Carolyn Shanti is the author of ‘Trap, Prey, Lust’. The novel is based on the true story of her own childhood, where she was brought up in a wealthy and privileged family in England. A secluded and idyllic mansion, surrounded by acres of private property was where she spent her childhood years. It was also a place of dark shadows and sexual secrets. Her father, a prominent businessman in the fashion industry was a member of a well-known occult society. As a young child, Carolyn suffered ritual sexual abuse and was raped, not only by her own father but members of the society. She was ‘groomed’ and the use of mind control techniques were put in place to work against her remembering the abuse or the perpetrators of these acts of violence.

MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes - The Metanoia Institute

Introductory Workshop Day on Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes

These 1-day workshops give participants the opportunity to explore the personal and professional qualities involved in the practice of Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes.

I’m a third-year student carrying out research on the potential links between Vedic Meditation (VM), Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes (CWTP) and emotional wellbeing. I’m looking for a practitioner of Vedic Meditation (VM) – preferably someone who is at the intermediate level - to volunteer to participate in my MSc dissertation.

The Board of Lapidus International has been working hard to provide members with value for money for their membership fees.  We have an enthusiastic team of volunteers and self-employed contractual staff working to deliver a more accessible and lively online presence, guidance, advice and useful materials. 

As part of its centenary in 2019, the Forestry Commission is calling on the nation to write about what trees and forests mean to them this Valentine’s Day.

It's February already? Weren't we just watching the fireworks and singing Auld Lang Syne just a few days ago? 

Lapidus Scotland is seeking a Creative Project Manager to take forward its project ‘Words Work Well For Health and Wellbeing’, a programme of writing, storytelling and art activities and for wellbeing throughout Glasgow for people with long-term and often complex health conditions in a range of inspiring and healing settings facilitated by experienced writers. We have received funding from Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership via the Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund to continue and extend this project for a further two years (2019 to 2021).

101 Stores for Enhancing Happiness and Well-Being

Using Metaphors in Positive Psychology and Therapy

George W. Burns   Routledge   2017

http://www.georgeburns.com.au/

This book is full of thoughtful, inspirational, and useful ideas. Storytelling lies at its heart, the power of story-making, story-hearing, story-recreating. Burns’ work  stands at a crossroads of Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and story-metaphor therapy.

Reflective Writing in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Jeannie Wright

Sage Publishing 2018

Although the title implies this book is designed for counsellors and psychotherapists, I believe it is potentially helpful for many others. Facilitators of writing for wellbeing and personal development will find it a rich source of stimulating ideas and exercises. Individuals seeking to improve self-awareness – whether as part of reflective practice in a work setting, or simply to grow as a human being – can use this book as a practical guide.

Kate Heaslip runs Book Incubator, an organisation that runs literacy workshops for primary schoold children in Australia. The focus is on improving literacy, telling a story, and boosting creativity. Francesca Baker, Lapidus’ Outreach Manager, asked her a few questions…

The Metanoia Institute is now offering a new Practitioner Certificate which provides qualified therapists and senior trainees with the opportunity to learn about principles, practice and applications of Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes (CWTP). All are welcome – you do not have to have done much creative writing before, only be willing to participate.

Earlier this year, Lapidus International held its first ever writing competition with guest judge Julie Primon.

We were very happy with the responses - every submission bringing something new and special to the suggested theme. On Saturday at the Lapidus AGM, the winner of this inaugural competition was announced.

The winner of the 2018 'A Moment of Kindness Flash Fiction' competition is:

As part of celebrations to mark its centenary in 2019, the Forestry Commission has launched a new writing competition to diversify nature writing.

A new report entitled A Society of Readers, commissioned by the charity The Reading Agency and conducted by think tank Demos, finds a significant body of evidence to show that reading can help to combat the growing issue of loneliness, as well as acting as a tool to protect future generations from loneliness. With nine million people in the UK currently feeling lonely "often" or "always", the research shines a light on the benefits of using reading as a form of social connection. To find out more about the report and what it means, we caught up with Edward Cutler, Digital Communications Officer at The Reading Agency.

It’s been a bit of a non-stop November for Lapidus –  we've been travelling across the country for the NAWE conference, setting up the AGM in London in December, interviewing new board members, setting up events next year (Newcastle, March 23^rd and 24^th - save the date!) and the Creative Bridges International Call for Papers is well underway too!

“Write here, sanctuary” creative writing for refugees and people seeking asylum - Arts & Health

Theodore Stickley, Ada Hui, Michelle Stubley, Francesca Baker and Michael Craig Watson

“Write here, sanctuary” creative writing for refugees and people seeking asylum is a study published in Arts & Health by Theodore Stickley, Ada Hui, Michelle Stubley, Francesca Baker and Michael Craig Watson that looks at the efficacy and affect of creative writing workshops for refugees run by Write East Midlands in three cities – Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.

The Kent Writing and Wellbeing Network began meeting in January 2013 and has had many interesting speakers including Patricia Debney, Reinekke Lengelle and Maria C. McCarthy. 

Call for Presentations

13th Annual Storytelling Symposium, 12-13 April, 2019 
George Ewart Centre for Storytelling, 
University of South Wales Atrium Campus 
THEME: Storytelling and the Environment