newsletter

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

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

Scottish Division of the Royal College of

Psychiatrists Psychotherapy Section are holding a residential conference (dates below). For more information contact Karen Addie, Administrator, tel: 0131 220 2910

* 8th-10th November 2001 - Psychosis - at

Scotland’s Hotel, Pitlochry, Perthshire. Keynote Speaker: Dr Richard Lucas.

Scottish Arts Therapies Forum (SATF) have

organised a fund raising ‘shin-dig’ for anyone who wants to go! Come and support SATF and engage in a little socialising too.

* Saturday 1st December 2001 - Cafe Royal

Bistro Bar Edinburgh (east end of Princes Street behind Burger King) tickets from E. Vettraino

Rowan Studio: for more information on any of the following contact Dr Sue Jennings on 01458 830434

* Jan 2002 - ‘Creative Approaches to

Supervision’

* Glastonbury calendar - 1-2 Dec 2001 ‘The Healing Mask’ - making masks for

transformation, 10 Feb 2002 ‘Restage your life’ - life changes and new directions (2), 5-7 April 2002 ‘Dionysus: Greek stories and masks’ - Spring School, 5-10 Aug 2002 ‘The Healing Tree’ - Summer School, 13 Oct 2002 ‘Restage your life’ - life changes and personal development (2), 8 Dec 2002 ‘Mandalas’ - theory, practice and personal growth

* Manchester calendar - 12-14 April 2002 ‘Dreams, dreamcatchers and dreamwork’ - Spring School, 14-15 June 2002 ‘Journeys and

landscapes’ - new stories and personal growth, 22-23 Nov 2002 ‘Dramatherapy and playtherapy basics’ - an introduction

* SATF event planned for 16th March 2002 on Arts and Arts Therapists to be held in Edinburgh.

They also coped well with some almost hostile questioning about their sensitivity to cultural divides and their choice of story or myth. For such a young company, they showed remarkable strength of purpose and a belief in the work that they do - long may that continue especially in light of recent world events where multi-cultural tolerance and understanding will desperately be needed.

DTS’s Chair - Genevieve Smyth - attended 4 papers by John Cassons, Laraine Hudson, Annegreth Brem and Roger Grainger. These provided both clarity and questions on the subjects they contained. John Cassons PhD paper on Research in Hearing Voices and Dramatherapy demonstrated the benefits of creative action methods in research and advocated the use of an observer’s chair which allows group members to opt out of participation when they feel necessary but is also within the therapeutic space and therefore is part of the work. Lorraine’s explored the concept that mental health work is at the root of Attachment theory. Annegreth Brem, Head Dramatherapist of an Arts Therapies Team belonging to a Community Mental Health team spoke about self-harm and Roger Grainger advocated new research methods.

There was much more to the conference but I have no more space. Next year it is to Derry in Northern Ireland that we shall journey as the Celtic Fringe; the title ‘Weaving the Threads’ about how Dramatherapy practices in both clinical and community can be woven together. Contact James King at j.king@ulst.ac.uk for info. - see you there!

Dr Ann Cattanach ‘Carline Workshops’ held in Kingussie in the Highlands exploring the use of play and drama to promote well-being: for more information contact Ann Cattanach on tel: 01540 661554 e-mail: Ann.Cattanach@btinternet.com

* 4-6 April 2002 ‘Travelling through the Dark Places’ - aftermath of trauma with children, 7-8 June 2002 ‘In the beginning the world was slime’ - sensory explorations with children, 29 July - 2 Aug 2002 ‘The Green Dog: Love loyalty and terror in the Highlands’ - legends and stories, 14 Sept 2002 ‘Developing Resilience through imaginative play’ - working with groups and individuals, 12-13 Oct 2002 ‘I don’t get it’ - helping children mystified by social interaction