Healthy Conversation Skills Workshop  (HCS)

What is the Cedar Tree Healthy Conversation Skills Workshop?
Healthy Conversation Skills is a practical workshop that builds confidence in having supportive conversations around mental health and wellbeing.


Participants learn how to listen effectively, use open questions, offer empathy, and confidently signpost to appropriate support, while looking after their own wellbeing too.


The Format   

  • Duration: 1/2 day
  • Venue: Face 2 Face or Online.     
  • Style: Live & interactive - Learning takes place through a mix of group activities, presentations, discussions and videos. 


What we cover

  • Understanding the purpose and principles of Healthy Conversation Skills
  • Creating safe, respectful environments for sensitive conversations
  • Active listening and the use of silence
  • Showing empathy, reassurance, and non‑judgemental support
  • What helps—and what doesn’t help—when someone opens up
  • Using open discovery questions (including TED: Tell, Explain, Describe)
  • Avoiding common pitfalls such as fixing, judging, or giving premature advice
  • Encouraging positive change without taking responsibility for others’ choices
  • Recognising personal limits, boundaries, and confidentiality
  • Identifying and responding to imminent crisis situations
  • Knowing when and how to signpost to professional and community support
  • Practical, interactive activities to practise real‑life conversations
  • Looking after your own wellbeing while supporting others

The Cedar Tree Healthy Conversation Skills training is based on the NHS Wessex Module of Making Every Contact Count.

Training Enquiry

Course Agenda


Session 1

  •  Welcome & Introduction
  • The mission
  • Introductions from the attendees
  • Break


Session 2

  • Healthy conversation Activity I
  • Approach and Support
  • Healthy conversation Activity II
  • Healthy conversation Skills philosophy
  • Lunch


Session 3

  • What wont Help
  • Open discovery questions
  • Open discovery questions – TED
  • What should you avoid doing?
  • Healthy conversation Activity III 
  • Break


Session 4

  • Healthy conversation Activity IV
  • What if this is an immanent crisis?
  • Support services
  • Optional modules time permitting
  • Change
  • Acceptance
  • Core Values
  • SMARTER goals
  • It’s about YOU too!
  • Final questions
  • END

How will attending this training help?

Taking part in the CedarTree Healthy Conversation Skills Workshop gives you simple, effective ways to support your own wellbeing and to have more confident, compassionate conversations with others.

Research shows that training like this:

  • Builds confidence in starting supportive, person‑centred conversations.
  • Strengthens skills that help you listen well and respond with empathy.
  • Increases awareness of how everyday conversations can improve wellbeing.
  • Encourages early, low‑level support that can prevent issues from escalating.

On completion

Everyone who completes the course will receive a Cedar Tree certificate of attendance. 

Miscellaneous

The Mental Health Awareness course can also be run over

2 half days or

4 evenings or
(weekends are also possible)

Each session is approximately 1 hour

(depending on how involved group members participate and discussions. )