Rumination: Managing
Over-analysis Without Action

Live Online 3hr CPD Workshop for Mental Health Professionals
 

Course Overview

 This 3-hour interactive workshop supports practitioners to work effectively with clients who present with overthinking, indecision, self-criticism, and perfectionism. 

Rather than viewing rumination as simply “overthinking,” this training introduces a psychologically informed framework that understands rumination as a threat-based protection response — where thinking is used to manage uncertainty and maintain control. 

You’ll learn how excessive analysis, fear of getting it wrong, and intolerance of uncertainty can block action and reinforce distress. The focus is practical and clinically grounded — helping you interrupt cognitive spirals, reduce paralysis, and support clients to move into meaningful behavioural change without triggering overwhelm or shame.

What will this training give you? 

• Clear understanding of rumination as a coping pattern
• Practical strategies to interrupt overthinking cycles
• Confidence working with indecision and perfectionism
• Skills to shift clients from analysis into action
• Tools to support “good enough” decision-making
• A framework to differentiate productive reflection from unhelpful rumination

Learning Objectives

• Identify rumination and distinguish it from problem-solving
• Recognise behavioural and cognitive indicators of over-analysis and indecision
• Assess how fear of uncertainty and imperfection maintains inaction
• Apply structured, action-focused communication to reduce paralysis
• Demonstrate containment and redirection strategies in-session
• Integrate behavioural experimentation into clinical practice

Assessment / Evidence of Learning                                

Learning is evidenced through active participation in guided reflection activities, clinical discussion, and practical exercises during this live workshop.

Participants demonstrate learning through:

• Identification of coping patterns in vignette material
• Appropriate formulation of over-care and self-neglect dynamics
• Use of values-aligned, guilt-sensitive language in role-play
• Demonstration of boundary-supportive communication skills

Participants receive a certificate of attendance for 3 CPD hours.

Please note, to fulfill the learning outcomes, this course does require active participation and contribution in activities and exercises. Participants are expected to have their camera on, especially in breakout rooms. 

If the above is not possible on the day, a certificate of attendance may not be awarded and participants will have the option to attend the training at a later date where available.

About the Presenter

Karen Bartle is a postgraduate in Health Psychology, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, clinical supervisor, co-founder of the Academy of Advanced Changework, founder of HealthTalk Psychology, and co-author of The Advanced Hypnotherapist.

With 25+ years’ experience, Karen supports practitioners working with complex behavioural and relational patterns. She is known for translating psychological depth into practical, usable clinical skills.

Who is this course for? 

Practitioners working with clients who:

• Overthink decisions or go “in circles”
• Struggle with indecision or second-guessing
• Experience high self-criticism or perfectionism
• Feel stuck despite high insight or knowledge
• Delay action due to fear of getting it wrong

Especially relevant for work with anxiety, stress-related behaviours, eating patterns, and high-functioning clients who appear “capable but stuck.”