CPD for Counsellors & Therapists
Learn how to effectively utilise creative writing for therapy, reflective practice and self-care and offer greater benefits to your clients
Introduction to Creative Writing for Therapy
Creative writing can be a direct route to the emotions, somehow cutting through the censor of the conscious mind. It can be a deeply powerful, transformative, and beneficial way to explore and make sense of experience.
This introductory day offers tasters of different writing exercises: encompassing prose, dialogue, poetry, list-making, stems, metaphor, expressive writing. You will have the opportunity to share work and hear responses to your writing. Nothing is compulsory; it is always your choice to share or not. You will experience first-hand the therapeutic value of writing, reading, responding, and hearing responses. Each stage can change our relationship to the ‘thing’ that is written about.
Through experiential practice, we will explore techniques and raise confidence to use creative writing for your own self-care, reflective practice and personal and professional development; and /or to bring it into work with clients. Whatever you take from the day, I intend it to be a warmly rich and enjoyable shared writing experience with colleagues.
I have offered this through training agencies as part of their CPD offer (BCPC and Cotswold Counselling). It is also available online.
It runs well as a 10am – 4pm day with a lunch break but can be adapted to a shorter day or half day.
Creative Writing for Reflective Practice
Creative writing can be a powerful tool to help us reflect on our clients and our practice, as counsellors, psychotherapists, medics, coaches, psychologists, support workers and wellbeing practitioners of all kinds.
This CPD day introduces a range of techniques for reflective practice, including expressive writing, journalling, reflection writing, responding to a question or prompt, poetry, playing with metaphor, list-making, mind-mapping, emotional focusing, characterisation and dialogue.
The day will be a reflective, thoughtful, warmly rich and supportive experience with other professionals, sharing our experiences and writings together. You’ll come away with tools you can use again and again, and ideas and confidence to develop your written reflective practice.
This is best delivered as a 10am – 4pm day with a lunch break, either online or in person, but it can be adapted to your requirements.
Client Testimonials
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"I left feeling inspired and encouraged to write more and to write in different ways. I hope to use some of what I learned with clients."
Participant, Introduction to Creative Writing for Therapy
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"I enjoyed the range of writing prompts, the opportunity to share in small groups, the welcoming atmosphere."
Participant, Introduction to Creative Writing for Therapy
