Welcome to Lapidus International
The Writing For Wellbeing Community
Lapidus International is a membership organisation which offers a range of resources to support writing for wellbeing.
This includes development opportunities, exclusive member events, access to the latest research, and a supportive network to enhance both personal and professional writing practice.
What Is Writing For Wellbeing?
Writing for wellbeing is the use of words to explore thoughts, express emotions, and support personal growth. It’s not about perfect grammar or literary skill, it’s about connecting with yourself through journalling, poetry, storytelling, or reflective writing. Whether used in a group setting or privately, writing can be a powerful tool to process experiences, build resilience, and find clarity. At Lapidus, we celebrate writing in all its forms as a gentle, creative way to nurture emotional, mental, and social wellbeing.
Upcoming Events
Explore the pioneering psychology of Carl Jung and learn how writing and imagination can be used as tools to access the unconscious, untether creativity and expand your sense of possibility with Dr Rachel Newsome
According to Carl Jung, deep beneath our everyday awareness, we all have an undiscovered self who is the creative, animating and healing inner life-force behind our intuition, imagination and dreams. It is through learning to attune to the embodied wisdom of our undiscovered self that we can experience this deeper level of reality as an expansive cosmological web in which everything and everyone is connected. In this way, we can create the necessary conditions for living more fully, authentically and meaningfully.
Over this five week course, you’ll be introduced to key Jungian concepts, including Jung’s model of the psyche, the collective unconscious, the archetypes, active imagination and individuation. You’ll explore how writing and imagination can be tools to help us access what Jung calls the ‘real psychic truths’ via the lens of the child, self and shadow archetypes, with a view to considering how we can bring we can deepen self-awareness and cultivate wholeness towards living more creatively and fully.
Sessions will include:
An accessible introduction to key Jungian concepts.
Guided writing exercises.
Small group discussions.
Weekly worksheets.
Recordings of each session.
Schedule
Week One: In week one, you will be introduced to key Jungian concepts, including the model of the psyche, the archetypes and the collective unconscious. The guided writing exercises will focus on exploring yourself as you see who you are now and investigating how our emotions can help us access a deeper layer of ourselves.
Week Two: In week two, you will be introduced to the child archetype and its associations with curiosity, imagination, creativity and play. You will explore your undiscovered child self through guided writing prompts focussed on exploring and activating these qualities in yourself.
Week Three: In week three, you will be introduced to the self archetype and its associations with wholeness, healing, creativity, wisdom and inner guidance alongside the technique of ‘active imagination’. You will write this undiscovered ‘great’ self’ through guided writing prompts focussed on exploring and activating these qualities within yourself.
Week Four: In week four, you will be introduced to the shadow archetype and its associations with exiled aspects of ourself we prefer to bury and disown. You will explore your undiscovered shadow self through guided writing prompts focussed on gently exploring what may be hidden in your dark trunk.
Week Five: In week five you will be introduced to the Jungian concepts of the ‘golden shadow’ and ‘individuation’ – Jung’s term for the journey of psycho-spiritual growth. You will explore your undiscovered ‘future’ self through guided writing prompts focussed on integrating insights and experiences gained over the course with a view to facilitating individuation and the self you are in the process of becoming.
Write Your Undiscovered Self is for:
Those on a journey of self discovery who are interested in learning writing techniques to support psycho-spiritual growth and who are comfortable with diving deeper
Writers & creative practitioners interested in expanding their practice and range
Therapeutic practitioners and professionals in health, social care, education, the arts & creative industries who would like to learn more about how writing can be a form of healing.
About Dr Rachel Newsome
I’m a writer & creative guide with a Jungian arts-based PhD in Creative Writing and twenty years teaching experience as a former lecturer in Higher Education. I now run a programme of depth writing workshops, courses & retreats focussed on inspiring the creative self in everyone. I’m a Seed Talks expert speaker, serve on the Editorial Team of the London Arts-Based Research Centre, am Co-Editor of forthcoming Routledge publication The Creative Psyche: Between Spirit & Matter and am author of the ‘living autobiography’ Dreaming Awake on Substack.
rachelnewsome.co.uk
https://drrachelnewsome.substack.com
One-to-One Creative Support Sessions with Kate Poll (she/her)
Take time to pause, explore, and create – reconnecting with neglected and under-represented parts of yourself, and cultivating a fuller, more self-directed and connected way of being. These sessions place writing and voice at the heart of the process, supported by sound, image, and other creative tools for wellbeing.
