Frequently Asked Questions & Refund Policy for workshops

Please note: these FAQ cover possible questions arising for individuals wishing to book workshops for the new Writing for Wellbeing for those in the Caring Professions , commencing monthly from October 2025.

Organisations and anyone who would like to commission me to design and facilitate workshops, please use the Contact Form, to discuss ideas and requirements.

What is Writing for Wellbeing?

Great question! There are many definitions,some of which I have quoted on the Resources page.

For me personally, Writing for Wellbeing is any form of writing whose express intention is to contribute to an emotional state of wellbeing and personal development, by exploring and expressing thoughts, experiences, memories and insights, through the act of putting pen to paper and reflecting on one's thinking and writing processes, as well as the actual writing itself. This can contribute to our self-awareness and that of those around us personally, professionally and within society as a whole.

This type of writing can also allow us to be more free and creative in our self- expression,discover new writing techniques such as poetry techniques, prose, journalling which can be empowering.

Refreshingly, there are no hard and fast rules as compared to academic or some other forms of writing-grammar, syntax, which can deter and hinder many of us to give writing a go.

Two 'mantras' which are commonly used in the Writing for Wellbeing ethos:

"Nothing you write is wrong"

and

"Whatever you write is right!"

"Therapeutic writing"-so are these sessions 'therapy'?

Writing, like making art or making music, can be therapeutic but it is not therapy per se. Although I am a medical doctor by training , I am not a therapist.

Like formal therapy, writing about experiences may at times unmask unpleasant feeling and memories, as well as positive ones and new connections.

Your wellbeing and safety, as individuals and as a group, is always my priority and I have been throughly trained and I am experienced, from my medical career, education career and on the MA Creative Writing & Personal Development to facilitate groups of varying sizes, and to foster and maintain this, we will establish collaborative ground rules at the start of each session.This is a core of any Writing for Wellbeing practice.

Can you give me an idea of how a workshop will run?

Each "block" of four workshop Writing for Wellbeing for the Caring Professions will consist of four workshops each. All can be taken as stand alone workshops , but will build on trying out different blends of writing techniques across each block of four workshops. This will include poetic techniques,fiction, journalling and other creative non-fiction such as memoir.
Please note, this does not mean you need to produce a completed piece of writing in each workshop -this is not school/college/ university!
Each workshop is 2 hours long with a short break.
In each TWO HOUR workshop, we will start by introducing ourselves , then establishing collaborative ground rules, to ensure we all feel more comfortable to write and share together.
We will then do a short, timed free writing (writing whatever comes to mind, for your self,uncensored,which will not be shared with the group at all).
We will then move on to the first of the main writing activities, relating to the theme of the workshop.I will suggest a writing 'prompt.' 'Prompts' are there to give you a stimulus to express yourself in some way, "if nothing comes" from these, then you are very welcome to write whatever you feel you wish to/draw/sit and reflect-there is no "right or wrong" thing to do.
We will write for a set amount of time, sharing some of our writing, reflections and thoughts after each writing task.
There will be a short break within the two hours, with writing tasks either side of the breaks
Note: There is no finite product or outcome that needs to be achieved in these workshops; the key is giving yourself space and time to engage in the writing as a process. That is where the therapeutic benefit lies.
You will all be invited to share your work and/or process , if you wish, as part of the Writing for Wellbeing process.( Please see "Do I have to share my work?")
Final reflections and any queries answered.

Do I have to share my work?

My personal ethos and certainly the approach in this type of writing, is that no one should feel under pressure to share anything that they are not comfortable to share, be that personal writing or views.

In my workshops, you will invited to share an extract of your writing and/or writing process with the group.

Others in the group will be invited to respectfully reflect on what you have shared, from a point of how it impacts on them, not from a critical view point on the actual writing; this is why we set ground rules at the start of each session.

Please note, although I use creative writing techniques and attend Creative Writing groups myself, these workshops are not a conventional creative writing workshop; in those, participants either write and discuss the writing with the group and facilitator and /or bring pieces of poetry/prose/screenplays, to workshop" ie. for constructive creative feedback from the tutor or others in the group, with a view to publication.

