Welcome to Lapidus International
The Words and Writing For Wellbeing Community
Lapidus International is a membership organisation open to everyone with an interest in words for wellbeing.
We support and champion words and writing for wellbeing through development opportunities, exclusive member events, access to the latest research, and more.
We offer a supportive network to enhance both personal and professional wellbeing practice.
What Is Words and Writing For Wellbeing?
Words and writing for wellbeing is the use of words to explore thoughts, express emotions, and support personal growth. It’s not about perfect grammar or literary skill, it’s about connecting with yourself through journalling, poetry, storytelling, or reflective writing. Whether used in a group setting or privately, writing can be a powerful tool to process experiences, build resilience, and find clarity.
At Lapidus, we celebrate writing in all its forms as a gentle, creative way to nurture emotional, mental, and social wellbeing. Find out more in our handy guide to writing for wellbeing.
Upcoming Events
Join Balens for a webinar designed specifically for Lapidus International members. We’ll demystify the core insurance protections practitioners need, explain how cover applies in real-world scenarios, and share claims insights to help you reduce risk and respond confidently if something goes wrong. Using clear examples, we’ll outline what’s typically included in a practitioner policy and how different liabilities work together to safeguard your practice, your clients, and your reputation. This webinar includes a Q&A afterwards. Hosted by Annie Tabberner, Client Engagement Representative and Katie Thomas, Technical Schemes Manager at Balens.
Joining information:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85438453706
Join and take notes: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85438453706?mynotes=on
Meeting chat link: https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/85438453706
Meeting ID: 854 3845 3706
A pen for the past, the now and the future: How to navigate life’s losses – and gains – through writing with Lottie Williams
How can writing about the fragility of previous life experiences connect with who we are today, and how we can write in the current? What power does this hold in being able to express ourselves with more confidence and clarity in the future?
In this session, I shall reflect on how I first came to writing as a tool for my mental health, allowing me to name and understand traumatic past experiences and feel my way through the climate and ecological emergency. Consequently, I shall discuss how the arts have positively challenged and supported changes I have made in my life.
Though short writing prompts and discussion, I shall also invite participants to consider these connections for themselves.
About Lottie Williams
Lottie Williams is an award winning writer and writing practitioner based in West Wales. She won the Nigel Jenkins Literary Award and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her debut book, ‘The Edge of Everything’, was published by the H’mm Foundation in 2025.
As a facilitator, Lottie trained with Sgwennu Well, a year long writing for wellbeing programme delivered by Literature Wales. She also draws on her background in teaching and as a regular participant of therapeutic writing sessions.
Lottie has provided writing well workshops for charities, social enterprises, schools and groups across South and West Wales.
Join the meeting:
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81124654743?pwd=lIhOUita3l7mwmVhDgvvlolwHh4IaW.1
Meeting ID: 811 2465 4743
Passcode: 786686
Please note that this event will be recorded. The recording will be available for a limited time after the live event. Please allow a couple of working days for us to process and upload the recording after the live event.
For questions before or after the day of the event, please contact Flo on membership@lapidus.org.uk (responses on Tuesdays and Fridays). For queries on the day of the event, please contact mel@write4word.org.
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience. LLRC events are free and no tickets are required. Use the Zoom link above to access the event.
A friendly, pressure-free, monthly expressive writing session aimed at deepening self-awareness, self-understanding and self-connection.
Maximum of 8 participants. No writing experience necessary.
Theme for October: “The Art of the Fall”
This ongoing monthly therapeutic/expressive writing group is for anyone who enjoys (or thinks they might enjoy) writing for pleasure or to develop self-awareness, self-understanding and self-connection. Using prose excerpts, poetry, images and other prompts, this group invites you to explore your inner and outer worlds through writing. Sharing your writing is always optional but the invitation is there to share and discuss your writing or discoveries with others if this is something you would like to do.
Join Charmaine Pollard for an inspiring and experiential online workshop designed to uplift your spirit through the power of poetry and expressive writing. This unique session invites you to experience poetry as a gentle, supportive hand upon your shoulder, offering insight, tools for resilience and connection.
Whether you are seeking emotional healing or simply wish to explore the therapeutic qualities of poetry, journalling and verse, this workshop provides a nurturing space to engage with poetry and self- reflective writing in a meaningful way.
The title of the workshop was inspired by a poem written by Deborah Cooper.
Who is this workshop for?
The workshop is for those who enjoy creativity, journalling, writing for personal or professional development.
There is no need to worry about spelling, grammar or style. Any previous knowledge of poetry, journalling or expressive writing is not required; you simply need to be willing to share, reflect and experiment with words in a supportive environment.
Embrace the healing touch of words and discover how poetry and writing, can be a source of strength and comfort in your life.
Charmaine Pollard, a Certified Poetry Therapist, has written an inspirational book Writing for Resilience. You can find the book on Amazon.
Join Charmaine Pollard for an inspiring and experiential online workshop designed to uplift your spirit through the power of poetry and expressive writing. This unique session invites you to experience poetry as a gentle, supportive hand upon your shoulder, offering insight, tools for resilience and connection.
Whether you are seeking emotional healing or simply wish to explore the therapeutic qualities of poetry, journalling and verse, this workshop provides a nurturing space to engage with poetry and self- reflective writing in a meaningful way.
The title of the workshop was inspired by a poem written by Deborah Cooper.
Who is this workshop for?
The workshop is for those who enjoy creativity, journalling, writing for personal or professional development.
There is no need to worry about spelling, grammar or style. Any previous knowledge of poetry, journalling or expressive writing is not required; you simply need to be willing to share, reflect and experiment with words in a supportive environment.
Embrace the healing touch of words and discover how poetry and writing, can be a source of strength and comfort in your life.
Charmaine Pollard is an experienced poetry therapist, accredited by the International Federation for Biblio Poetry Therapy (USA), a counsellor and a coach with a passion for leading therapeutic writing workshops to promote health and wellbeing.
Bookings via Eventbrite
“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” Aldous Huxley
Join Charmaine Pollard as we use carefully selected poems to inspire our reflections and discussions.
Our focus is on self-discovery and self-improvement.
We meet at selected bespoke cafés and places of interest across London, using these inspiring venues as a jumping-off point for our writing.
You don’t need to worry about spelling, grammar, style, or having any background in poetry or expressive writing. Just bring your curiosity and willingness to connect, reflect and experiment with words in a friendly and supportive environment.
Charmaine Pollard is an experienced Certified Poetry Therapist, Counsellor and Coach with a passion for leading writing for wellbeing workshops with a particular focus on confidence and resilience. Her fusion of contemporary coaching with poetry therapy techniques have helped people from all walks of life, find self- compassion, contentment and success.
Join Lapidus International...
…from as little as £3.50 per month.
As a Lapidus Member, you are part of a supportive, international community who believe in the power of using words to enhance and transform.
You’ll receive a monthly newsletter, get discounts on events and training, have access to our online library of Lapidus journals and more. All for as little as £3.50 per month!
Lapidus News
Our vision
In these times of global upheaval, where words can be debased, Lapidus International will not compromise.
We know that writing endures as a way to express suffering and joy, healing and belonging in the intersection of personal circumstances and social conditions.
Through practice, research, publishing, and partnerships, we recognise words and writing as an accessible force for wellbeing, activism and therapy.
Our membership reflects the voices of all communities, including those who have been discounted, prohibited, displaced and under-served.