In a year where there has been much talk of adapting to a ‘new normal’ and an era of ‘fake news’ our theme this year embraces the societal concerns and anxieties around us. We are living in a changing world and uncertain times and nationally, our society has, and continues to, transform. Issues such as Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic present anxieties around concerns such as social cohesion, national identity and economic reconfiguration. The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis and in the UK it has been described as a turning point for mental health. Furthermore, the Health Foundation highlights that there has been increasing recognition that the pandemic exacerbates racial inequalities. While the Black Lives Matters movement may spark controversy it has fuelled further questioning of racial inequality and racism facing us today, both nationally and internationally.

This year has brought with it some big challenges but Brexit, Covid-19 and racial inequality are not our only concerns. Other challenges facing us today, in no particular order, include: climate change, knife crime, terrorism, the ageing population, social injustice, poverty, human trafficking and human slavery, neurodiversity, gender diversity, addiction to prescribed drugs, the NHS, and even the future of our profession. The conference team, with support from the Executive Committee, want to explore how counselling psychologists can contribute to wellbeing in this age of anxiety.