Hold a pen or pencil in your hand and draw a line on a sheet of paper. A simple act. How do you feel? Excited, wondering what image you might go on to create? Bored? Daunted? Is it full of possibility? Many more of us all the time are experimenting with art and with theContinue reading “Confidence And Community”
Category Archives: Wellbeing
Glimpse Something Deeper
Over the last few weeks, one word has cropped up time and again as I’ve spoken with participants in my art for wellbeing activities. It’s something they say they’ve found very beneficial, or that they would like to start – but they say demand is high, and they can’t always find local or online groups.Continue reading “Glimpse Something Deeper”
Either/Or
Can wellbeing initiatives such as befriending, arts and crafts or gardening be just as beneficial as a talking therapy like CBT? On the one hand, demand is constant and CBT has boomed, within the NHS and beyond. But on the other hand, doubts have started to be raised, and it’s now believed cognitive behavioural therapy,Continue reading “Either/Or”
Changing Minds
What’s the first thought that comes into your mind when you hear the words creativity, the arts, music, dance, drama, art or craft? Do you think “wonderful, enriching, fun”? Or do you think “boring, scary, not for you”? Many of us do have an instinctive yes or no response to lots of things in life.Continue reading “Changing Minds”
Communities That Care
Creativity plays an important part in many care homes – and so too does community. With care homes running varied activities most days, alongside the quizzes, outings and bingo there are lots of music, arts and crafts. This week is Care Home Open Week, and I’ve heard people sharing how they feel about the prospectContinue reading “Communities That Care”
Serendipity
Even the most reluctant gardener (or rambler) is more likely to venture out at this time of year. Many plants and flowers emerging, fresh leaves on the trees, roadside verges high with cow parsley. Yes, gardening can be fun, but also back-breaking, frustrating, a losing battle to stop weeds and bugs taking over – orContinue reading “Serendipity”
Earth Our Home
What is your first thought when you hear the word “earth”? Is Planet Earth somewhere you take for granted, a backdrop to your life that you assume will go on as it is? Can you still enjoy nature unclouded by earth’s issues? Or has dread of what’s ahead come to overshadow that experience? Maybe howContinue reading “Earth Our Home”
Going Round In Circles
Rumination isn’t a word you hear everyday. It isn’t a very obvious word to understand either. But it’s a common experience, and one that can be very damaging to mental health and wellbeing. While there are diverse ways to help halt or ease rumination, coaching and creativity may have an important part to play. Overthinking,Continue reading “Going Round In Circles”
Turning A Page
Why do you read? What spurs you to turn to a book? Do you read to learn, to relax, to spend time, to escape, to laugh, to reflect? Maybe for all these things at different times. Or maybe you have never got into books, or used to enjoy them but now struggle to concentrate. NeverContinue reading “Turning A Page”
Open Hands
What is the best way to respond to the negatives? I see-saw in what I think. Sometimes I think confronting thoughts and emotions is better – talking or journaling or using art to explore and express. At other times I feel that can be damaging, fuelling a cycle of overthinking for many people, and thatContinue reading “Open Hands”
Medley 