newsletter

* 27th April 2001 - The Challenge to Create - the creative dimension conference in London by the Arts Therapies in Learning Disabilities and Autism. For information and registration contact 01747 858802 or e-mail: info@creativedimension.co.uk

* 4th - 7th May 2001 - Creative Family Workshop : set in a rustic celtic encampment near the shores of Lake Padarn, North Wales - using a blend of Action Theatre, Playback and some of the key principles of Therapeutic Spiral. For further information contact Dryw Arts in Health on 01248 430445 or e-mail: admin@dryw.freeserve.co.uk

* 12th May 2001 - Scottish Arts Therapies Forum AGM and keynote address at 7pm by Professor Colwyn Trevarthen at Quaker Meeting House,

Edinburgh (Ł5 for non-SATF members).

* 18th - 20th May 2001 - The Therapeutic Spiral - Using Action Methods Safely with Trauma Survivors : an introduction and overview of the model. At St Columba’s House, Maybury Hill, Surrey. Course trainers are Julia Howell and Francis Batten. Contact Chip Chimera on 01372 376577 or e-mail: chipchimera@compuserve.com

For further information and booking details for the courses below contact Mole Conferences on 01273 242 634 or e-mail: enquiries@mole-conferences.com

* 14th June 2001 - Survivors of the Boarding School System - Psychotherapy and Healing (Nick Duffell) - an afternoon seminar at the

Britannia Street Conference Centre

* 28th June 2001 - An Introduction to a

Cognitive Behavioural Framework for dealing with Flashbacks and Intrusive Thoughts and

Images - the fourth of a series of 4 different

afternoon seminars on aspects of CBT (Gladeana McMahon BAC Fellow and BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist)

* Summer 2001 - Serving the Community using health services research - a one day conference for The Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and The South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.

(Cont. from previous column)

* October 2001 - ADHD and Co-morbidity in Adults - a one day conference.

* Autumn 2001 - Self Harm - a one day conference at Regents College.

For more information on the workshop series for 2001 with Francis Batten contact Julia Howell on 0115 847 9281 or e-mail: batten-howell@ntlworld.com

* 8th - 10th June - The Commedia Masks - understanding and exploring the use of masks.

* 6th - 9th September - ‘Magister Ludi’ - our creation of spontaneity in living is explored in our ability to be the ‘Master of Play’.

* 7th - 9th December - Spontaneity and the Clown - discovering your own mischievous and creative roles.

This event was opened up to non-members to highlight the use of Arts Therapies amongst the different health professional groups. The subject was survivors of trauma and abuse and the speaker was Martin Gill a Dramatherapist and Psychodramatist. The first part of the day dealt with Martin’s own development as an Arts Therapist and an explanation of his journey to the use of the Therapeutic Spiral model. In this model, trained auxiliaries are present during the sessions in order to support the client but also to support the therapist. Carrying out a doubling exercise using SATF management team members who had received some limited auxiliary training, participants were able to see how a client could be supported by the auxiliary purely being present with her/him and helping her/him focus on the ‘here and now’ rather than retreat into their trauma bubble. The afternoon session saw a more practical exploration of techniques that crossed borders of the different Arts Therapies using elements of the Therapeutic Spiral, identifying the safety inherent within these therapeutic tools. Overall the day was insightful and thought provoking. For more information on training as an auxilliary, check out the artslinc website (see pg 3).