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Writing for Wellbeing – Letter to the Future

Name: Writing for Wellbeing – Letter to the Future
Start: 2024-06-25T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-06-25T21:00:00+01:00
Location: Stanway Lakelands Centre

25 June 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Free

Writing for Wellbeing – Letter to the Future

In this Writing for Wellbeing workshop we will discover and explore creative ways of expressing and releasing difficult emotions that sometimes become stuck, such as grief, guilt and anger, along with looking at how writing can support us in cultivating and maintaining positive emotions such as hope and joy.

We shall explore three different writing methods; journaling, poetry and letter writing. Drawing upon the latest scientific understandings of how our brains work, we shall discuss the role of the different hemispheres (left brain – cognitive thinking; right brain-emotional thinking) and how we can utilise both in writing and how by using an integrated writing such as poetry we can give voice to our experiences and emotions. We shall finish with writing a letter to our future self, sharing the insights, hopes and learnings from this workshop as well as our compassion and care for the journey we are on.

Safety and self-care

We aim to provide a safe and supportive space for all who attend, where varied experiences are welcomed equally in a non-judgemental and caring environment.

Facilitator

Meet Dr Maya Campbell, PhD a research scientist, psychologist, mindfulness teacher and supervisor living and working in Colchester, UK. Having initially trained as a research scientist in chemistry and physics, Maya became interested in psychology and mindfulness after having experienced exhaustion and burnout, leading to years of depression and ultimately a heart attack and cardiac arrest. After having been resuscitated, and spending two months in a coma, Maya began years of personal physical and mental rehabilitation. Along this journey she became more and more interested in how people experienced mental distress and did a Masters in Psychology, thesis in addiction to tobacco and trained as a Mindfulness teacher. Maya has spent time working in the NHS first as a volunteer, then psychology assistant and recovery worker at both community alcohol services and specialist addiction units in east London.

In her work, Maya brings her professional training and expertise to her teachings as well as the lived experience of having gone through major trauma, addiction and illnesses and has flourished despite currently living with the life-threatening disease of heart failure. Maya brings kindness and compassion to her teaching and is especially interested in the teaching of self-compassion to people.

Stanway Lakelands Community Centre

The new Stanway Lakeland Community Centre is a beautiful brand new venue, purpose built for community activities and events. This session will take place in the boardroom on the first floor, with tremendous views to the country park.

Stanway, Lakelands Community Centre, Colchester CO

Q & A

This is not group therapy but it is facilitated by a writing for wellbeing therapeutic practitioner offering space and time for people to engage in a way that may support overall wellbeing. We’ll offer signposting to professional services for further support as part of the session.

The Writing for Wellbeing session will take place at the Stanway Lakelands Community Centre.

No, if tickets are available, you can enjoy this session even if you are not enrolled in the Summer Self-care for Grieving Hearts programme. However, you will experience more benefits if you take part in the 12-week programme, building relationships with the group, enabling you to feel part of the community and connected with others.

The session lasts for 2 hours, 7 – 9 pm. There is time before the end of the session to enjoy refreshments together with the group.

This workshop is for people aged 25-and-over who were bereaved more than 6 months ago or experiencing living loss. We suggest this because the workshop may be too challenging for those in the throes of acute grief, which often needs different modes of support. The themes and techniques we explore in this session may be better suited and integrated when some time has passed since the loss.

After the art making, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the experience and share with other participants as we sit in nature and enjoy refreshments together.