Contact and location
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01225 862030 I work in the SW of England and SW Wales, UK |
Some things about me:
I am a writer, intermittent musician, and mother of two grown-up children. I have two grandchildren and am currently an art student for an academic year - both these last things bring plenty of opportunity for play. It seems to work as a creative re-charge for me. As well as my MSc in creative writing for therapeutic purposes (CWTP) I have training and experience as an independent Forest School practitioner. In this capacity I have worked with adults and children who were living with a range of disabilities. Music, singing, drama, poetry, 2-D and 3-D art - always nature based and often improvised out of what was around us in the woods - were all in the mix.
What is my relationship to writing?
Writing was one of the many means I used, unwittingly, to recover from a breakdown following my father's suicide in 1995, my subsequent divorce, and gradual life-metamorphosis. This led me eventually to train to facilitate creative writing for therapeutic purposes (CWTP).
I know first hand how creative practice can uncoil complex experiences and also inspire beautiful new beginnings. Sharing this knowledge with others is a privilege. I love to witness and support the use of writing for beneficial growth and change.
Training, professional background and CPD:
My vocational training certificate, diploma and masters' degree in creative writing for therapeutic purposes (CWTP) from Metanoia Institute was taught experientially, modelling the practice itself. It was Rogerian, integrative, person-centred and humanist. I was hungry for it, loved it and felt changed by the whole learning experience. Our tutors were inspiring exponents in the field of CWTP - Claire Williamson, Rose Flint, Fiona Hamilton, Graham Hartill, and Nigel Gibbons; guest tutors included Victoria Field, Becky Midwinter, Sofie Bager-Charleson and Sue Porter. My research advisor was Dr. Jane Reece. Click here to read my masters dissertation which explored the importance and value of play in CWTP, including potential risks.
To read an interview with Cardiff Review please click here
Some of the projects I have been or am currently engaged with:
A hospice in West Wales, working with patients, and with the staff and volunteers: Skanda Vale Hospice
I am writer in residence at The Bakelite Museum.
Collaborating with Fiona Hamilton of Orchard Foundation, delivering workshops called Exploring Play through Creative Writing.
W4W practitioner with Arts Together, an organisation which actively supports ageing creatively in six Wiltshire towns. For over twenty years they have been delivering arts to people living in sheltered housing.
I run an as-and-when writing group with young people in West Wales, called Marks I make on the world.
Relevant writing for wellbeing associations:
I am a member of Lapidus - the writing for well-being association www.lapidus.org.uk, as well as NAWE - National Association of Writers in Education. I have professional insurance with Balens. My essays have been published in both the Lapidus and the NAWE journals (see the 'more '- 'a serious study of play' section). Unpsychology Magazine has published my poems in Volume Two, the childhood edition. I receive regular specialist supervision, and take part in peer supervision.
My writing projects:
As well as using writing as an ongoing reflective, expressive and creative practice, I have completed two novels and continue to write essays, prose, poetry, songs and journal articles. I mentor other CWTP practitioners to support their professional practice.
Continual professional development and public speaking/conference workshops - given and received
October 2022 Unpicking the Ties – mentoring CPD day around the mother/daughter relationship led by Claire Williamson and family therapist Jo Buchmuller.
December 2021 Finding Form for Lived experience - CPD for graduates of the Metanoia MSc led by Claire Williamson.
September 2021 Creative Bridges Conference.
a) Was part of the team from our Lapidus Regional group, presenting a talk, workshop and Q and A;
b) along with fellow CWTP practitioner, Mel Perry, and client Louise Treharne, the three of us discussed Louise's engagemant with this work, including readings from her soon to be published book.
Attended workshops led by Fiona Hamilton, Kate Fox, Sveto Muhammad Ishoq, Claire Williamson, Kim Etherington, Foluke Taylor and Kate Thompson.
July 2021 Image, Object and Soul – CPD around one aspect of supervision for graduates of the Metanoia MSc with Claire Williamson.
April 2021 7th Eye – CPD for graduates of the Metanoia MSc with Claire Williamson
March 2019 Attended the Trowbridge Poetry Society Stanza, at Bridge House, led by poet Josephine Corcoran, with guest poet Tom Sastry. We wrote in response to the exhibition of Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, which opened in Bridge House Arts Centre that day.
March 2019 A two day Introduction to Clowning led by clown and trained drama therapist Holly Stoppit. I recognised refreshing overlaps with my play-inspired research and writing practice. I encountered my vulnerable and my courageous self and experienced joy, flow, energy and delight in the improvisations and exercises. It was very complementary to the research I conducted into safe and creative places for adults to play, and to my practice as a facilitator of words for wellbeing sessions.
October 2018 Delivered a day of CPD to the Skanda Vale Hospice team with my colleague Pam Evans. Our theme was creating and maintaining healthy relationships in this setting. We used CWTP / words for wellbeing as well as exploring our responses to real scenarios in hospices which presented ethical dilemmas. We discussed the role of advocacy in each of these.
May 2018 A day of practice development with peers, instigated by the presence of Stephanie Dale, from Australia. Steph is founder of The Write Road and led us in a powerful journalling exercise. We built the day around her visit and gained much from writing and sharing insights into the practice of CWTP. This included a 'peer surgery' which proved a very useful intervention, fueled as it was by the luxury of being in the presence of others who understand our joys and challenges. This led to the establishment of our Lapidus regional group which is ongoing.
July 2017 Creative Bridges conference, held in Bristol by Lapidus and Metanoia. Attended workshops and talks by Claire Williamson, Dawn McHale, Larry Butler, Cheryl Moskowitz, Christina Shewell. Co-presented a talk and workshop with Fiona Hamilton, entitled Non-Sense? Play, Pointlessness, Pens and Points in Research and Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes about our collaborative research and workshops involving improvisation and creative writing..
July 2017 English: Shared Futures conference, Newcastle. Participated in a panel of peers speaking on CWTP and mental health.
March 2014 Lapidus Conference Cardiff delivered a talk with workshop element called The Black Hat speaks, based on Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats. The Black Hat Speaks - transcript of a presentation given at the Lapidus Day conference in March 2015.