Together, we’ll focus on what matters most to you, nurturing your strengths, giving voice to overlooked parts of yourself, and discovering fresh ways to navigate life with clarity and confidence. Sessions are gentle, collaborative, and shaped entirely around your needs and interests.
Practical details: Online, weekdays and some evenings. £80 per session, or £288 for a 4-session package (£72/session). 15% off for key workers, students, unwaged, and Lapidus members.
Please email Kate to book.
📧 katepoll@gmail.com | 🌐 www.katepoll.co.uk
Words in the Wood brings together the calm of nature and the joy of writing, in the beautiful surroundings of Hazel Hill Wood in Wiltshire.
The day consists of gentle facilitation with writing prompts and the chance to share in a supportive and like-minded group. No rules, no pressure — just space to breathe, explore, and let your writing flow.
The day will run with a group of 6-15 participants. We have access to beautiful spaces indoors and out, so the weather needn’t trouble us.
Writing for Wellbeing Workshop for Women
Theme: Voice – The Essence of Expression
In-person event at The Conservatory, Scampston Walled Garden, Malton, YO17 8NG, hosted by The Bothies – a registered charity.
No prior knowledge required. Please bring a notebook and pen/pencil.
Booking essential. For more information and to book, please contact sandie@essenceofwriting.com
Workshop cost: £15 to the volunteer-led charity The Bothies, including tea or coffee. BACS payment in advance is preferred, or cash can be accepted on the day by arrangement. We will share details with you on booking.
For lunch afterwards, Scampston Hall has a café onsite or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch and sit in the conservatory.
This series of four, themed workshops, are designed specifically for those who care and support others in their professional work, including healthcare professionals, social workers, care workers, therapists, counsellors, coaches, educators and students in any of these fields.
Writing for Wellbeing (also known as therapeutic writing) is a low cost, portable tool for maintaining our wellbeing and personal development. Each workshop will introduce you to writing as a tool for wellbeing and personal development using techniques drawn from creative writing, expressive writing, reflective writing, journalling and poetry therapy, that you can apply across your professional and personal life.
The workshops aim to provide a safe, confidential space within a small group (minimum 2 people, maximum 8), to explore your personal and professional experiences where you will be invited to explore how you can care for yourself as well as those you care for, through tailored writing exercises and reflective discussion as a community.
No specialist experience of writing is needed, just a spirit of curiosity, a notebook and pen/something to write with.
Workshop 1: Connection, Belonging & Community, Saturday 11th October 2025 19:00-21:00 GMT
Connection, belonging, community and isolation, are universal human experiences. In this workshop, you will explore these important aspects of life through writing and invited reflective discussion.
Workshop 2: A journey in compassion, Saturday 24th November 2025,19:00 -21:00 GMT
Compassion and empathy are the building blocks of the work you do as caring professionals and students. In this workshop, you will explore ways of exploring and nurturing self-compassion, to inform your self care as well as your care of others.
Workshop 3: Exploring identity, finding your voice,Saturday 24th January 2026, 19:00-21:00 GMT
Often professional and personal identities can become entwined, which isn’t always to our benefit. In this workshop, you will start exploring what identity and authenticity means to you.
Workshop 4: Workshop 4 theme: Meeting your Inner Critic and Imposter Syndrome, Saturday 14th February 2026, 19:00-21:00 GMT
Imposter Syndrome is a well-established phenomenon, and common in those in academia and Caring professions. This workshop will build on Workshop 3 ‘Exploring identity, finding your voice,’ but can be done separately, and will introduce you to creative ways to engage with your Inner Critic.
Start the weekend off right with a relaxing evening of Indian classical music and reflective writing.
Bring a mat, blanket, pen and paper. There will also be chairs for those who prefer to sit.
There is a lift and wheelchair-accessible toilets downstairs.
There is wheelchair access through the main entrance of the church.
The main entrace is on Alma Vale Road.
Please contact us if you have accessibility needs and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

Creative Bridges 2025
Writing for Wellbeing and Activism: Building Cultural Bridges
An International Two-Day Conference
The 2025 Creative Bridges conference is right around the corner and we welcome you to take part.
The conference is proudly sponsored by Balens, a specialist insurance broker for health and wellbeing professionals and organisations, celebrating 75 years of service in 2025! Visit their website balens.co.uk to find out more.
Join Lapidus International...
…from as little as £3.50 per month.
As a Lapidus Member, you are part of a supportive, international writing for wellbeing community who believe in the power of using words to enhance and transform.
You’ll receive a monthly newsletter, get discounts on events and training, have access to our online library of Lapidus journals and more. All for as little as £3 per month!