We believe everyone should be able to work in a mentally healthy and inclusive environment where they can bring their whole selves to work.
The programme
Taking care of your employees’ wellbeing is crucial for creating positive, productive and healthy workplace environments. Our CPD accredited Workplace Wellbeing Essentials programme includes four core workshops (available online or in-person), created specifically for those who work in the architectural profession or for an architectural practice.
These workshops are for individuals looking for guidance on how to support themselves or a colleague, or leaders/managers who have started, or would like to start, implementing a healthy mental wellbeing strategy in their practice.
Each workshop is designed to provide expertise, guidance and training for mental wellbeing and psychological resilience at work, as well as leadership development so you can achieve the best possible work culture for your practice.
Practices can book one or all four workshops. We can help advise you on the best workshops for you and for your organisation.
Aimed at: Everyone at all levels including team leaders
Deliver: Virtual or in-person
Duration: 90-minutes
This CPD accredited workshop provides an overview of common mental health difficulties which will include a summary of risk factors, signs, symptoms and just how these might manifest into how we handle stress, relate to others, and what choices we make. Alongside this we will look at other factors that can influence our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing.
Aimed at: Managers and leaders with people or team responsibilities
Deliver: Virtual or in-person
Duration: 90-minutes
In an industry that is faced with pressures from clients, projects, and constant change, Leader-Managers are often asked to step out of their comfort zone and develop a broader set of skills to face the present-day challenges in business. At times this can feel uncomfortable; perhaps even more so when it comes to talking to employees about their mental health and wellbeing.
This CPD accredited workshop will explore what it means to be a Leader and or Manager, integrating a wellbeing approach into their role.
Aimed at: Anyone who has a responsibility for leading teams
Deliver: In-person only
Duration: 2-hours
Resilience helps teams adapt to constant change by staying motivated, not just weathering the challenges, but growing stronger in the face of them. During this workshop we will look at how to adapt to new ways of working to increase efficiency and maintain a strong sense of cooperation in the midst of change. How leaders can develop four key practices that helps us sustain productivity and foster trust and togetherness at work.
Aimed at: Key people that play a role in creating a culture of organisational wellbeing
Deliver: In-person only
Duration: 2-hours
During this 2-hour consultation workshop we will help you consider where you are now with your wellbeing approach, what you would like to improve on and help you map out an action plan that is unique and sustainable for your practice or organisation.
We will show you how to utilize this as an opportunity to either kick start your workplace wellbeing approach or refresh and reinvigorate your existing wellbeing strategy.
Who should attend
Our workshops have been designed and tailored for those who work in the architectural profession (Architects, Landscape Architects, Architectural Technologists), or an architectural practice including sole practitioners and any employee of an architectural practice.
The team
This programme is bought to you by ABS in collaboration with Nicola Rich of Nine to Thrive and Nadia Muwanga of It’s All Perspective. Meet our expert course leaders and ABS Wellbeing Programme Lead Anne Cosentino below:
Nicola Rich
Psychotherapist and Leadership Coach
I am an accomplished keynote speaker, facilitator, coach & psychotherapist.
Having worked alongside professionals in Architecture for over 15 years, I have become familiar with the challenges and opportunities that the industry presents. This can involve sustaining an income, finding new projects, meeting the changing needs of clients/contractors, supporting a team, or finding time to just rest the mind, which is not always easy.
That said, I also recognise the sense of achievement one gets from winning a bid that they worked hard at, getting their project across the line, resolving a complex problem with a new design idea, or taking pride in seeing a building they were involved with come to life. Helping people and practices to navigate this paradox whilst sustaining psychological health & wellness is at the heart of what I do.
One of my proudest achievements was securing an award in employee Health & Wellbeing for Stride Treglown the highest award given to a company in the UK, at a time when workplace wellbeing was not mainstream. Since then, I have helped numerous organisations from SMEs to large Corporates to foster a culture of high performance & high wellness.
My work has given me the opportunity to connect with people in many ways and I continue to have the privilege of seeing their lives, careers and practices transform.
Specialties:
- Organisational Wellbeing
- Executive Coaching
- Psychotherapy
- Emotional Intelligence
- Mental Health First Aid
- Transformative Meditation
Nadia Muwanga (BSc, PGdip)
Psychotherapist, Trainer & Consultant
I am a qualified psychotherapist who specialises in Cognitive and behavioural psychology. I also specialise in different modes of therapy such as Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), compassion focused therapy (CFT), Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT).
There are various factors that can contribute to our mental health in a positive and negative way. I am passionate about promoting and increasing awareness about mental health and wellbeing and I have over ten years’ worth of experience of designing and delivering training within the mental health sector.
My approach is holistic, and evidence based. My aim is to firstly create a culture of awareness and then look at ways to implement this by providing different strategies and interventions that are sustainable. What I find most important of all is that we are having these conversations. Developing the language and encouraging dialogue around this subject is the first step in a positive direction.
Whilst working within the NHS I gained a real insight into the consequences that delayed intervention can cause to one’s mental health and the benefits of accessing support at the right time. This, along with my growing awareness of the importance of understanding mental health at work, led to my working with a variety of organisations. I have since worked with organisations such as the metropolitan police, charities, universities, and different sized organisations. I help people and organisations to actualise their potential by integrating individual and organisational wellbeing through proactive mental health and wellbeing training creating a culture of high productivity and wellness.
Anne Cosentino
Wellbeing Programme Lead
I am an advocate for creating safe, mentally healthy workplaces and passionate about raising awareness of the importance of mental health to enable everyone to thrive via practical actions and steps to improve working culture in the architectural community.
I was previously responsible for supporting the delivery of the RIBA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy by working with the organisation and its members, to become a more inclusive and diverse organisation and profession. I am part of several EDI related committees, panels, forums and networks, including the Mayor’s Greater London Authority Diversity Sounding Board, Architects’ Council of Europe’s Women in Architecture Taskforce; Architects Mental Wellbeing Forum and Women in Architecture UK.
I am also a Mental Health First Aider.
How to book
Practices or organisations can book this workshop for anyone in their organisation to attend. For more information, and to sign up contact Anne Cosentino, ABS Wellbeing Programme Lead, at anne.cosentino@absnet.org.uk.