Writing for Wellbeing focusses on the process as well as the writing, but not to the point of writing quality critique, that is not the purpose of these workshops.

You may of course wish to edit and develop the writing you start in these workshops, and consider attending separate creative writing groups and /or publishing some of your writing.I am happy to give general signposting on this to you, after a workshop, individually through email, if you wish if you feel that is one way you may wish to take your work.

Where do you hold the workshops?

These will be on the Zoom online platform online platform.

A Zoom link will be sent to you 48 hours before the workshop, and a reminder on the morning of the workshop.

How do I pay and book?

Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite on the individual links on the Writing for Wellbeing for Caring Professions 2025/6 page or via the upcoming Storied Selves Eventbrite page.

Please ensure that you read and agree with the for the booking information on Eventbrite for each workshop, as well as the refund policy below, and Privacy Policy re. use and storage of your information,before booking and paying for workshops.
Please contact me if anything is unclear before booking -I am really happy to help clarify and advise.

If a workshop is fully booked, can I join a waiting list in case of cancellations?

You have the option to join the waiting list for each workshop via the Eventbrite booking site; you will be notified by email from Eventbrite, if a place becomes vacant.

Can I get a refund if the session is cancelled or can I transfer to an avaliable workshop?

Storied Selves REFUND POLICY :

Please note, for the purpose of this policy:

Calendar day means Monday-Sunday inclusive as opposed to usual UK business working days Monday-Friday
Eventbrite booking fees are charged by Eventbrite directly, not by Storied Selves, so please see the Eventbrite terms and conditions on their website, including refunds,before booking tickets for workshops.

Please note, a workshop will only run if there are 2 or more participants booked (maximum 8 participants).
- If you are the sole person booked by closing of booking (booking closes 72 hours before the Saturday 19:00PM workshop), then I will contact you after booking closes, via the email provided by you on Eventbrite booking, and offer you the choice of either:
  - a full refund of Storied Selves workshop fee AND booking fee OR a 90 minute 1:1 writing session on the theme of the booked workshop, on the same date as booked workshop, from 19:00-20.30PM GMT.

If you need to cancel your place, the refund will differ according to the Timing of your cancellation request:
- If cancellation is made 7 or more calendar days of the workshop date, a full refund for the Storied Selves workshop fee (i.e. £70 full fee or £60 concession) will be issued via Eventbrite, BUT please note Eventbrite may retain the booking fee (please see the Evenbrite website for their separate conditions)
- If cancellation is made within 6 or less calendar days before the workshop, 50% of the workshop fee will be issued by Storied Selves via Eventbrite (ie. £ 35 if you paid £70, £30 if you paid concessionary fee of £60). Please note Eventbrite may retain your booking fee.

Please note, if you cancel your place, places are not transferable to another workshop; you will need to request a refund via your original Eventbrite booking (if eligible as above, then rebook into a repeat on an alternative date/any other workshop, if you wish to.)

In the rare event that I as the organiser need to cancel the workshop due to unforeseen circumstances/illness, I will email you with as much notice as possible, and a full workshop and Eventbrite booking fee refund will be instigated on my part, within 48 hours of cancellation notification.(Please note, receipt of refund monies may take longer to process and depend on Eventbrite-please see their website).

Is there a discount if I book all four workshops in advance?

Currently not, but anyone who books and attends 3 or more bookshops in the first block of 2025/6 workshops, will be entitled to 10% off booking off one future online Storied Selves workshop for Caring Professions.

What do you do with my personal details-my name, email,phone number etc. collected as part of my booking or querying workshops?

I fully respect your privacy and I also adhere strictly to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation, that came into place in the UK, on 25th May 2018.

Please read the updated (6th September 2025) Privacy Policy,before booking and paying for any workshops.

If anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to contact me via the button below.

Anyone booking workshops will be assumed to have read and accepted the Refund policy above and Privacy Policy of Storied Selves.

If there is anything else you’d like to know,please don’t hesitate to get in touch- I am ALWAYS happy to hear from you!

Contact Me