The Art of Therapeutic Writing

Monthly workshops with Sandra Jensen

Dates in 2025: 5th Jan; 2nd Feb; 2nd March; 6th April; 4th May; 1 June

These monthly workshops include a supportive combination of writing exercises, prompts and guided discussion which build a compassionate and resilient relationship with yourself, your mental health and your creativity. You’ll be gently encouraged to liberate truths and experiences that have the potential to transform your life and the lives of those they touch. While sharing your work with the group can be an aspect to this process, there will never be pressure to do so. Ultimately you will be writing for yourself, be encouraged to step out of your own way and open up your ‘child eyes’ to whatever wants to be expressed on the page. This could be in the form of autobiographical material (whether from your own point of view or the point of view of another), but could also be fictionalised work or poetry. Whatever you write is “right”. There is no “wrong” writing!

The therapeutic benefits of journaling or writing “Morning Pages” are well known. In my experience both personally and as a writing teacher, I’ve discovered a particular benefit to writing stories using a simple set of writing precepts. Words not only flow from an embodied place, but also embrace the ‘Art’ of writing. In this way what you write will not only be of personal benefit, alchemizing the pain of trauma into emotional power, but also have the vividness and depth to communicate with others.

Some fear writing about certain events will bring up difficult emotions. Following simple guidelines creates an important distinction between you as “writer” and you as the person who experienced or know of those events. This gives you perspective,

and perspective helps us gain distance from the emotional pain of challenging events or circumstances. And, whatever you write, you affirm your agency in the world. As Joyce Carol Oates said: “I have written, therefore I must have existed.”

No formal writing experience required. Spaces are limited to 8.

“Though none of us will live forever, our stories can. As long as one soul remains who can tell the story, the greater forces of love, mercy, generosity, and strength are continuously called into the world."~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés

About Sandra

Sandra Jensen is an award-winning writer who has coached writers online and led writing retreats in Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S.A. She also held a monthly writing session at the Tree of Life Centre in Hove prior to the pandemic. Sandra taught creative writing at The Galle Literary Festival and for the British Council in Colombo, and has been a frequent guest writer and panellist at the International Conference on the Short Story. Her own work is widely published in a variety of literary magazines and elsewhere.

Sandra is a disabled writer, having lived with chronic illness for nearly three decades. She has led online writing workshops specifically for those suffering from similar issues. Sandra was recently commissioned by Sam Ruddock, Director of Story

Machine in the UK, to write a short book for those with chronic disabling conditions: “The Irrepressible Writer: How Writers with Ill Health Write Well”. 

The book is slated for publication in 2025. She is also well acquainted with mental health issues, having been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).

You can find out more about her at: www.sandrajensen.net

Testimonials

“Sandra helped me to believe in myself and my writing, her encouragement and advice helped me to express myself through my writing both personally and now professionally. I am now a professional writer and that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Sandra’s help and guidance.”

Damien Pestell

“It is not too much to say that the writing retreat has changed my life.”

Gabriele Stehle

“For me the writing process with Sandra was pure magic. We take what is very ordinary, that which I would normally discard, and turn it into pure gold. It has helped me to stop thinking about writing and to become a writer.’

Andrew Fawcett

“The workshop enabled me to re-enter an almost forgotten ‘place’ of wonder and luminosity. I felt that each of us was given exactly what we needed in terms of encouragement and guidance and the space to listen to ourselves and each other. I loved it!”

Rosemary Taylor

Please book your place on the workshop HERE

For general enquiries you are welcome to contact Sandra at

sandra@sandrajensen.net