As counsellors and psychotherapists look ahead in 2026, a clear theme is emerging across Continued Professional Development (CPD) choices: connection, attachment, and depth. Rather than focusing only on techniques or symptom reduction, many clinicians are investing in trainings that strengthen relational safety, nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, and meaning making.
Across attachment, trauma, somatic, narrative, expressive, and psychedelic informed pathways, the common thread is a desire to work at the roots of distress rather than only at the surface. Therapists are seeking education that supports deeper attunement to clients, stronger therapeutic presence, and greater capacity to hold complexity, developmental wounds, grief, and relational trauma.
This round up highlights trending CPD workshops recommended by Australian therapists, offering a snapshot of where the profession appears to be heading and what clinicians are finding most impactful in their real world practice.
Trending Continued Professional Development for Counsellors and Psychotherapists in 2026
Attachment Theory in Clinical Practice
Provider: Awareness Psychology Clinic
Link: https://www.awarenesspsychologyclinic.com.au/training.html
A recognised clinical training offering structured and applied attachment theory for therapy practice.
Attachment Style Relationship Coaching Certification
Provider: Personal Development School (Thais Gibson)
Link: https://university.personaldevelopmentschool.com/
A highly praised attachment focused program valued for its clarity, depth, and practical insight, even if not formally recognised in Australia.
The Secure Relationship Training Courses
Provider: Julie Mennano
Link: https://www.thesecurerelationship.com/courses-attachment-theory-relationship-growth
Attachment based training supporting therapists and couples to build relational security, emotional safety, and repair.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship (EFCT)
Provider: Brisbane Centre for Emotionally Focused Therapy
Link: https://bceft.com.au/eft-training-overview/
A four day foundational externship delivered by accredited EFT trainers, supporting deeper attunement and trauma informed couples work.
EFT Certification Level 1 and Level 2
Provider: Lauren Brittain
Link: https://www.laurenbrittain.com/
Formal training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for therapists seeking structured couples therapy certification.
IFS Level 1 Training (Internal Family Systems)
Provider: Mind Beyond Institute
Link: https://mindbeyond.com.au/
A highly sought after parts work training supporting trauma healing, emotional regulation, and internal systems work.
FACT: ACT as a Brief Intervention
Provider: Psychwire (Russ Harris)
Link: https://psychwire.com/harris/act-brief-intervention
A practical ACT training designed for brief interventions in schools, therapy, and supervision contexts.
Compassionate Inquiry Graduate Program
Provider: Compassionate Inquiry (Dr Gabor Maté)
Link: https://compassionateinquiry.com/online-training/
A year long graduate level trauma training exploring authenticity, emotional truth, and mind body healing.
Working with Subpersonalities and Parts
Provider: The Psychosynthesis Centre
Link: https://psychosynthesis.online/working-with-subpersonalities-and-parts/
A two day workshop on the fundamentals of subpersonalities (parts) and collage your parts, including experiential guided visualisation and collage based integration. Live online Sydney.
EMDR Training
Provider: Caroline Burrows
Link: https://www.carolineburrows.com.au/
Advanced EMDR trauma training for clinicians continuing formal EMDR accreditation pathways.
Somatic Intersubjective Self Psychology Training Course 2027–2028
Provider: Self n Motion
Link: https://selfnmotion.com.au/somatic-intersubjective-self-psychology-training-course-2027-2028/
A long term somatic and relational psychotherapy training focused on embodiment, attunement, and internal experience.
Certificate in Sandplay Therapy and Symbol Work
Provider: Expressive Therapies Australia
Link: https://expressivetherapies.au/courses/cc_sandplay.php
An expressive therapy training exploring symbolism, play, creativity, and unconscious healing processes.
Narrative Therapy Level 1 and Level 2 Intensives
Provider: The Dulwich Centre
Link: https://dulwichcentre.com.au/education-courses/narrative-therapy-training/
Training in narrative therapy approaches to identity, meaning making, and re authoring life stories.
Holistic Mental Health Specialist Certificate
Provider: PESI
Link: https://catalogue.pesi.com.au/sales/au_c_002240_holisticmentalhealthspecialist_organic-1471835
An introductory holistic mental health training for therapists wanting integrative and whole person frameworks.
