The Reflective Journal
Monthly workshops
Wednesday evenings | 7pm – 9pm
Friday mornings | 10am – 12pm
Does the pace of life sometimes feel overwhelming?
Do you struggle to make time to reflect?
Would you like a simple, accessible, and enjoyable way to reconnect with yourself and restore your sense of balance?
Reflective writing and journaling can be relaxing, playful and empowering. It helps you process and untangle your thoughts, giving you a greater sense of clarity and focus. The safety of a creative writing in a private journal can enable you express yourself in ways that can be freeing and cathartic.
“Jane's workshops have become my favourite monthly treat for myself, I look forward to them so much. I've enjoyed exploring ways of writing just for me, in a really supportive and nourishing space. Working in community arts and academia whilst juggling life as a mum of three young children brings lots of pressure and exhaustion, at times compromising both my wellbeing and creativity. I now write daily, and enjoy connecting with writing regardless of what is currently happening in life.”
— Nicola McAteer - Community Music Practitioner and Researcher
Maybe the idea of writing and journaling appeals, but you’re not sure how to get started?
Perhaps you have started a journal, but are running out of steam?
Or you might be a seasoned journal writer looking for support and inspiration?
Whether you are an experienced writer or have never written before, these safe, accessible monthly workshops will introduce you to a range of ways of keeping a reflective journal.
“The [Reflective Journal] series has given me a discipline to be still and to write. The sessions allow me to be more positive than I might be on my own, they have given me ideas and new ways to work and I've been surprised by what I have written and how much it has helped me tackle life's challenges and problems and to embrace the positive and find new ways of experiencing old problems.”
— Donna Baber, Fresh Arts Manager, North Bristol NHS Trust
Join these monthly writing workshops to support reflection, insight, and expression.
Each month will explore a different theme or way of writing,
You can join us for all 8 workshops, or dip in and out as it suits you.
Each workshop will start with a gentle warm up and an introduction to that month’s theme. You will be offered a range of writing prompts and, if you choose, there will be opportunities to share or talk about your experience of writing in pairs and small groups.
You will be supported and inspired to keep writing between sessions. And, over the months, you will gather an array of creative tools and techniques to enliven and deepen your journal practice.
September | An Introduction to Reflective Journaling
Wed 27th Sep 7pm – 9pm
Fri 29th Sep 10am – 12noon
We will start by exploring ways into journaling, connecting with ourselves and each other through simple, accessible, and creative prompts to generate increased self-awareness and self-compassion.
November | Mapping Experience
Wed 22nd Nov 7pm – 9pm
Fri 24th Nov 10am – 12noon
We will experiment with intuitive visual map making as a way of gaining insight and perspective, before delving deeper using a choice of accessible writing prompts.
February | Dialoguing with the Self
Wed 21st Feb 7pm – 9pm
Fri 23rd Feb 10am – 12noon
The self is a dynamic and fluid concept. We are all complex and multifaceted. But sometimes we get stuck in one particular character or role. During this workshop, we will explore different facets of ourselves, using dialogue to get to know ourselves better.
January | Writing from the Body
Wed 17th Jan 7pm – 9pm
Fri 19th Jan 10am – 12noon
Starting with the breath as a way to connect to our bodies, we will experiment with simple ways to bypass our left brains and write from the wisdom of the body.
October | Lists and Cut-Up Poems
Wed 18th Oct 7pm – 9pm
Fri 20th Oct 10am – 12noon
Using lists as starting points, we will capture and ‘thicken’ meaningful memories to create torn-paper poems. Come with paper, scissors and glue!
December | Writing as Mindfulness
Wed 13th Dec 7pm – 9pm
Fri 8th Dec 10am – 12noon
By paying quiet, close attention to what we see around us and what we feel within us, we will practise writing as a form of active mindfulness.
March | Different Ways to Write
Wed 27th Mar 7pm – 9pm
Playing with ideas of concealing and revealing, we will explore ways of redacting or blocking out found text to create new writing; as well as finding freedom in our own words by obscuring them to others.
April | Captured Moments
Wed 24th Apr 7pm – 9pm
Fri 26th Apr 10am – 12noon
It’s the small things that often bring the most joy. During this workshop, we will explore ways in which writing can help us to notice, capture and savour these precious moments.
“Since the workshop I have been writing in my journal every day, and - more importantly - I’ve actually *wanted* to do it, and looked forward to it.”
— Heather Richardson, Reflective Journal participant, June 2023
Further details
These workshops will run on the Friday mornings and Wednesday evenings between September 2023 and April 2024.
You can choose to come to either the Friday morning workshop which takes place between 10am – 12noon; or the Wednesday evening workshop which takes place between 7pm – 9pm.
Workshops will be held live on Zoom.
Numbers are limited so there will be space for discussion and sharing.
Workshops will not be recorded so that you feel able to express yourself freely.
Handouts, prompts and inspiration for each workshop will be sent by email before each session so that you can print anything you might want to refer to.
Cost
Each 2-hour workshop costs £25.
You can book one or as many workshops as you wish.
"Thank you Jane for your warmth and your commitment to facilitating without forcing anything, there is so much fulfilment for me just in the sense of allowing things to be what they are, it is very balancing."
— Reflective Journal workshop participant
Is this right for me?
This is for you if...
You have never written before and want to find out how to start a reflective journal practice.
You already write and would like to explore new and creative ways to develop your journal practice.
You are willing to be curious, creative and expressive.
You want to find sustainable, enjoyable ways to learn, reflect and care for yourself.
This isn't for you if...
You want to learn how to get your work published
You are looking for professional feedback on your writing for publication
You are looking for therapy to support your mental health
"It has given me something different - a new confidence in and curiosity about writing with some sort of shape and structure and as a way to get unstuck, learn more about myself and heal."
