Co-hosted by Bangor University and WISERD, this free half day training event will be an interactive set of workshops, aimed at introducing participants to the practice of writing for wellbeing.
Writing for wellbeing is the interactive use of poetry, prose, fiction and non-fiction ‘to stimulate writing and other creative responses with a view to promoting self-expression, self-awareness and wellbeing’ – www.iapoetry.org
The focus of the session is the transformative power of poetry and any examples in your daily work with groups which illustrate the poetry therapy work well.
Jill Teague, iaPOETRY, keynote address will be ““PRESS SEND – WRITING TO COMMUNICATE”
An exposition of the human need to explore and communicate self to other, and the ways and means of doing this through the practice of poetry therapy.
The half day training will provide an opportunity to participate in some taster workshops including-
“Poetry as Healer” – exploring the Poetry Therapy process – Jill Teague
I am a writer and Poetry Therapy Mentor and Practitioner based in Snowdonia, North Wales. I am founder of Out of the Blue writing where I run writing for wellbeing workshops and courses, working with groups and individuals. My “Treading Softly” workshops offer opportunities to write in nature, which is a particular interest of mine. I am an Executive Director of the International Academy for Poetry Therapy, a credentialing organisation for those wishing to train as Poetry Therapy Practitioners.
“The Writers key”: An introduction to the therapeutic potential of writing for wellbeing, which invites us all to be;
“the authors of ourselves”
John -Paul Sartre
Sarah Edwards is a Humanistic Counsellor currently working within Bereavement Counselling and has integrated therapeutic writing into her work for many years now, with a diverse range of clients and groups. Sarah has worked as a Counselling Service developer, Counsellor and Therapeutic Writing Facilitator, in a variety of specialist counselling and health services for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and its Talking Therapies Partners across North Wales. She is nearing the end of her training with iaPOETRY and her mentor Jill Teague and enjoys walking her dog and gardening.
‘ekphrastic writing, using an image for creative writing for wellbeing’ – Clare Scott
Clare Scott’s PhD in Creative Writing involves the undertaking of psychogeography in West Wales. She is an educational neurodiversity consultant, a director of Rowan Journeys Community Interest Company and Chair of Lapidus International, the expressive arts organisation which supports and promotes professional practice in the provision of words for wellbeing activities: creative writing, performance poetry and other oral forms. She enjoys ceramics in her spare time.
“Poetry and identity: Exploring the self though myth’ Jessica Clapham
Jessica Clapham is a writer and writing and wellbeing facilitator. She is Director of the professional doctorate at Bangor. Jessica’s professional work has involved lecturing in English Language and Literature and directing the MA TEFL and the Secondary PGCE English Course at Bangor University, which included the Wales Jamaica Project 2006: working with PGCE Primary and Secondary trainees in schools to explore the historical links between Sugar, Slate a Slavery in Wales and Jamaica though digital storytelling and international links to develop Intercultural Awareness. She is training as a Poetry Therapy practitioner, working with bilingual groups at Storiel Museum and Art gallery and is the All-Wales Representative for National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) and Lapidus International.
A copy of the programme can be found here.
This event will be of particular interest to practitioners from mental health, counselling, nursing, youth work, community/social work and anyone interested in transformative methods in Education and learning. Additionally it will be of interest to anyone who is interested in the practice and research of writing and wellbeing and how to facilitate mental wellbeing in various settings including the Higher Education Curriculum.
For further information please contact Dr Jessica Clapham, Bangor University or Jane Graves, WISERD Events Officer