Ahead of our ‘Surviving by Storytelling’ workshop especially for NHS colleagues, host and drama psychotherapist Nikki Disney writes about the value of ‘pressing pause’.

Pressing pause

“I’m one of those people who tends to race through life, juggling, spinning plates, dropping a few along the way and feeling bad about it when I do! I often feel that I have to react RIGHT NOW, or the consequences will be disastrous!

During the workshop, the exercise I am going to be leading is based on a Relational Dynamics coaching technique. When I first experienced the exercise, it had the effect of pressing ‘freeze’ on the world around me, giving me time to consider my situation from every angle possible. It reminded me of playing ‘Silent Hill’ on Xbox with my son... every time the eerie music started, and we knew the creepy little people were coming, we would press PAUSE and work out what our strategy would be, what tools or weapons we might need, take a deep breath before pressing PLAY again. We played on, heart beating slower, calmer, and more prepared.

Standing up and walking around

I adapted the exercise for a group of young writers to help them visualise their place in the world, and support them in making decisions about their future, helping them to work out what was most important for them. I have since used the exercise with a variety of groups and individuals. So often we do our thinking and planning fixed, sat at a desk, or around a table. There is something really powerful about standing up and walking around a space, tapping into our senses, our memories, and feeling our way.

Remember when you were little, certain places seemed huge, and yet looking back you realise they weren’t so big after all? This exercise will play with that concept too. By looking at different moments from our lives, pressing PAUSE, we’ll be allowing ourselves to explore them at our own pace, recall how we navigated certain moments, and perhaps use this information to navigate our present and future.”

Book your place

Nikki, along with fellow workshop hosts Anne Holloway and Mark Pearson invite NHS staff to take part in a one-off poetry, writing, yoga and movement inspired workshop to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. The two hour “Surviving by Storytelling” workshop will explore how past experiences can unlock how we can navigate the world around us in these turbulent times.

To find out more and book your free place on either the 15^th or 22^nd February, visit our online events page.

Nikki Disney is passionate about using art to evoke change. She is a state registered Drama psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor (MA. HCPC, BADth), theatre director and yoga teacher who has worked with vulnerable groups and individuals using art for over 16 years.  She is an Artist Wellbeing Practitioner and is an expert on implementing wellbeing into the arts particularly around the theme of trauma, mental health and autobiographical material, utilising somatic practices to support regulation. She has recently supported performances at Bristol Old Vic, The Royal Court, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, Oily Cart along with BBC films.

Surviving by Storytelling is an Institute of Mental Health Managed Innovation Network. It aims to establish a network of individuals who are interested in the development of poetry as a therapeutic medium and is comprised of academics, poets, mental health practitioners and service users.