— Writing workshop participant
FAQs
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These workshops will take place on Zoom. A link to take part will be sent to you in advance of each workshop starting. Each workshop will include time away from the screen for writing as well as time on screen for discussion and sharing so that this won’t feel like work! We will use breakout rooms to enable us to connect with each other in small groups.
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You will need access to a computer or laptop with an internet connection, camera and microphone. Headphones can be helpful to ensure clarity and privacy, but are not essential. A wired ethernet connection will work better than Wi-Fi.
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If you are new to Zoom, I will send you written guidance on how to use Zoom and the functions within it such as chat and breakout rooms.
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The same workshop will be repeated on for the Friday session between 10.00am – 12.00pm and the second Wednesday session between 7pm – 9pm. You can choose which day or date suits you best – a Friday morning or Wednesday evening.
An Introduction to Reflective Journaling
Wednesday 27th September 7pm – 9pm
Friday 29th September 10am – 12noon
Lists and Cut-Up Poems
Wednesday 18th October 7pm – 9pm
Friday 20th October 10am – 12noon
Mapping Experience
Wednesday 22nd November 7pm – 9pm
Friday 24th November 10am – 12noon
Writing as Mindfulness
Wednesday 13th December 7pm – 9pm
Friday 8th December 10am – 12noon
Writing from the Body
Wednesday 17th January 7pm – 9pm
Friday 19th January 10am – 12noon
Dialoguing with the Self
Wednesday 21st February 7pm – 9pm
Friday 23rd February 10am – 12noon
Different Ways to Write
Wednesday 27th March 7pm – 9pm
Friday 29th March 10am – 12noon
Captured Moments
Wednesday 24th April 7pm – 9pm
Friday 26th April 10am – 12noon
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The Friday workshops take place between 10am – 12noon and the Wednesday workshops take place between 7pm – 9pm.
It is important to arrive on time since we will start each session with group interaction and introductions which are an important part of creating group safety and cohesion.
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Each workshop operates as a standalone and you do not have to attend every workshop.
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Yes, it is important to attend a workshop from start to finish. This is because each workshop has been designed as a safe container for writing and expression, with an opening activity designed to lead us safely into writing and sharing and closing activity to guide us gently back to closure and ending. If you are late, or miss some of the session, it may affect the experience for others.
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If you know you are going to be late, please let me know in advance so that I can notify other members of the group.
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No, there will not be any recordings made of the workshops. This is so that we can create a space that feels open, safe and trusting.
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It is entirely up to you how much extra time you set aside for writing outside of the 2 hours a month for the workshops themselves. There will be an encouragement for you to commit some regular time for writing but this can be as little as 5 minutes a day – you will discover that writing in very short amounts of time can be as productive as longer stints.
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There will be an encouragement for you to commit some regular time for writing, but this can be as little as 5 minutes a day – you will discover that writing in very short amounts of time can be as productive as longer stints.
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No, you don’t need anything other than a pen and paper! However, I recommend you find a journal and pen that you really enjoy using. I will share my own personal recommendations for journals and pens ahead of the course.
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You will receive an Introduction to Journaling Handout and resources appropriate to each workshop, but there is no requirement to read anything in advance of the workshops.
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No, your journal is private and the writing encouraged through this course is for your own benefit rather than for publication or critique.
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This is not a therapy or counselling group. I am trained to master’s degree level in therapeutic writing, but I am not a qualified counsellor or therapist. The writing exercises are carefully structured to ensure that you keep yourself safe from undue distress or harm during the programme, and everyone will be encouraged and guided to look after themselves as part of the work. However, if your writing triggers or uncovers material which is distressing, I will stay behind at the end of a session to check in with you and make sure that you have somewhere or someone to turn to for further help and support. There is a handout available on further resources and sources of support, including action and helplines, counselling directories and voluntary sector organizations providing counselling support and guidance around specific issues.
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Each workshop costs £25. This includes a live, safely facilitated two-hour workshops and handouts.
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If, for any reason, you are unable to attend a workshop, I will offer a full refund up to five working days before the start date of the workshop. Alternatively, you can move your booking to a later workshop provided there are spaces available.
If I cancel a workshop for any reason, I will refund any fees you have paid in their entirety.
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By booking, you agree that we may collect and store personal information about you and your interactions with us for the purposes of running these workshops. This includes: your personal contact details; gender; details of your booking and booking history, including any access needs you have told us about; records of payments (not including credit/debit cards numbers, etc.); any correspondence and any other information we need to keep in order to administer your booking. All personal information is kept securely. We will use this information to communicate with you about your booking and we may, unless you tell us otherwise, communicate with you occasionally about our work and other courses and support that we offer. We never share or sell information about our course participants with any third party, either in aggregate or in individual form.
“Thank you so much for facilitating a beautiful space as always. I can’t ever get over the power that is opened up in your sessions. I will be resonating with all that learning for weeks.”
— Nicola Blunden, Director of Studies: BSc Person-Centred Pluralistic Counselling Metanoia Institute
Hi, I am Jane Willis,
I have spent the past 30 years developing, delivering, and evaluating creative programmes that foster health and wellbeing while also training, supporting, and mentoring artists, leaders and managers across the creative health sector to do the same.
A life-long journaller, I use creative and reflective journal writing as a way to better understand and care for myself amidst the pressures of work and life. Having recently completed a master’s degree in creative writing for therapeutic purposes, I have translated my own creative journaling methods into a programme to share with others.
I believe that learning to care for ourselves with kindness and compassion is essential if we are to create wider cultures of care. Given the pressures of juggling work, freelance careers, and other responsibilities amidst the uncertainties and unrest in the world, this is an urgent and necessary priority for us as individuals, as well as for the communities in which we live.
