Therapists, Counsellors (& Helping Professions) Behind the Mask is a series of workshops over four weeks, exclusively for all therapists, counsellors and mental health professionals. Through these workshops, you will explore how the extraordinary events of 2020 have impacted your practice, and have the opportunity to tell your story, through story-telling, mask-making and visual arts.

You can attend independent workshops, but a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate will be available for those attending all four dates. £35 for all four workshops, £10 per workshop.

Saturday 10th October (World Mental Health Day): Workshop One - introduction, storytelling, and writing.

Saturday 17th October: Workshop Two - mask-making and artwork.

Saturday 24th October: Workshop Three - rehearsal with professional storyteller Paul Cree, reflection and closing.

Saturday 31st October (All Hallow's eve): Workshop Four - virtual screening and performance.

We will guide this exploration through storytelling, writing, art, and theatre-making, to look at the psychology behind the visuals and delve into the human psyche*. Participants will be working with a story, Demeter and Persephone, moving into character work, mask-making, and creating performance pieces.

The workshops will be facilitated by Marissa Green and Kyra Hall-Gelly, creative arts, and mental health practitioners. Paul Cree will be storytelling.

Marissa is a qualified dramatherapist, creative mental health practitioner, and mental health educator. She is the founder of Open Words UK, a creative mental health education service provider. Marissa trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. (www.openwords.co.uk)

Kyra is a qualified Person-centred Therapist and Counsellor Using the Arts, writer, and a member of the Croydon SEND Parent Forum Steering Group. Kyra trained at the Institute of Arts in Therapy & Education (IATE). (https://www.neurotribe.uk)

Paul Cree is a: poet, storyteller, rapper, and theatre-maker. Originally from Horley, Surrey and based in South London, he's been writing and performing regularly around the UK for over 11 years, at venues and events such as; Ronnie Scott’s, Tate Britain, Battersea Arts Centre, Roundhouse, Camden People’s Theatre, Lattitude, Bestival, and the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as having his work showcased on BBC 1xtra and BBC London. (https://paulcree.co.uk)

(These workshops are part of a nationwide project, Britain Behind the Mask. Profits from ticket sales will be used to run free workshops for marginalised groups. Over 18s only).

For more information and to meet the organizers, watch the video below.

Find out more by watching the Britain Behind the Mask team speak about their project.