Lapidus Regional Groups - South West - literary arts in personal development

Kim Etherington presented a session entitled: 'Stories as ways of knowing' and illustrated how she has used stories - her own and those of others - for her research and the publications that have emerged from that. The discussion focused on how stories make an important, relevant and appropriate contribution to knowledge-based professions, such as counselling and psychotherapy, as well as raising issues about the relationships between researcher and participants, and the ethical considerations of using narrative inquiry methods. During the second part of the session participants were invited to write and re-write a short piece of autobiography as the basis for learning about a narrative method called autoethngraphy.

Kim Etherington is a Lapidus member and part-time Professor of Narrative and Life Story Research at the University of Bristol where she teaches and supervises doctoral and masters students. She is also a freelance counsellor and supervisor, and she provides training and consultancy to statutory and voluntary agencies. She has published numerous journal articles, four single authored books and three edited books - the details of which can be found on her website www.etherington.biz

On Saturday 17 November the South West Group held a meeting - the first in some some time. There was a great turn-out of over 15 people all very keen to continue the group in Bristol and a working party of 4 people (Elanora Ferry; Heather Lister; Cathy Wilson; Kim Etherington) was set up to arrange venues, workshops and funding. This was agreed as a provisional arrangement until Fiona Hamilton is in a position to take on the co-ordinator role again.

May 2006: Clare Hopkinson talked about the recent Arts & Health Day run by the Kingfisher Project in Salisbury and about her work using poetry in teaching nurses at the University of the West of England. The ensuing discussion covered issues such as peer and professional support in medical environments, and the role of creative reading and writing in organisations where staff have demanding caring roles and reduced continuity of community in the work environment. There was a reading of poems from 'The Poetry Cure' edited by Julia Darling & Cynthia Fuller, and from the 'Being and Loss' section of 'Being Alive' edited by Neil Astley with opportunities to share responses to the poems.

November 2005 Poet and Lapidus member Claire Williamson read poems from her newly published collection 'Ride On' (reviewed in 'Lapidus Journal' Autumn 2005). She showed a poem-film made to accompany the book, and talked about the process of writing, initially prompted by the death of her brother Nick. Her writing journey involved challenging exploration of family and personal issues. Lapidus members and others asked Claire about different aspects of her creative and personal journey, and shared elements of their own experiences. Claire writes 'I hope that by breaking the silence and sharing my journey, the project will help to inspire other people to craft their experience into poetry'. For information on how to obtain Claire's book see www.rideonpoetry.co.uk

September 2005 John Fox President of the National Association of Poetry Therapy in the US and poetry practitioner gave a workshop for Lapidus South West at the Pierian Centre in Bristol entitled EDGES, RISKS AND CONNECTIONS - How Poetry Can Help You Stay Balanced & Compassionate in a Crazy World.

John introduced the afternoon by sharing some of the ways in which poetry is important to him. He skilfully and sensitively led the twelve participants into their own connections with writing, bringing a fund of poems (in a booklet to take away at the end) and insights. We discussed and exchanged personal observations and feelings through and around writing. Comments from participants included: "it was a gift to be able to observe another experienced practitioner at work, and to learn from John"; "Inspiring and moving"; "My first workshop like this - I really enjoyed it - lots to think about afterwards"

May 2005 :

Fiona Hamilton and Elanora Ferry co-facilitated some writing exercises for the group that had emerged from members wanting to get to know each other better.

The first exercise was based on our names. Members were asked to write about their names - their meanings, who gave them to us, whether we liked them, what they meant to us - then we shared our writing.

The second part of the evening focussed on each group member selecting an object in the room and to write from the point of view of the object.

January 2005:

Emily Wills facilitated a poetry workshop for the group. Emily has worked as poet in residence in a Gloucestershire GP surgery, and has fascinating perspectives on health, being a practising GP as well.

We were invited to bring writing materials, and a Thesaurus and Emily introduced the workshop as "looking at the vocabulary and imagery of health and disease, using some contemporary poems as well as our own resources. Be prepared for serious (and not so serious) word play as we approach plagues, prostrations and pathogens."

We looked at published poetry with themes of illness and the feelings surrounding sickness. Then, using feelings about our own bodies as prompts for writing poetry, we shared our writing. As with many successful workshops, the variety of expression and content of the writing produced was surprising and moving.

Emily's first collection of poetry 'Diverting the Sea' was published by Rialto and her second is coming out soon. Emily will be facilitating a workshop at the forthcoming Lapidus conference.

Robin Phillip made an informal report back from Lapidus Committee meeting.

November 2004:

'A shared umbrella in a Japanese garden'

Claire Williamson showed a poignant video she had made using cine film from childhood holidays narrated with her poetry.

Claire then talked about the ‘Swallow Project' in which she, as a poet, together with a film maker had facilitated a video/poetry project for people with learning difficulties. Swallow took its name from South Wansdyke Living and Learning Our Way, a group of 7 core members who met weekly for a year and a half during which they wrote poetry and made a film 'The Journey' of their journey in the project and of a train journey they made together during the project. All group members read their own poetry as narrative for the film, some shot sections of the film and all participated in the editing of the film throughout. The result was a very moving film incorporating several personal journeys as well as the group and actual journey. The group also produced an animated film using their own hand-made models.

Claire described the importance of using images with this particular group and gave examples of how the process of producing 'The Journey' had been an exercise in confidence building and commitment, enhanced through the production of a product which had been replayed to the group.

Claire lintroduced Lapidus members to a writing exercise with the theme of 'Connecting'. Introducing the exercise with inspirational quotations from Krishnamurti and Oriah Mountain Dreamer we each made a collage using selected images from magazines with which we had a 'connection'. We then focused on the collage to each write a poem. Some very rich and beautiful imagery emerged including that of 'A shared umbrella in a Japanese garden' from a member who had never before written poetry.

Fiona Hamilton, coordinator Lapidus SW, reported back on the Lapidus Convenors Meeting in London on 23 October

September 2004

Elanora Ferry talked about the Lapidus Peer Learning Programme, which she is participating in this year. This programme is designed to help members develop their skills in using creative writing in health and social care settings. She gave a personal account of the benefits of attending the weekend workshops – these included receiving teaching, insights and personal guidance from facilitators Cheryl Moskowitz, Graham Hartill and Libby Anson, who are all very experienced as writers and/or professional development trainers. She also talked about the creative moments that occurred in ‘extra-curricular’ moments, such as during a tea break in a local café! Elanora invited us to consider where we get our support from in our work as writers.

Sue Ashby described the workshops she has been running in Bristol entitled ‘Writing the Emotions’ and ‘Writing the Body’. Bringing to these group sessions a wealth of experience as a writer of plays and theatre practitioner, and training as a psychotherapist, Sue has devised some unique methods of approaching personal experience through writing. It was of particular interest to members to hear about her techniques, and her thoughts about the sessions.