Exploring Resilience: Workshop with Ted Bowman

On Saturday, 24th September 2016, we held our well attended ‘Exploring Resilience Workshop’ facilitated by the inspirational Ted Bowman, a leading family and grief educator from the States. 

We were delighted to welcome Ted to the Friends Centre here in Brighton as part of his annual UK tour during which he worked with Lapidus: The Writing for Wellbeing Organisation and Cruse Bereavement Care. 

During the day Ted shared stories, poems and literary resources with the intention of promoting resiliency for participants and the people they work with. 

Poems included ‘The Guest House’ by Rumi, ‘The Peace of Wild Things’ by Wendell Berry, 'Blue Heron' by Deborah Keenan, and 'For the New Year, 1981' by Denise Levertov.

Ted asked the question ‘How do we bring our better selves rather than our depleted selves?’ when working therapeutically with others. 

He talked about joy and grief and the moments of intersection between them, citing a quote from 'Caring: A Feminist Approach to Ethics and Moral Education' by Nell Noddings. "... even in the deepest grief, filled with guilt and sorrow and regret and despair, I may still see and feel joy there-in-the-world, trembling at my fingertips. Turning from a graveside or leaving the hospital after holding a dying hand, joy may burst through like a rainbow over tears."  

Through writing experiences and discussion, participants were able to share and extend their resources for doing therapeutic work. Ted encouraged us to follow the metaphor when working with clients. He believes that metaphors can be even more personal and meaningful than straightforward words. When we follow the metaphor by asking certain questions we can move someone to a different place.

‘To invite people to tell their stories is one of the greatest compliments we can give another human being.’ Ted Bowman

More about Ted Bowman

Writing About Animals

Our writing for wellbeing workshop Animal Magic, for Creativity and Wellbeing Week 2016, was held in The Kipling Gardens, Rottingdean on Wednesday. 

The idea for the workshop came from our experience of pet bereavement amongst our own families and friends and the little support there is for people experiencing this type of loss.

The Rose Garden was perfect for quiet thought and inspiration.

The intention was to provide a space for those who wanted to write about an animal they knew and loved - past or present.

To begin we read Mary Oliver's poem: For I will Consider My Dog Percy.

Then we got to doing our own writing. We wrote about  a Lurcher, a Newfoundland, a black cat, an otter, two more cats - a boy and a girl, a tortoise, a Staffie and a Dalmation. 

Much enjoyment was had in the process of writing and later in listening to each other's stories and poems and chatting about them. Thanks to the Open Arts Cafe for their hospitality and allowing us to use their space when rain looked likely.

"Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?" Mary Oliver

Exploring Resilience with Ted Bowman, Loss and Family Educator

Stories evoke stories. We story and re-story all our lives. 

In this experiential day workshop Ted Bowman will use story-gathering questions, writing prompts, vignettes from memoir, poetry and fiction to promote the caring exchange when working one to one or facilitating groups. 

Ted Bowman

Exploring Resilience using Literary Resources, Writing and Stories: 

for working creatively or therapeutically with groups, individuals and the self.  

Suitable for professional and/or personal use and development. 

Saturday, 24th September 2016, 

The Friends Adult Education Centre, Brighton.

10.30am - 4.30pm   

£55

£45 Lapidus Member / Early Bird Offer if booking before 22nd July.

Participants will be invited to explore metaphors of resilience with the intention of promoting resiliency for themselves and others. Through writing experiences, sharing and discussion, they will extend their resources for doing therapeutic work.

Ted Bowman is a family and grief educator who uses stories and literary resources in his workshops, teaching, consultation and writing. He is an adjunct professor in the University of Saint Thomas School of Social Work in St. Paul, Minnesota, his home town. 

Ted is the author of three books and editor of two poetry collections. He has written over 25 articles in professional journals, and over 50 articles and poems in other journals and newspapers. This will be his 20th consecutive year of work in the UK with organisations including Lapidus: The Writing for Wellbeing Organisation and Cruse. Ted's Cruse masterclass is on 20th September in London. 

Sharing your writing is optional. All writing will be received supportively.

Writing Workshops Exploring Summer

We're facilitating a course of six writing workshops 

at the Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham

Exploring Summer
 Friday mornings, 10am – 12pm

10th June – 15th July 2016

 Taking the theme of summer we’ll use different inspirations to encourage your thoughts and words to flow on to the page.

Whether you're new to writing, want to record your personal stories or to write creatively these workshops provide an ideal space to begin.

No previous experience necessary.

There will be opportunities to share writing if you choose. All writing will be received supportively.  

£60 for six weeks – payable in advance.

To book your place email us at: wordtherapycentre@gmail.com

For more info: 07773 379526

Creativity and Wellbeing Week

The WordTherapy Centre is taking part in Creativity and Wellbeing Plus Week 13th - 19th June.

Our writing for wellbeing workshop Animal Magic is on Weds 15th June, 1-3pm in The Kipling Gardens in Rottingdean.

Inspired by Kipling's Just So stories and the natural surroundings of the Gardens, the workshop draws on animals past and present in our lives.

This is an opportunity to write about an animal you know well and capture its spirit in a story for yourself, and others if you wish.

Animals and writing are linked to therapeutic benefits.

More info and how to book here 

Latest News

We're delighted to announce the launch of our Spring 2016 workshops.

These are specially designed workshops which draw on writing, stories and poetry to explore such themes as:
  

• Life Transitions
• Loss
• Ageing
• Confidence and Resilience
• Stress Management

WordTherapy Centre Workshops can address all subjects and themes, depending on your requirements. 

Please contact us to discuss your organisation's and clients' needs by emailing: wordtherapycentre@gmail.com 

New Beginnings

Our workshop on New Beginnings early in January attracted a full house on a rainy Saturday.

Activities included collage, free writing and writing inspired by poems including Mary Oliver's The Journey, Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken, and To The New Year by W S Mervin.

These are some of the comments from participants afterwards:

"I find writing like this joyful and therapeutic and can't motivate myself to do it alone."

"Stimulating activities and discussion e.g. using words, visual images and listening skills."

"I feel encouraged and inspired to give myself more time and space to play and to look within, and to express myself through words and pictures."

"The exercises helped to stimulate thoughts and you were both very encouraging and positive." 

"I have really enjoyed the opportunities offered through the different exercises and the welcoming and generous attitude of you and the other group members."  

"The exercises allowed me to freely write without pressure to achieve a certain standard. I didn't feel judged by myself or others."

"I was curious whether or not I could write. I've always written pretty factual and this was a good taster to explore my creative skills and write my first ever poem." 

"Your way of introducing the writing gradually, easily do-able exercises and telling us we didn't have to share helped create a non invasive, friendly climate."