In collaboration with the Bigger Picture and NHS Practitioner Health, Doctors in Distress will be running a long-term project that focuses on restoration, reflection and recovery through the arts and humanities. This project will explore different areas of creativity, including the visual arts and the written word, to give all medical professionals the opportunity to reflect and connect with each other in supportive and creative spaces.

'The Write Space’ is part of the Restore project that encompasses reflective, creative and expressive writing as well as poetry and literature. As part of this, we have joined with the Royal Literary Fund to offer free expressive writing courses for NHS healthcare professionals run by experienced published writers.

Please note, you do not need to register for all of the dates. If you register for one, you will automatically be registered for all of the sessions.

Please see details in the FAQs below:

What is Expressive Writing?

Expressive writing helps a person to reflect on their life/experiences and put their thoughts and feelings into words.

It is personal, freestyle writing that is not constrained by concerns about the ‘end result’, or conventions such as structure, spelling or grammar.

Its intention is to foster self-expression, personal awareness and wellbeing. It involves reading, writing and conversation.

Who will facilitate the groups?

Groups will be facilitated by professional writers from the Royal Literary Fund.

The facilitators are published authors, poets or playwrights who are also skilled and experienced in running expressive writing groups.

Who can join?

These groups are open to all NHS healthcare professionals subject to availability and are being offered free of charge.

Maximum number of participants per group is 15.

What’s Involved?

Four weekly sessions run virtually on zoom, each lasting one-and-a-half hours.

The group will run on four consecutive Thursdays from May 5th (11am-12.30pm)

As each session builds on the previous one with the same facilitator it is important that you are able to commit to all four sessions.

N.B. Please only register if you are available to attend all four sessions.