November 2008

Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting Update

I hope you are all well and had some time to relax over the half-term break. Here is news of forthcoming training in Therapeutic Storywriting and events/conferences related to emotional health and well-being in schools.

3-day Training: Setting up Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
We are now booking for this training for school-based professionals supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Research has shown Therapeutic Storywriting Groups improve pupils' writing skills while developing emotional literacy. The 10-week intervention addresses the social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) and is recommended by the DCSF as an example of good inclusive practice. Participants are encouraged to set up a group in their own school after the second day of the training. For further information about the training visit: www.therapeuticstorywriting.com .

Target group:SENCOs, HLTAs, SEN teachers, Educational Psychologists, Learning Mentors & School Counsellors
Location: Jurys Inn, Brighton (next to B'tn station)
Dates: Thursdays 26 March, 2 April & 21 May 2009
Booking form: Download from www.therapeuticstorywriting.com or ring 01273 235666.

Story Links Project: Working with Parents of Pupils at Risk of Exclusion
The funded training courses for the Story Links project are now fully booked. However if you would like to discuss setting up a training for professionals in your area please email: admin@TherapeuticStorywriting.com.
For more information about the Story Links project visit: www.therapeuticstorywriting.com/StoryLinks/StoryLinks.php

Forthcoming Lectures/Conferences and Reviews
Centre for Emotional Development: Story Links- Working with Parents of Pupils at Risk of Exclusion
Presented by Trisha Waters
This seminar, to be presented by yours truly, will show how the Story Links model uses Therapeutic Storywriting to engage parents of pupils (6-11yr) at risk of exclusion in supporting their child’s emotional well-being and reading skills. For many of these pupils emotional anxiety in school can be related to attachment difficulties with their parents or carers and these anxieties will often impact on their engagement with educational tasks. The presentation will draw on research and case studies to illustrate how this parent partnership intervention can support both the behaviour and learning of some of the most vulnerable pupils in our schools.

Date: Tuesday 18th November 2008
Venue: Brighthelm Community Centre
Time: 4.00pm- 6.00pm
Tickets: £7
Booking: info@emotionaldevelopment.co.uk

Caspari Foundation: Absent Fathers and the emotional impact for children
This conference will seek to unpack some of the complexities in the debate about under-achieving boys in schools in relation to social and emotional development and related behaviour. Keynote speakers include Dr Sebastian Kraemer, Professor David Divine and Dr Heather Geddes.

Date: Friday 28 November 2008
Venue: Toynbee Arts Studio, 28 Commercial Road, London E1 6AB
Booking: admin@caspari.org.uk

SEBDA UK National Conference 2009: 'Well-being, Mental Health and SEBD'
Venue: Ramada Plaza Hotel, Bristol
Date: Friday 27th to Saturday 28th March 2009
Booking: admin@sebda.org

Reviews
CONFER conference on Psychological Trauma And The Child
Among the wide range of speakers at this conference last month there were two presenters that made a particluar impression on me. Dan Hughes gave an insightful commentary to a video recording of his own work with a child and parents. His book 'Attachment-focused Family Therapy' provides an excellent introduction to his work. Bessell van der Kolk also gave an inspiring presentation on the physiological effects of tauma. His book 'Traumatic Stress' focuses mainly on work with adults but also has implications for work with traumatised children.

Your information
Do let me know if you have any information relating to conferences, book recommendations, etc., that you would like included in future Updates.

Very best wishes

Trisha

Trisha Waters
Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting
01273 235666

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