thinking space
a space where you can talk, reflect and move forward in your life
Systemic PsychotherapySystemic therapy looks at the person and their difficulties within their context. Systemic therapy developed out of family therapy, through recognition that none of us functions in isolation, but in relation to others. Systemic therapy works with the person in the context of their multiple relationships. These might be with family, colleagues, community, place of work or education, place of worship, their wider culture, or the social or political context. Although systemic therapy emphasises the person's relationship to their world, inner thoughts and feelings are also seen to play a vital role in well being. |
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing.
EMDR is an extensively researched and proven effective treatment for trauma. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE - England and Wales) recommends EMDR for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, EMDR therapy has also been found to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of symptoms and conditions beyond PTSD. EMDR is particularly effective in shifting traumatic memories or experiences, which may play a part in maintaining depression or anxiety. |
Narrative TherapyNarrative therapy seeks to enable us to be the author of our own life story. In this approach the therapist and client pay particular attention to the narratives or stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where our lives are headed. We also attend to the stories others tell about us, and the wider societal or cultural narratives. It can be helpful to recognise which of these descriptions of us may enable us to grow and which ones hold us back. Narrative therapy seeks to strengthen our abilities to overcome adversity, and to dissolve problem saturated stories or beliefs about ourselves. "Narrative therapy seeks to be a respectful, non-blaming approach to counselling and community work, which centres people as the experts in their own lives. It views problems as separate from people and assumes people have many skills, competencies, beliefs, values, commitments and abilities that will assist them to reduce the influence of problems in their lives." dulwichcentre.com.au |
In Our Own Words NHS Staff Wellbeing Innovation will be at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival! - August 2024
Project Background
“In The Sick Of It” is the latest iteration of “In Our Own Words”, an innovative NHS & Social Care staff support project developed with Wake The Beast Theatre Company.
In 2019, our collaboration with Wake The Beast won a Macmillan Award for Excellence in Innovation for The C Factor, a creative arts & psychology initiative with and for people living with cancer at Whittington Health NHS Trust.
My NHS colleagues and I have been collaborating with Wake The Beast Theatre Company since then, supporting healthcare staff exhausted by the pandemic and its aftermath. 'In Our Own Words' uses lively verbatim theatre to open up the conversation about staff mental health. It has been a source of healing for staff with performances supported by psychologist-led reflective sessions, serving as a crucial tool to support staff mental health and wellbeing.
In Our Own Words was invited by Emily Thornberry MP to perform for policy-makers at the Houses of Parliament in April 2023, and in April 2024 toured a workshop and performance to 10 NHS Trusts in London and Manchester, including NHS Providers and NHS England (London) supported by The Arts Council of England.
“What a powerful and vital piece of theatre. Makes me feel seen”
NHS staff member
Find out more about "In Our Own Words":
Watch a six-minute film introducing In Our Own Words at Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, Apr-Nov 2020
‘In The Sick Of It'
We are going to The Edinburgh Festival. Wake The Beast are taking our show elevating NHS and Social care staff voices to the Fringe. We will be at Assembly George Sq Studio 5 1st-26th August 12:15pm.
BOOK TICKETS HERE:
https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/608-in-the-sick-of-it
You can HELP Wake The Beast by donating to their crowdfunding campaign for Edinburgh.
https://gofund.me/2b8e8020
‘In The Sick Of It’ - London Preview
27th July. Shambhala Centre, Clapham Common. 2pm & 6pm
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/942596079247?aff=oddtdtcreator
‘In The Sick Of It’- Liverpool Preview
30th July. Unity Theatre. 7pm.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/923926538147?aff=oddtdtcreator
“In The Sick Of It” | “In Our Own Words” project webpage:
https://www.wakethebeast.co.uk/inourownwords