Journal to the Self®: Journal writing course, March 2023

Earlier this year, I shared how I had trained to become a Certified Instructor of the Journal to the Self® Workshop. I’m now excited to be partnering with PCI College in Clondalkin to deliver the course and hopefully spread a bit of the journaling magic!

Journal to the Self® is a short journal writing course for personal growth, creative expression and life enhancement. Covering 18 different journal techniques, it was designed and developed by Journal Therapy pioneer Kathleen Adams and is based on her classic book of the same name.

Run in person over 2 Saturdays, the course offers a unique opportunity to engage with what is usually a self-guided exploration in a safe and respectful group setting. It welcomes both newcomers and seasoned journal writers that wish to expand their repertoire of techniques for productive and fulfilling journal writing. It may also appeal to helping professionals like counsellors and psychotherapists, to learn potentially useful tools for both themselves and their clients.

Dates: Sat 11 and Sat 25 March 2023, 9:30 – 16:30

Location: PCI College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Price: €200 (discounted rate of €170 available for students/graduates of PCI College’s BSc and postgrad courses)

More info and booking: https://www.pcicollege.ie/journal-to-the-self-

Can’t wait 🙂

Simon

Journal to the Self® Workshop: Certified Instructor Training Complete!

I’m happy to report that I have completed my most recent training in the field of writing therapy, to become a Certified Instructor of the Journal to the Self® Workshopthe only one in Ireland!

‘Journal to the Self’ by Kathleen Adams is a classic book in the field of personal development, and one that has surely helped thousands upon thousands of people since its publication in 1990. It is also a text that many therapists will be aware of from their training.

The Journal to the Self® Workshop offers a unique opportunity to engage with what is usually a self-guided exploration in a facilitated group setting. This means that the potential benefits of engaging with the book and its various tools for journaling can be bolstered through the additional power of group experience – sharing and being heard, witnessing and being witnessed, or simply being present to a sense of community with others who also use writing and journaling to make sense of things.

Many people (including therapists and clients) that are drawn to the idea of journaling often start with less awareness around the multiple ways this can be done. This 12-hour course introduces participants to 20-odd journaling techniques that can be used in different ways at different times for different scenarios, giving the journal-writer a ‘menu’ to choose from, as opposed to feeling like they must always order the same thing (metaphorically speaking). So for example, where someone might generally write in their journal in a stream-of-consciousness kind of way, learning different pathways might prompt them to approach whatever it is they wish to explore from a different perspective, say by creating a dialogue, a list, a word cluster or a timed write. Different approaches can yield different insights, so having various tools in the tool box is likely to be more beneficial than only ever having access to one.

I’m excited to have another workshop opportunity to introduce people to the wonders and many benefits of journaling (or broaden the horizons for those that already do it and are curious to learn more). Watch this space for scheduling announcements!

Simon

Workshop! Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing (Sat 27 November 2021)

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Following a pandemic-informed hiatus, I am delighted to announce that myself and writer Claire Hennessy will be holding another collaborative workshop on ‘Creative Writing for Self-expression and Wellbeing,’ on Saturday 27 November. 

Location: Online

Time: 11:00 – 16:30 (including lunch break)

Fee: €80 (Use the promo code 5T3V8VY for a 25% discount!)

The workshop is ideal for anyone interested in creative writing as a tool to help express themselves and as an activity that can contribute to mental wellbeing (as well as being fun and rewarding in its own right). No previous experience of writing is required and while sharing of work is welcomed, it is never expected.

For further info or to book a place, please visit Big Smoke’s website by clicking the text below:

Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing

Looking forward to getting back into the rhythm of these workshops with Claire!

Simon

Online Writing Workshop: ‘Taking the Road Less Travelled: Embracing Your Childfree Life’ (Sat 26 June 2021)

I am delighted to announce that myself and fellow therapist/lecturer Margaret O’Connor of the Are Kids For Me? counselling service and podcast will be co-facilitating a new one-day writing workshop, ‘Taking the Road Less Travelled: Embracing Your Childfree Life’ on Saturday 26 June through Zoom.

You can listen to us talk a bit about the day on her podcast here: https://www.arekidsforme.ie/post/simon-forsyth-childfree-writing-workshop

Combining reflective writing, personal development and shared discussion, the workshop is for anyone that has made the choice to be childfree and would like to deepen their awareness of what this means for them.

It aims to provide you with:

  • A space to connect with others that have also chosen the childfree road in life
  • A space to reflect on your experiences and feelings in a supportive environment
  • A space to embrace your identity, values and opportunities related to being childfree
  • No previous experience of creative or reflective writing is needed
  • Sharing of words written will be encouraged but always optional
  • Emphasis is on process and exploration, not the production of polished work

Time: 10:00 – 16:00 IST

Cost: €90

Booking: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taking-the-road-less-travelled-embracing-your-childfree-life-tickets-154438492689?aff=ebdssbeac&keep_tld=1

Download flyer here:

Margaret and I are both passionate about the normalisation of the childfree choice in society and I’m hopeful that our workshop will in some small way contribute to this. Feel free to share with anyone you think might be interested!

