“Words can be strong medicine. Stories can touch our hearts and souls; they can point the way to healing and transformation.

Our own lives are stories that we write from day to day; they are journeys through the dark of the fairy tale woods.

The tales of previous travelers through the woods are passed down to us in the poetic, symbolic language of folklore and myth; where we step, someone has stepped before, and their stories can help light the way." Terri Windling.

Myths, Folklore and Fairy tales can be particularly useful as they can be understood on several levels at once: the conscious, the unconscious, the individual experience and the social world.

This workshop aims to introduce you to the use of fairytale, their archetypal symbols and imagery as a creative resource and potential therapeutic tool. By the end of the workshop participants will have had an opportunity to gain an understanding of:

• The psychotherapeutic relevance of story and fairytales from several different psychological perspectives.

• Common archetypes and imagery used in fairytales.

• Practical ideas about how to use fairytales as a therapeutic tool.

• An experience of using group reflection to connect more deeply to a story.

There is a maximum 12 spaces for this session

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

Part one: 10:00 am - 11:30 am (UK)

At the beginning of this part of the workshop there will be a presentation thinking about:

- The links between psychology and fairytales/myths

- Common Symbolism and Archetypal Imagery in fairytales

- Practical ways in which fairytales can be taken up and used a therapeutic tool

The group will then spend the majority of time sharing reflections, questions, thoughts and associations to the presentation.

11:30am - 12:15 (UK) BREAK.

Part two: 12:15 - 1:45 pm (UK)

At the beginning of this part of the workshop there will be a presentation thinking about:

- History of the Tale of Little Red Riding Hood

- Common interpretations of this story

The group will then spend the majority of time sharing reflections, thoughts and associations to the story. Experiencing in action how through the group ‘s discussion, meeting our reactions, our connection to symbols, imagery and association along the way, we might enable each other to better understand ourselves, each other and some of the stories we all live.

THIS WORKSHOP IS SUITABLE FOR:

This workshop is for psychologists, psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners interested in stories.

All are welcome to the group however there is an explicit invitation to people who have experiences of being in marginalized groups . For example: people from BAME communities, disabled people, people that identify as LGBTQ, people who have a religious faith, people who identify as working class, people with lived experience of mental health problems.

This day workshop complements, but is separate to ongoing reflective groups I run. If interested in this day workshop, do consider these other spaces.

CPD Attendance certificates available on request.

If you would like to join the mailing list regarding the group please contact me at: mail@libbynugent.com and mention this group.

Contact Dr Libby Nugent for more information; twitter: @becomingethical; email: mail@libbynugent.com; telephone: 07990546964.