
Introduction to Therapeutic and Reflective Writing
Discover the therapeutic value of creative writing – learn how to use writing for wellbeing with others
Are you interested in writing for self exploration? Would you like to enhance your own personal or professional development through creative writing? Perhaps you would like to use it in your work?
Writing has proven to have direct benefits on physical and mental health. This 8-week online course – the first of its kind – will provide you with understanding of therapeutic and reflective writing and the tools for using it personally or with groups, while offering an opportunity to examine your own life through creative writing.
The Professional Writing Academy offers a CPD certificate for those who successfully complete the course. Please check with your own professional organisation as to its suitability. Some employers have funded individuals to do this course as relevant CPD.
Participants who are working, or planning to work, in this field might also be interested in our follow up course Running Writing Workshops.
NEXT COURSE
Start date: 13 January 2020
Duration: 8 weeks
Skill level: All
Session length: Weekly
Sessions: 8
Special early bird price
(Ends 13 December 2019)
Price: £475 £403 (inc. VAT where applicable)
BOOK MY PLACE
We’ve designed this course for anyone looking to develop their understanding and skills in therapeutic and reflective writing for personal development and/or for use in their professional practice.
This is a professional development course and so you may be able to get funding from your employer to do it. All participants who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate of completion evidencing their learning (20 hours didactic learning, 20 hours peer learning).
It’s suitable if you:
- Want to explore therapeutic and reflective writing for your own well-being and personal development
- Are a counsellor or therapist and would like to use writing with your clients
- Are interested in how fiction, life-writing and memoir can benefit well-being
- Would like to include techniques such as journaling, biblio-poetry therapy and metaphor in your toolbox for self-care or use with clients and facilitating groups
- Are looking for a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) course
- Want to join a friendly and supportive group of learners
- Can dedicate 5-7 hours per week for the duration of the course
This course will teach you skills and techniques, together with valuable resources for both personal exploration and use with clients and groups.
You’ll be introduced to:
- Journal writing
- Biblio-poetry therapy
- Reflective writing and practice for educational/professional development
- Fiction, life-writing and memoir for personal development
- Coaching through writing and metaphor
- Writing in groups and facilitation skills
We teach this course in our online classroom, which is open 24/7 so you can fit learning around your work, family and friends. You’ll work in a small group of learners so you can discuss ideas, ask questions and share your writing as you progress through the weekly sessions.
In each session, you’ll be asked to complete reading and writing assignments to share with the group in return for feedback. You will also learn how to reflect and give feedback on others’ reflections. The assignments on this course focus on writing-as-process and the ways in which such writing can have therapeutic benefits and promote insight into our own lives.
You’ll learn from:
- Podcast and video lectures
- Written guidance from Anne and Victoria
- Reading and viewing lists from Anne and Victoria
- Practical writing exercises, designed to help you think about, practise, and reflect on the topics covered in each session
- Online discussions with writers and practitioners in your group
- The opportunity to share your practice, and reflect on the group’s contributions and process
- Optional one-to-one tutorial with a tutor at the end of the course
You’ll need:
- 5-7 hours per week to work through the course
- A notebook and pen or pencil, if you like to make notes by hand
- A laptop or computer* with:
- A reliable broadband internet connection
- Speakers or headphones
- The latest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, or Safari
- Microsoft Word. If you don’t have this you can download Open Office free
- Adobe Reader, latest version. Download free
- QuickTime Player, latest version. Download free
*You can access the course from a tablet or smartphone, but we recommend using a laptop or computer, as this makes it easier to share your work files with your writing group.
Join our alumni
After your course, you can join our online alumni where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. The alumni is a friendly group of writers who support each other as they continue to explore and develop their writing.
Within our online alumni area you can:
- Rejoin your classmates on a private forum and access an archived version of your course materials and forum posts
- Meet alumni from other courses and groups and share your work for feedback on our alumni critiquing forum
- Join in on discussions about reading, writing, editing and ideas on our general discussion forum. This is also where we share news and useful info
- Retain access to our resources area, which has interesting and informative links
- Chat with other people online using the alumni area live chatroom. We also host live chats with guests here
Taking things further
If you'd like to continue on to another Professional Writing Academy course, we'll give you a discount. Please get in touch for more details.
Ready to start writing?
(Non-refundable)
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