The Witch’s Way:
Professional Mentoring and Clinical Development
The Witch’s Way is professional mentoring aligned with recognised industry standards, including the ABTC APEL assessment framework.
It supports practitioners who want to meet clearly defined assessment criteria that are recognised across the profession, by peers, regulatory bodies, and insurance providers.
This is not a made-up qualification or an alternative credential. It does not bypass assessment, invent titles, or offer shortcuts. Instead, it provides mentoring that helps professionals develop the knowledge, reasoning, and reflective practice required to meet established standards properly and ethically.
This mentoring is not appropriate for those seeking to rush experience, compress learning timelines, or replace degree-level education. Where a full academic foundation is needed, a university Master’s degree remains the route I would actively recommend.
Why this matters now
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Many practitioners reach a point where they are being encouraged to take shortcuts: fast-track diplomas, invented titles, or routes that promise credibility without the depth required to stand up to scrutiny.
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Choosing the wrong path at this stage does not just waste time or money. It can limit future options, undermine professional confidence, and create problems with peers, insurers, and referral networks later on.
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The Witch’s Way exists to support practitioners who want to build their work on recognised standards from the outset, with mentoring that helps them meet assessment criteria properly rather than work around them.
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The next intake begins at the end of January and is limited to 12 places.
About The Witch’s Way
The Witch’s Way takes its name from the older meaning of “witch”: one who observes closely, understands patterns, and works with care rather than force.
In practice, this mentoring is grounded in observation, case formulation, ethical reasoning, and lived professional experience. We focus on how decisions are made in the real world, where context, emotion, welfare, and responsibility intersect.
This is a space for practitioners who want to feel more confident in their decisions and less alone in their work.
Why The Witch’s Way exists
Many experienced professionals reach a point where more information isn’t the answer.
You may already know the theory, the frameworks, and the expectations, yet still feel unsure, isolated, or weighed down by the responsibility of real cases, real people, and real consequences.
The Witch’s Way exists for that stage of professional life. It offers space to slow down, think clinically, and feel supported as a practitioner, not assessed or corrected.
Who this mentoring is for
This mentoring is for practitioners who want support, guidance, and a safe place to think. It is for people who are already working with dogs and families and who want somewhere to bring real cases, uncertainty, and ethical questions without fear of judgement or pressure to perform.
The Witch’s Way offers psychologically safe, evidence-led, case-based discussion shaped by lived professional experience. It is a space to slow down, reflect, and make sense of complex behaviour work with support, rather than carrying that responsibility alone.
This work is grounded in practical case discussion, observation, and welfare-centred decision making, not hypothetical scenarios or tick-box learning.
This includes:
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Trainers and instructors seeking thoughtful professional development
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Practitioners working toward Animal Behaviour Technician (ABT) roles
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Behaviourists preparing for, or working within, Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) practice
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Professionals carrying complex cases and wanting reflective supervision
Places on The Witch’s Way are intentionally limited to ensure depth, continuity, and appropriate support at each level.
For each intake, availability is structured as follows:
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Clinical Behaviour Practice (CAB): up to 2 places
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Behaviour Technician Practice (ABT): up to 5 places
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Foundations of Ethical Practice (ATI): up to 5 places
Once places at a given level are filled, booking for that level will close until the next intake.
Professional resource library included
All participants in The Witch’s Way have access to a shared library of professionally designed resources to support ethical, evidence-led training and behaviour work.
These materials exist to reduce cognitive load, support consistency, and allow mentoring time to be used for reflection, reasoning, and decision-making rather than constant content creation.
The professional resource library includes four complete course curricula, with accompanying handouts, teaching notes, and guidance on what to teach, why, and how.
These currently include:
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A beginner dog training course curriculum
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An adolescent dog course curriculum
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Two structured nose work course curricula
All materials are provided as reusable teaching resources and can be adapted for individual practice, classes, or client education, alongside mentoring support.
In addition, all mentees receive access to The Way They Move guide, which supports observation-led assessment of gait, posture, movement, and physical presentation as part of ethical behaviour work.
Together, this creates a substantial library of professional content that supports both training and behaviour practice over time, alongside the mentoring relationship itself.
The included resource library represents professional materials that would typically cost over £1,000 to source or develop independently.
Providing these resources as part of the mentoring allows time and financial investment to be directed toward reflective practice and case discussion, rather than repeated content creation.
Mentoring levels
Foundations of Ethical Practice
(ATI equivalent)
(Suitable for trainers and instructors)
For trainers who are growing into their professional identity and want thoughtful support without being rushed into roles they are not ready for.
This level is for those who want space to develop professionally, reflect on their work, and strengthen confidence, boundaries, and ethical decision making, without being pushed toward clinical or behaviour roles prematurely.
