I’ve been doing a YouTube series called “tint trauma’s” looking at some of the everyday occurances which might lead some people to have a traumatised reaction. When I posted on Social Media last week to let my followers know I was starting this series, I was pleased to hear from Rosie who wanted to tell me her story. Rosie and
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross defines the five phases of grief as denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. In this video, I apply this model to explore how people are coming to terms with lockdown, and all the many ways life has changed. I look at some of the social interactions and emotional responses at this time of adjustment which might be part
Last week I was at an amazing concert by Rhiannon Giddens, at the Royal Festival Hall, at the Southbank Center as part of the #wearejazz EFG London Jazz Festival . Rhiannon brings together musical influences from Africa, America and Europe to create a sound which is captivating. Rhiannon has researched the history of the musical styles which influence her; she
At the dramatherapy conference last weekend, I attended Workshop 11 which included two papers on adoption, one by Catherine Lake and one by Anna Seymour. The two presenters shared their perspective as both dramatherapists and as adoptive parents with a short discussion afterwards. The first presentation (the focus of this blog) was from Catherine Lake “Since the introduction of the
I had an early morning activity on Saturday morning at the BADth Conference, stating even before breakfast was served. I don’t mind an early start but it is rare that I do anything much before breakfast. Here is what the programme said to tempt me to book this activity. “During December 2018–January 2019 I volunteered at Camp Moria Lesvos, Greece.
There were four choices for performances we could attend on the Friday night of the BADth Conference. I had been attracted to this one as I was interested in how pre-verbal trauma could be worked with. We had been told in the blurb that: “Often the events that shape us happen to us before we even have the language to
This years dramatherapy conference keynote speech was from a group of 7 dramatherapists representing different generations and approaches. Dr. Bruce Howard Bayley and Mary Smail began by wondering what note it would be and which key it would be in. What does an alder tree have to do with trauma? How can resilience be put into words? How can seven
I’m spending 10 days at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and wanted to share my dramatherapy thoughts on some of the productions. First in the spotlight “The Words Are There” by Nth Degree Productions. In this one-man show we meet Mick as he recounts moments of his relationship with Trish (absent except for a mop as an avatar and a voice-over).
In September I will be starting a new school-based project. This week I have been reading “Empowering Children through Art and Expression: culturally sensitive ways of healing Trauma and Grief” by Bruce St Thomas and Paul Johnson. This book is easy to read but offers some really insightful ways that the two authors have supported traumatised and bereaved children including
How does Game of Thrones, a Spice Girl and a Japanese form of fixing stuff show us the potential for post traumatic growth. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.