Creative Learning

Carolyn is a qualified social worker, a serial social entrepreneur, and experienced in implementing creative solutions to challenging problems in social care. As the author of The Layperson’s Guide to Good Mental Health: Your A-Z for a Happier Life, Carolyn has developed a framework for good mental health which she calls the 5 Cs – Character, Composure, Connection, Creativity and Challenge. Using this framework she has delivered community workshops and courses over the past 10 years, to support people working positively towards good mental health, emotional resilience and wellbeing. After 25 years experience working as a social worker, trainer, researcher and manager in local authority and voluntary sector services, she set up an independent arts and wellbeing venue in Portsmouth in 2007. Despite the impact of the economic recession that year, Carolyn kept the venue going for three years before it had to close. From her experience of this enterprise, and the network developed, Carolyn went on to co-found the Good Mental Health Cooperative in 2013, sharing her passion for promoting good mental health and wellbeing and challenging stigma, through community based projects, events and courses. Earlier this year, Carolyn was recognised as an Inspirational Woman in Health by Pamodzi Awards in Portsmouth. Carolyn has worked with local authorities, universities, charities and community groups on a range of innovative projects in social care. She also currently facilitates action learning sets for social entrepreneurs through Action Hampshire, and is a practice assessor for students training to be social workers, and qualified social workers in their first year of practice with Hampshire Adult Care.

I’m a specialist mental health nurse and cognitive behavioural therapist. I deliver psychotherapy for a range of common mental health problems such as depression, low self-esteem, general anxiety, panic, health anxiety, social anxiety and obsessive compulsive issues.

My professional training includes a foundation in anatomy and physiology as part of my mental health nursing degree. I am a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist within general primary care and long term health conditions. I hold a BTEC in adult education and practice in nursing mentorship, CBT supervision and creative coaching.

I am passionate in creative expression for good mental health and using creative ways to tackle stigma and aid understanding in our community. I have a background in acting and teaching youth theatre, and still perform at times holding a registration with Equity Arts Federation. I have studied with Adrian Jackson of Cardboard Citizens in facilitating Forum Theatre (also known as the Theatre of the Oppressed) which has been my main mode of integrating my psychological work with my love for acting. I have recently discovered performance in comedy and improv, which has enriched my life in so many ways! I love to play the West & North African hand drums, and have always been in love with dance of all forms throughout my life, but especially Middle Eastern dance which I perform and train regularly in.

Having acting, comedy, improv, dance and African percussion, in my life has provided me with life long friendships, confidence and joy that I cherish everyday.

Founder of my.creative-learning.net

Editor of the Creative Mental Health Guide community arts magazine www.creativementalhealth.org.uk

For more on psychotherapy, CBT supervision, coaching & corporate training www.creativementalhealth.org.uk

I am a fully qualified and insured Hypnotherapist , and Master NLP Practitioner. Registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register, (GHR) and the Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council CNHC. I am located in Ryde and specialise in stress and anxiety related difficulties, including PTSD, pain management, IBS, weight management, phobias and many other ailments that hold people back from living a rich and happy life. FRYOG Yoga teacher and teach regular yoga classes in Newport and Binstead.