The paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicot said that it is only in play that the individual discovers the self. Creativity is at the heart of therapeutic development and positive change; the ability to approach something with an openness and a curiosity to see what might come up, to find ways of getting at what sits just beyond our conscious minds, allowing it to emerge into the light to be viewed, Read more [...]

Writing for ourselves can be hugely therapeutic; it is something I have done, in various forms, all through my life. It helps us to remember, to understand, to uncover memories and feelings previously unconscious or forgotten, enabling us to make new sense of ourselves and our experiences. But what are the benefits of writing in a group setting?. Like many other practices for which groups of people come together Read more [...]

What is it we are doing when we make space for ourselves amongst the hubbub of our busy lives? What does mindfulness practice mean, and how does it link with writing for wellbeing? Mindfulness – and reflective writing, are about our relationship with ourselves, and have in common the conscious setting-aside of some time that is simply for focusing on us – switching to what presents itself only in the present Read more [...]