Working with Bereaved Children Course
Provider: National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG)
Link: https://childhoodgrief.org.au/education/#toggle-id-2
Specialised training in childhood grief, bereavement, and loss, an area with limited dedicated CPD pathways.
Trauma Informed First Nations Cultural Practice and Somatic Skills for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Provider: Sacred Roots
Link: https://sacredroots.au/programs/
An experiential training integrating trauma informed somatic work, Indigenous cultural practice, and ceremonial context.
Integrative Psychedelic Assisted Practice and Trauma Informed Group Facilitation Training
Provider: Dr Lauren Macdonald
Link: https://drlaurenmacdonald.com/training
A training pathway combining trauma informed psychedelic practice, ceremonial work, and group facilitation skills.
Relational and Depth Work Training (Gestalt Therapy Series)
Provider: Eise Education with Lynne Jacobs
Link: https://www.eiseeducation.com/bundles/dr-lynne-jacobs-series
Advanced relational and depth psychotherapy training for clinicians working beyond surface level change.
Infant Observation and Attachment Workshops
Provider: La Trobe University
Link: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/research/centres/health/bouverie/courses/pd/workshops/attachinfants
A specialist training in infant development, attachment, and observational practice.
Career as a Journey of Soul
Provider: Life Artistry
Link: https://www.lifeartistry.com.au/cjs1
A depth oriented career and vocation program exploring meaning, purpose, and soul centred work.
Relational Integrative EMDR Part 2
Provider: Seva Training
Link: https://www.sevatraining.com.au/
Advanced EMDR training with a relational and integrative focus.
Somatic Experiencing Training
Provider: Restoring Resilience
Link: https://restoringreslience.com.au
Training in Somatic Experiencing for trauma resolution through nervous system regulation and embodiment.
PACFA Low-Cost Continued Professional Development
Provider: The Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia
Link: https://pacfa.org.au/portal/Portal/CPD/CPD.aspx
Training in Somatic Experiencing for trauma resolution through nervous system regulation and embodiment.
What this list reflects is not a trend toward more techniques, but toward more depth, presence, and relational capacity. It offers a practical starting point for therapists shaping their CPD in 2026.
Thank you to the therapists who contributed to this Trends in Continued Professional Development round-up.
Australian Counsellors & Psychotherapists Who Contributed to This CPD Round Up
Wade Eames
http://www.nextsteps.au
Niche: Addiction, complex trauma, relationships, identity, men’s work
Gabriella Gandi
http://www.giraffehealingfire.com/clarity-counselling
Niche: Meaning and purpose, life transitions, self discovery, spirituality
Georgia Murphy
http://www.georgiamurphyonlinetherapy.com
Niche: English speaking internationals navigating identity and self worth during major life transitions
Katrina James
http://www.reframecounselling.com.au
Niche: Skilled migrants, identity, belonging
Sonia Skewes
http://www.reframecounselling.com.au
Niche: Helps women release survival patterns, rebuild self-trust, and reconnect with themselves.
Skye Regan Counselling
https://skyeregancounselling.com.au/
Niche: Anxiety, relationships, depression, meaning in life
Ben Simmons
http://www.simmonspsychotherapy.com.au
Niche: Neurodivergent teens and adults, teachers, education professionals
Nathan James
http://www.tausupervision.au
Niche: Children, adolescents, supervision
Candyce Linington
http://www.centredwellness.com.au
Niche: Trauma, grief, illness, life transitions
Melisa Sincock
http://www.theruralcounsellor.com.au
Niche: Rural trauma, emergency services, family violence, grief
Carmel Catanuto
http://www.carmelcatanuto-psychotherapy.com.au
Niche: Sensitive women, anxiety, people pleasing, self worth
Jerry Souter
http://www.jerrysouter.com
Niche: Highly sensitive people
Swathi Stirling
http://www.naracentredtherapy.com.au
Niche: Fertility challenges, grief, loss, relationships
Michelle DSilva
http://www.heartfulsoultherapies.com.au
Niche: Women in life transitions, reconnection to self
Amber Waksman
http://www.hilarysheart.com.au
Niche: Childhood grief
Tricia T S Ang
http://www.evolvecounsellingandtherapies.com
Niche: Complex trauma, overwhelmed high achievers
Fred Rikke Jensen
http://www.throughlinecounselling.com
Niche: Deep relational wounds, narrative and psychodynamic work