Simon

Workshop! Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing (Sat 21 March 2020)

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I am delighted to announce that myself and author Claire Hennessy will be holding another collaborative workshop on ‘Creative Writing for Self-expression and Wellbeing,’ on Saturday 21 March. I can’t believe this is our fifth one already!

Location: Big Smoke Writing Factory, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2

Time: 11:00 – 16:30 (including lunch break)

Fee: €80

No previous experience of writing is required and while sharing of work is welcomed, it is not expected.

Students on PCI College’s BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy can count attendance as 4.5 CPD hours, which can be put towards their mandated workshop hours in the personal development category.

For further info or to  book a place, please visit Big Smoke’s website by clicking the text below:

Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing

Incidentally, earlier this week I completed a short Children’s and Y.A. fiction course at Big Smoke (as a participant this time). Based on the group’s interests there ended up being quite a focus on picture books, which was a wonderful way to connect with that ‘inner child’ power of imagination – and even better to be able to do so in collaboration with like-minded adults. The magical creativity of visuals such as the below, from Tao Nyeu’s ‘Wonder Bear,’ should never be just for kids!

 

Simon

Workshop! Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing (Sat 21 September 2019)

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I am delighted to announce that myself and author Claire Hennessy will be holding our fourth collaborative workshop, the slightly re-worded ‘Creative Writing for Self-expression and Wellbeing,’ on Saturday 21 September.

Aside from being less wordy, the shift in the title from ‘Mental wellness’ to plain old ‘Wellbeing’ also reflects some research findings that indicate a link between expressive writing, emotional regulation and the body’s immune system (this BBC article offers a handy summary: The puzzling way that writing heals the body).

Over the course of our first three workshops, the message from myself and Claire has been the same – expressing oneself through the written word is an easily accessible, uniquely satisfying and emotionally rewarding pursuit that demands nothing more than pen, paper and an open mind. We use a blend of writing forms to encourage participants to explore and expand their emotional vocabulary, offering a supportive environment for creative experimentation and sharing.

Participants training or working in the counselling field may find exercises potentially useful in their practice, particularly around the use of imagery as a tool to further understand the client’s unique frame of reference. The writing forms outlined may also be incorporated into the practitioner’s own self-care and reflection routines – a happy crossroads where professional imperative and personal enjoyment can meet and mingle.

Location: Big Smoke Writing Factory, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2

Time: 11:00 – 16:30 (including lunch break)

No previous experience of writing is required and while sharing of work is welcomed, it is not expected.

Students on PCI College’s BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy can count attendance as 4 CPD hours, which can be put towards their mandated workshop hours.

For further info or to  book a place, please visit Big Smoke’s website by clicking the text below:

Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Wellbeing

 

To conclude, a little haiku I just wrote about therapy:

What seemed so heavy

It might bury me alive

Is now my armour.

 

Simon

Workshop! Creative Writing for Self-expression and Mental Wellness (Sat 15 September 2018)

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Following the success of our first foray into the world of co-facilitation, I am delighted to announce that myself and author Claire Hennessy will be holding another ‘Creative Writing for Self-expression and Mental Wellness’ workshop on Saturday 15 September.

As before, it will take place at Big Smoke Writing Factory (Harcourt St, Dublin 2), and aims to marry myself and Claire’s dual passions for creativity and good mental health. Various writing forms are used to explore and expand one’s emotional vocabulary, offering a supportive environment for creative experimentation and sharing.

The workshop will run from 11am to 4:30pm, with a lunch break. No previous experience is required.

Students on PCI College’s BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy can count attendance as 4 CPD hours – if this applies to you, just flag with me on the day and I will organise an attendance certificate.

For further info or to  book a place, please visit Big Smoke’s website by clicking the text below:

Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Mental Wellness

Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested!

Simon

Workshop! Creative Writing for Self-expression and Mental Wellness (May 19th 2018)

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It will be my pleasure on Saturday 19 May to co-facilitate a one-day experiential workshop with long-time friend, old work colleague, and fabulous writer Claire Hennessy. Taking place at Big Smoke Writing Factory (Harcourt St, Dublin 2), the day aims to marry myself and Claire’s dual passions for creativity and good mental health. To quote from Claire’s post on the Big Smoke website:

This one-day experiential workshop… is ideal for anyone interested in creative writing as a tool to help express themselves and as an activity that can contribute to mental wellness (as well as being fun and rewarding in its own right).

Co-facilitated by writer Claire Hennessy and counsellor Simon Forsyth, this workshop invites participants to engage in a variety of exercises with an emphasis on:

  • demystifying creativity
  • finding a vocabulary for emotions
  • becoming more comfortable with committing words to the page
  • sharing (if so inclined) creative work in a safe and supportive environment

No previous experience is required.

For further info or to  book a place, please visit Big Smoke’s website by clicking the text below:

Creative Writing for Self-Expression and Mental Wellness

Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested!

Simon