- Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) -

'Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE)' is a 6-hour self-paced course from the Association for Psychological Therapies (APT), a leading provider of training for professionals working in mental health and related areas in the UK and Ireland.

It is the only Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) training that is APT-accredited and also gives you access to APT’s relevant downloadable resources for use post-course. The course is available 'online anytime' for both teams and individuals.

Course overview:

‘Psychologically Informed Environments’ is a concept that originated in the context of working with marginalised people, especially the homeless, and, because of the importance of the key ideas, it has evolved into something that applies in a very wide range of workplaces, including hospitals, mental health facilities, schools and universities, offices, and more. The key ideas are:

1. Developing ‘a psychological framework’.

In a mental health facility, this might be quite a sophisticated positive approach, such as the RAID philosophy. In an office, it might be to be kind and supportive of each other and yet efficient. In other places, it might be something quite different, and we show you how to identify what might work best for you.

2. The physical environment and social spaces.

Superficially, the design of the physical environment might itself appear to be superficial, but it is not: the physical environment immediately conveys a lot about how the organisation cares for those in it, by its original design and how well or badly it is maintained.

3. Staff training and support.

It is a defining feature of a PIE that staff understand why they are doing what they do and how best to sustain it. Many workplaces can be very demanding, and so a PIE pays attention to staff wellbeing, through reflective practice, supervision, and ongoing development. We look at how to create a culture where staff feel safe, valued and resourced – and therefore are at their best.

4. Managing relationships.

At the heart of any psychologically informed approach is the understanding that relationships are central. So, in a PIE, relationships are handled deliberately rather than by chance. A PIE also pays attention to relationships within the organisation (between colleagues, teams, and management), recognising that modelling respectful, authentic, and restorative relationships is key to achieving them externally.

5. Evaluation of outcomes.

Part of the strength of PIE lies in noticing and understanding what is working and what needs adjusting. That may involve formal outcome measures, qualitative feedback, staff reflection logs, or simply noticing meaningful changes of any sort. A PIE evolves through thoughtful evaluation of these observations, ensuring the environment genuinely supports the people and purpose it is designed to achieve.

So this is what the course covers, with encouragement at each stage for you to apply the concepts to your own workplace, wherever that is.

PIE thinking is not reserved for specialist services; it is a way of understanding how any environment can shape experience, behaviour, and wellbeing. The course equips you to look at your own context with fresh eyes — what is already helpful, what might be refined, and how relevant psychological principles can be made real, practical and supportive day-to-day.

What you receive as a result of attending the training:

You will be registered as having attended the course and receive a certificate of completion. This gives you APT accreditation in PIE, and access to the relevant resources to help you implement PIE thinking subsequently.
 

Bookings:

To access the course straightaway, click ‘add to cart’ to purchase by card or PayPal. (If you are ordering the course for somebody else, or a group, create an account and select ‘Bulk Purchase’ once you have proceeded to cart.)

If you would like to be invoiced please click here (once the invoice has been paid or upon receipt of an official Purchase Order, we can then grant access to the course).