One-day CPD conference in Bromley features leading clinical experts examining trauma, perinatal anxiety, addiction, single-session therapy, and survivor-led care.
Westmeria Counselling Services will host its inaugural Mental Health Summit on Saturday, 10th October 2026, coinciding with World Mental Health Day. Held at Oakley House in Bromley, the one-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) conference brings together practitioners, researchers, and clinical specialists to examine key developments in trauma-informed care, perinatal mental health, compulsive sexual behaviour, and single-session therapeutic interventions.
Designed specifically for counsellors, psychotherapists, and allied mental health professionals, the summit provides practical clinical insights alongside opportunities for peer discussion and delegate Q&A. Sue Doughty, Founder of Westmeria Counselling Services, will open the event with a keynote address.
“As therapeutic practice evolves alongside changing clinical demographics, practitioners need access to evidence-based insights across specialised domains,” said Sue Doughty, Founder of Westmeria Counselling Services. “This summit provides a structured space for clinicians to evaluate practical frameworks and refine their approach to complex presentation.”
Clinical Sessions and Presenters
The conference programme includes six expert-led sessions addressing distinct areas of contemporary therapeutic practice:
Listening to Mothers – Understanding Postnatal Anxiety Through Lived Experience
Presenter: Dr Claire Oakeley
Postnatal anxiety affects many new mothers yet often goes unrecognised in both clinical and community settings. This session will explore how anxiety can present in the early postnatal period, why it is frequently overlooked, and how counsellors can offer sensitive, non-pathologising support. Drawing on clinical experience and research, Claire will highlight key themes that can help practitioners recognise when a mother may be struggling and how to create space for compassionate, supportive conversations.
Dr Claire Oakeley is a Senior Accredited BACP counsellor and UKCP registered psychotherapist specialising in perinatal mental health. She has over sixteen years’ clinical experience spanning the NHS, community services, and private practice.
An Introduction to the Hidden Struggle Behind Sex & Porn Addiction
Presenter: David Olubuyide
David Olubuyide is an accredited psychotherapist with a special interest in compulsive sexual behaviours. He works in private practice and as a Clinical Associate for The Laurel Centre, supporting individuals and couples affected by compulsive sexual behaviour and the relational impact of betrayal.
David is also a speaker and educator in this field, aiming to increase awareness, break stigma and offer accessible, easy-to-understand approaches that support people in moving into and sustaining recovery.
He serves on the Board of Trustees for The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (ATSAC), an organisation committed to setting standards for education, support and resources within the field.
The Interplay of Neurodiversity and Trauma: Incorporating Neurodivergent Affirmative Practice
Presenter: Christiane Sanderson
Christiane Sanderson, former Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton with 38 years of experience in childhood sexual abuse and complex trauma, will outline methods for integrating neurodiversity-affirmative frameworks into trauma-informed practice. She is the author of several books on CSA, trauma, and domestic abuse.
Single Session Therapy in Brief
Presenter: Professor Windy Dryden
Professor Windy Dryden, Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths University of London and author of The Single-Session Therapy Mindset: What to Keep in Mind and Implications for Practice (Routledge, 2026), will examine the practical applications and strategic mindset required for single-session and “ONEplus” therapeutic interventions.
Surviving Child Sexual Abuse and the Mental Health System: What Helped, What Didn’t, and Why It Matters
Presenter: Sophie Olson
Sophie is a survivor activist, writer and founder of The Flying Child CIC. Through survivor-led training, campaigning, and support, The Flying Child aims to normalise conversations about child sexual abuse. She developed and leads Side by Side CSA, a programme that supports professionals to recognise and respond to child sexual abuse and its lifelong impacts. Once told by a psychiatrist she would ‘never recover from severe and enduring mental illness,’ Sophie’s work highlights the risks and limitations of viewing trauma through a diagnostic lens, and advocates for compassionate, accessible, and human-centred support for all survivors, including those working in frontline roles. Her book: The Flying Child – A Cautionary Fairy Tale for Adults, is co-authored by her therapist, Patricia Walsh. Pat was the first person to see beyond the ‘diagnoses’, and the therapy unlocked the door to a life Sophie could never have imagined.
Navigating Child Sexual Abuse through a Mother’s Eyes
Presenter: Miranda Eyre
Following the disclosure from her daughter of sexual abuse by her grandfather Miranda suddenly found herself navigating not only her daughter’s trauma, but the impact that abuse and disclosure can have on an entire family. Watching her daughter’s counsellor gently help her understand that the abuse was not her fault, find her voice and begin to heal had a profound impact on Miranda. After selling their family business she reinvented herself and trained as a psychotherapist. Miranda specialises in working with adults affected by childhood trauma, particularly survivors of child sexual abuse.
Today, Miranda brings together her experience as a therapist, advocate and, importantly, the mother of a survivor. She speaks openly about the impact of abuse on families, the complicated emotions surrounding disclosure, and the profound difference that skilled, compassionate therapy can make — not only to a survivor, but to those who love them.
Registration and Event Details
- Date: Saturday, 10th October 2026
- Time: 09:45 – 16:30 (Registration opens at 09:15)
- Venue: Oakley House, Bromley Common, Bromley, BR2 8HA
- Delegate Fee: £95 (includes lunch and refreshments)
- Booking: To reserve a place, contact Zoe Germain at zoegermain@westmeriacounselling.co.uk
About Westmeria Counselling Services
Westmeria Counselling Services is a registered charity dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality counselling and mental health support to local communities. Through clinical practice, professional training, and community initiatives, Westmeria works to improve mental well-being and promote high standards of therapeutic care.