Join us at Trigonos for this four-day course introducing the basics of safe and effective wellbeing work in the outdoors.
This four-day residential course is designed for practitioners who want to explore how counselling and wellbeing work can be safely and thoughtfully adapted to outdoor environments. Whether you work in education, youth work, counselling, social, care, or are an outdoors practitioner seeking to embed listening skills in your work, this course offers a grounded introduction to the skills, activities, and safety considerations needed to begin practicing outdoors with confidence.
This course is a thoughtful introduction to integrating outdoor environments in relational and therapeutic work in ways that are ethical, grounded, and professionally responsible. Participants will experience the practices first-hand, reflect on their own responses to outdoor working, and leave with practical tools, frameworks, and safety awareness to begin or deepen their practice.
What to expect:
The course provides structured learning and guided discussion; experiential outdoor activities; time for reflection and integration; a supporting residential environment in a stunning setting; and delicious meals and refreshments throughout.
During the course, you will learn:
Core relational skills in outdoor contexts
How to adapt counselling and wellbeing conversations to walking, sitting, and nature-based settings
Practical outdoor wellbeing activities you can use with groups and individuals
Risk assessment, boundaries, and ethical considerations
Basic environmental safety and duty of care
Holding reflective space while working alongside unpredictability – weather, terrain, and emotion
About the Facilitators
Graham French
Dr Graham French is a Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education at Bangor University. He has extensive experience in working with people of all ages and abilities in green and blue spaces. Graham is passionate about the essential connection between our mental health, our sense of belonging, and the landscapes in which we live. His research interests focus on adventure education and outdoor learning, aiming to enhance pedagogical approaches and promote affective learning for all. He has also contributed to the development of outdoor education policies in Wales, advocating for equitable access to outdoor learning experiences for all children and young people as an integral part of their development and wellbeing.
Kevin Deyna-Jones
Kevin is an NHS Primary Health Care Counsellor for Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, North Wales and a Lecturer on the MSc Counselling & BSc(Hons) Psychology with Counselling programme at Bangor University. He supports clients with a broad range of mental health challenges. As PPD Tutor, Kevin is passionate about personal and professional development, guiding students in their reflective practice and growth as future therapists. He has been running residentials at Trigonos for nearly a decade, fostering deep connection, self-awareness, and experiential learning. With a background spanning education, psychology, and mental health, Kevin integrates diverse approaches in his practice, including Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness based approaches.
Nia Young
Dr Nia Young is a Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Childhood & Youth Studies at Bangor University. She is also a counsellor and writer and she has spent her career exploring how the stories we tell about ourselves shape our wellbeing, identity, and sense of possibility.
Kevin and Nia bring together academic insight and wellbeing practice in an accessible, thoughtful, and encouraging way. They create spaces where we can explore our stories with compassion, curiosity, and a touch of humour. This course is not about writing perfectly, it’s about writing honestly and discovering how writing our own stories can help us re-author the places we are stuck, notice overlooked strengths, and reconnect with the meaning of our own lives.
Cost
Residential Rates – Prices start from £569 per person, including facilitator fees, accommodation, and all-inclusive catering.
You can choose from the following options:
Single Occupancy:
Double Bed Ensuite: £849.00
Single Bed Ensuite: £809.00
Single Bed Non-Ensuite: £689.00
Shared Twin Occupancy (per person):
Double Bed Ensuite: £649.00
Single Bed Ensuite: £629.00
Single Bed Non-Ensuite: £569.00
Non-Residential Rate – £414.00 per person, including facilitator fees and all-inclusive catering (excluding breakfast).