Words for well-being: a one-day workshop introduction to therapeutic writing

We should write because it is human nature to write. Writing claims our world. It makes it directly and specifically our own. We should write because writing is good for the soul… We should write, above all, because we are writers whether we call ourselves writers or not.  - Julia Cameron, The Right to Write.

We invite you to join us on a journey of self-exploration through the process of writing.

Writing consciously, for ourselves, can be deeply therapeutic and nourishing. When we commit our innermost feelings and experiences to the page, we support our own sense of self and well-being, develop the capacity for reflection, and begin to see ourselves with greater perspective. The act of writing can also offer us a valuable moment to pause within a busy day, acting like a form of meditation.

Since the 1980s, when therapeutic writing was first identified and recognised by psychologists, research has continually shown that it can boost your immune system and support physical as well as mental and emotional health.  There are countless benefits to this creative and relaxing activity, and we invite you to share and explore them with us.

In this workshop we will support you to:

• Explore your experiences and assumptions about writing.
• Start a process of self-enquiry which gives a voice to your inner life.
• Begin the process of creating your story on the page by trying out different ways of writing.
• Explore the embodied /physical act of writing as a therapeutic activity.
• Help recognise and find ways to work with your inner critic.

Through discussion, guided reflection and a variety of practical writing exercises, this experiential workshop offers an introduction to the process of therapeutic writing for anyone curious about finding themselves on the page. Please note: this is not a group therapy process.