can damage the therapeutic relationship before it even begins.
Many practitioners find themselves struggling with difficult questions: How do I ask about suicidal thoughts without increasing risk? When should I refer a client elsewhere? How do I balance formal assessment with therapeutic presence?
This engaging one-day online workshop equips you with the practical skills to conduct professional, empathic assessments that enhance rather than hinder the therapeutic relationship.
What You'll Learn
By the end of the day, you'll be able to:
- Structure assessments that gather essential information whilst maintaining rapport
- Confidently address sensitive topics, including suicide risk, self-harm, and safeguarding
- Evaluate common assessment tools (GAD-7, PHQ-9, and others) and decide when they're useful
- Recognise red flags that suggest a client needs additional support or referral
- Balance formal assessment requirements with therapeutic presence
- Document assessments in ways that support your clinical thinking and practice
Workshop Format
This is a practical focusing on the core principles of effective assessment—what information you really need, how to structure the conversation, and how to ask difficult questions in ways that feel supportive rather than intrusive.
Throughout the day, you will be putting what you learn into practice. Working in small groups, you'll try out assessment techniques, get feedback, and refine your approach. We'll also work through case studies together, looking at how experienced practitioners handle tricky situations and discussing what you might do differently.
There will be plenty of space for questions and discussion and you will leave with practical templates and frameworks you can start using straight away.
Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for:
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Therapists new to private practice seeking to establish professional assessment protocols
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Organisational gatekeepers responsible for client screening and allocation
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Experienced practitioners wanting to refresh and enhance their assessment skills
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Students and trainees preparing to work directly with clients
No prior experience with formal assessment is required - just a willingness to engage with this essential aspect of therapeutic practice.
Your Professional Development
Participants receive:
- All resources used on the day
- A Connexus Institute Certificate of Completion
- 6 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Date: Sat 20th June 2026
Length: 1 day
Times: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Mode: Online
Cost: £125
More Information
Let us know if you have any questions
Meet your course leaders
Nancy Dalton, CTA (P)
Nancy Dalton is a Certified Transactional Analyst with a thriving counselling and psychotherapy practice in Tunbridge Wells and online. Drawing on many years of senior-level experience in the healthcare sector, she brings both depth and practicality to her therapeutic work. Nancy is passionate about developing the next generation of mental health professionals and in addition to offering specialised CPD courses, serves as a continuity tutor at Connexus. She is equally committed to enhancing the therapeutic experience for clients, bringing warmth and expertise to every session.