Intersections of Hope - a Hybrid Conference
- Saturday 22 August 2026
- University of Lancashire, Preston + Online
- 9:00am–5:30pm UK Summer Time | 6 hours CPD Certificate
Join us for Pink Therapy Conference 2026: Intersections of Hope — a hybrid conference for therapists, mental health practitioners, researchers, activists, students and community members working across gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.
For the first time, Pink Therapy’s annual conference takes place outside London, hosted at the University of Lancashire in Preston. The day brings together keynote speakers, presentations, workshops, research, practice-based learning and community connection.
At a time when public conversations around gender, sexuality, belonging and rights feel increasingly polarised, this conference asks how we sustain hope — intellectually, politically, therapeutically and collectively.
Choose how you want to join us
Attend in person in Preston
Join us at the Darwin Building, University of Lancashire, for the full in-person conference experience.
In-person delegates can attend the keynote sessions in the main lecture theatre, choose from four parallel workshop streams, connect with colleagues throughout the day, use quiet spaces when needed, and be part of the shared closing session.
Find out programme details for the conference in personAttend online from wherever you are
Can’t travel to Preston? Join the virtual conference.
Online delegates will be able to watch the main lecture theatre programme live, including the keynotes and streamed presentations. You’ll be able to submit questions in real time, connect with other online participants through chat and networking spaces, and receive a guaranteed 6 hour CPD certificate.
We have listened to feedback and improved the online registration and joining process, so virtual attendance is clearer, smoother and easier to navigate.
Find out more about the virtual conferenceWhy Intersections of Hope?
This year’s theme responds to the social, clinical and political realities shaping GSRD therapeutic work now.
Public discourse around gender, sexuality and belonging is increasingly polarised. Practitioners are working within social climates marked by legislative pressure, cultural backlash and uncertainty. The need for thoughtful, rigorous, community-rooted spaces has rarely felt more urgent.
Intersections of Hope brings together current research, clinical practice, activism and lived experience. Across the day, speakers and delegates will ask what helps sustain hope — not as denial or optimism, but as a disciplined practice of solidarity, imagination, care and resistance.
Keynote speakers
Both in-person and virtual delegates will be able to hear from this year’s keynote speakers.
Dr Jay Stewart
he/himChief Executive and co-founder of Gendered Intelligence, a UK charity working to improve the lives of trans, non-binary and gender-exploring people.
Dr Dwight Turner
he/himPsychotherapist, supervisor, author and scholar whose work explores intersectionality, privilege, otherness, supremacy and decolonising therapeutic practice.
Dr Ali Bromley
she/herPsychologist and activist bringing clinical, feminist and social justice perspectives to contemporary conversations about gender, sexuality and care.
Shon Faye
she/herWriter, journalist and author of The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice.
Dr Raawiyah Rifath
she/herLecturer in law whose research addresses LGBTQIA+ asylum, trauma, vulnerability and the UK asylum process.
Who the conference is for
This conference is for psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, supervisors, trainees and mental health practitioners seeking to deepen their work with gender, sexuality and relationship diverse clients.
It is also for LGBTQ+ practitioners looking for rigorous dialogue within a community that understands the stakes of this work and offers professional belonging.
We warmly welcome activists, researchers, journalists, students, early-career scholars and community members who want to interrogate, challenge and extend the field.
Book your place
Join us in Preston or online for a day of serious thinking, professional nourishment, community connection and practical hope.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an in-person or online conference?
Both. Pink Therapy Conference 2026 is a hybrid conference. You can attend in person in Preston or join the virtual conference online.
How many CPD hours will I receive?
Delegates receive a 6 hour CPD certificate.
Where is the in-person conference?
The in-person conference is at the Darwin Building, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 8NL.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Darwin Building is a modern university building with wheelchair accessible workshop and presentation rooms, lift access, and wheelchair accessible toilets.
The main lecture theatre has two wheelchair spaces at the bottom with power charging points. There is also an open lift inside the lecture theatre to reach the top level, where there are two further wheelchair spaces.
Can I travel from Preston Station to the venue using a wheelchair?
Preston Station is wheelchair accessible and has a Changing Places toilet with hoist. It is possible to travel from Preston Station to the venue in a wheelchair using a dropped-kerb route.
Will there be quiet space?
Yes. A designated quiet space will be available during the day for decompression, rest and reflection.
Will food be provided?
Coffee breaks will cater for all dietary requirements.
Lunch is not provided, but there are cafés and food options in the local area.
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Scholarships and bursary applications are processed in batches when funding becomes available. We are particularly keen to support qualified practitioners or counselling/therapy students on placement from marginalised backgrounds who are facing barriers to attendance.
Please apply at https://forms.gle/PZbt1j3sxq8RguU58
Who should I contact about access needs?
Please email conference@pinktherapy.org with any specific access needs or circumstances that may affect your ability to attend.