This level is suitable for Animal Training Instructors and trainers seeking mentoring to support professional growth and reflective practice.
This level may focus on:
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Reflective discussion of training cases
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Observation and interpretation of behaviour
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Client communication and professional boundaries
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Building confidence and professional identity
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Preparing for future progression, at your own pace
Investment: £1,590
Payment plans: Available to spread the cost
Format: Small group mentoring
Behaviour Technician Practice
(ABT level)
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(For those supporting behaviour change)
For people working with behaviour change cases who want to feel supported, confident, and ethically grounded as their work becomes more complex.
This level is for those who are moving beyond skills-based training into behaviour-focused support, including cases involving fear, anxiety, reactivity, or stress, and who want thoughtful guidance while developing and accountability.
This level is suitable for trainers and behaviour professionals who are supporting behaviour change work.
This level may focus on:
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Structured case formulation for behaviour change work
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Reflective reasoning and clear documentation
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Understanding scope of practice and when to involve or refer to others
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Ethical and welfare-centred decision making
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Preparation for ABT assessment or technician-level role expectations
Investment: £2,400
Payment plans: Available
Format: Small group mentoring with optional one-to-one support
Clinical Behaviour Practice
(CAB-level)
(Those preparing / working complex cases)
For people working with complex behaviour cases who want reflective supervision, ethical support, and space to think clearly about difficult decisions.
This level is for those who are preparing for CAB assessment or already working with high-risk, multi-factor behaviour cases and want thoughtful support alongside the responsibility that comes with this level of work.
This level is suitable for behaviourists who are moving into, or already working within, recognised clinical behaviour roles.
This level may focus on:
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Advanced case formulation for complex behaviour cases
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Reflective reasoning and clear clinical documentation
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Working with referral pathways, risk, and accountability
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Ethical and welfare-centred decision making
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Preparation for CAB assessment or sustained clinical practice
Investment: £3,900
Payment plans: Available
Format: Small group mentoring with bespoke one-to-one support
How mentoring works
The Witch’s Way is offered as a longer-term mentoring relationship, rather than a fixed number of sessions.
Each place covers up to 12 months, with flexibility to extend to 18 months where appropriate. This allows mentoring to unfold at a pace that supports reflection, learning, and real-world application, rather than rushing progress to meet artificial timelines.
Mentoring is structured differently at each level, reflecting the scope of practice and professional responsibility.
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ATI-aligned mentoring is delivered primarily through small group sessions, creating a shared space for reflection, discussion, and professional development.
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ABT-aligned mentoring combines group mentoring with targeted one-to-one support, allowing space for case formulation, scope decisions, and assessment preparation alongside peer learning.
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CAB-aligned mentoring is more individualised, with a higher proportion of one-to-one reflective supervision to support complex clinical work and assessment preparation.
Mentoring may be delivered by Eryn, Susie, or jointly, depending on focus and format. Clinical-level mentoring and CAB assessment preparation are led by Eryn.
The investment for each level reflects the time, intensity, and individual support involved, rather than status or hierarchy.
Foundations of Ethical Practice
1,590
Pay for the mentoring program in full.
Foundations – 6-Month Plan
265
Every month
Spread the cost over six monthly payments.
Foundations – 12-Month Plan
132.50
Every month
Spread the cost over twelve monthly payments.
Behaviour Technician Practice
2,400
Pay for the mentoring program in full.
Behaviour Technician - 6 Month Plan
400
Every month
Spread the cost over six monthly payments.
Behaviour Technician - 12 Month Plan
200
Every month
Spread the cost over twelve monthly payments.
Clinical Behaviour Practice
3,900
Pay for the mentoring program in full.
Clinical Behaviour - 6 Month Plan
650
Every month
Spread the cost over six monthly payments.
Clinical Behaviour - 12 Month Plan
325
Every month
Spread the cost over twelve monthly payments.
Ways to pay
FAQs
The difference in investment reflects how mentoring time and support are structured at each stage.
As professional responsibility and case complexity increase, mentoring moves from primarily group-based support to more individual, case-focused work. This means a greater proportion of one-to-one time and more intensive input at higher levels.
The pricing reflects time, focus, and responsibility, not status or hierarchy.
No. The Witch’s Way is professional mentoring, not a course or qualification.
It does not offer certification, invented titles, or shortcuts. It supports reflective practice and development aligned with recognised industry standards, including ABTC APEL, but it does not replace formal education or assessment routes.
Yes. Payment plans are available for all mentoring levels to help spread the cost over time. Details are shared at booking or enquiry stage.
If you’re unsure which mentoring level is the best fit, you’re welcome to book a short discovery call to talk it through.
The aim is to ensure the space and level of support are appropriate, without pressure to commit.