1. Introduction to Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
Presented by
Strands: theory; relating to practice through to practice; parallel process training
Overview of 3 days – sheet
Name
Role
Feeling words
Experience of working therapeutically with story
What you hope to get from this 3-day training

2. Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
10 week intervention for groups of 6 pupils to support emotional, social and mental wellbeing
Uses story metaphor to process difficult emotions
Improves writing skills, emotional resilience and social skills
Suitable for pupils aged years

3. Video: Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
Video of Therapeutic Storywriting Groups (TSW) in Tottenham schools on home page of online training manual:
Delivered by Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting in partnership with YoungMInds
Draw attention to the fact that the video was made during the YM project which has now finished.
Show the group how the video can be accessed from the training website

4. Therapeutic Storywriting Groups: Training
Target group: SENCOs + SEN teachers, HLTAs, Learning Mentors or School counsellors supporting pupils with BESDs at KS 2 & 3
Mode of delivery: 3-day training direct to professionals implementing intervention
Online training manual: all participants are given a login for the online training manual that supports the 3- day training

5. Research: Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
SERSEN (2004) evaluation:
Enabled pupils to use the medium of story writing to process difficult feelings
Helped pupils develop co-operative and trusting relationships with peers
Increased pupils motivation to engage with writing
Hampshire EPS Evaluation (2013)
Significantly improved in terms of their NC levels in both reading and writing
Significantly improved in terms of hyperactivity, peer problems and total score on the Goodman’s SDQ.

6. Research (2) www.therapeuticstorywriting.com/research
Harris, L (2013) :
Therapeutic Storywriting enhances resilience and emotional and behavioural adjustment.
Significant increase in the emotional vocabulary
Increase in sense of belonging
Maclean, G (2013):
TSW groups reduces symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety
Increase in academic attainment compared to a control group

7. Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
Pupils’ comments:
Therapeutic Storywriting Groups
The group helped me to release my anger in small portions. Now it goes into my pencil and into stories. I can make a story around how I feel. I feel I can write my own story - it’s just me and the paper. (Mike Y5)
I think it’s really fun and relaxing because we can- like if we’ve had some problems or if we’re just not in a good mood -we can come here and relax and we’ll concentrate easily’. (Yasmin Y6)

8. Further information, research and resources
Centre for Therapeutic Storywriting:
Online training manuals: