Autumn Term 2024

Accessing recovery education:

Introduction to Webinars

This session is an opportunity to see and test GoToWebinar software and explore the functions of our standard webinars. You will be given the option during the session to move to Teams and trial the functions of our enhanced Webinars too. This is also a chance to test the compatibility of your chosen device.

Courses exploring recovery:

What is Recovery?

This one session course will start to explore what recovery means to individuals through shared learning, reflection, definitions and models. There is opportunity to think about your own strengths, skills, values and recovery journey, whilst acknowledging the challenges.

Our Mental Health

This introductory one session course explores a shared understanding of how we can support ourselves and others. We will consider different approaches to mental health and recovery thinking about what good mental health looks like for us. Using the window of tolerance, we will create our own toolkit to support us to manage our own distress and that of others. The course encourages us to start thinking about what it means to feel safe.

Connecting around Caring and Supporting

Connecting around Caring and Supporting is delivered in two sessions. Week 1 will explore the experience of being a carer and share our learning around that experience, both as individuals and in relation to services. We will also look at what support is available to carers locally. In Week 2 we will think about the recovery journey for carers, the importance of boundaries and how we, as carers, can keep going!

Student Space

This reflective space provides an opportunity for existing students to join us in reflecting on their learning journey with the Recovery Education Centre. It will provide you with an opportunity to celebrate with us as well as talk about any of our courses you have attended and/or online resources you have used. We very much value all of our student feedback, and it is a chance to share your learning with us. We would welcome any ideas you may have for the future of our REC. Each term we will alternate between a face-to-face and webinar course offer.

Courses to support understanding neurodivergence:

Introduction to ADHD

In this introductory session we will explore the strengths and challenges of living with ADHD, the diagnostic process, facing change and what might support us.

Understanding ADHD

This course is split into four sessions. In session one we will define ADHD and create a shared understanding of what this means. In session two we will explore what it's like living with ADHD and think about the impact upon our identity and various life factors. In the third session, we look at what living well with ADHD means to you and how we could live well with ADHD. In the final session we will reflect on what we have learnt and think about plans for moving forward.

Understanding Autism

“If you’ve met one person with Autism, you’ve met one person with Autism.” (Dr. Stephen Shore) Each person’s experience of Autism is unique, as are the ways in which they can be supported. On this course we aim to explore our understanding of Autism, the impacts, what that means for wellbeing, coping skills, communication and living with Autism. The course will be run over four sessions. 

Courses to build on our understanding of self:

Building Safer Connections

This introductory one session course explores how and why safer connections and relationships can enhance our wellbeing. We will begin to study different types of connection and the things that can make them feel safe. We acknowledge that creating and maintaining these connections can feel challenging at times and we will look at some different ways of managing this.

Community and Belonging

This three session course will help us understand what we mean when we talk about community. We will think about different types of communities and how we use our individual strengths, values, and interests to build a sense of belonging. We will look at the strengths and resources that are in our local communities and how these can support us to thrive. There will be opportunities to hear about and share some of the things happening within your area, and a chance to discover new activities. We will explore how we can establish and nurture connections which we can use to support our own recovery and to build the life we want. This term the course is running as an online webinar.

Recognising My Strengths

This one session course aims to help us to recognise what strengths are and how we might identify our own. We will do this together by exploring how using our strengths makes us feel, how we have used strengths when we have been challenged, and how we might build on the strengths we have. Throughout, we will “focus on what is strong, not what is wrong”.

Self-Compassion

This one session course explores ways we can bring more self-compassion into our lives. We will discuss the concept of being kind to yourself, exploring how we can set boundaries and build resilience and you will learn ways that you can practice self-compassion.

Spirituality

Spirituality is about identifying the meaning and purpose in our lives helping us to find hope and direction. This one session course explores what we see as spirituality and offers resources and ideas to share, aiming to help us develop spiritual practice and awareness in the everyday.

Understanding My Values

Values are linked to what is important to us and can be guiding principles to how we live our lives. This one session course aims to explore what values are and the impact these have on our wellbeing and recovery. We will explore ways that we can connect with our own values.

Courses to support managing every day:

Boundaries

In this one session course we look at what we mean by boundaries and how they can help maintain healthy relationships. We discuss how it can sometimes feel difficult to set boundaries, then we go on to explore ways that can help us put them in place.

Building Confidence with Work

This one session course explores what impacts on our confidence with work and helps to identify strengths, build an understanding of the workplace and develop self compassion. It is a course for both those who are in work and those who are contemplating work.

Change

Change happens all the time. This course explores how we experience change. We will look at the challenges, benefits, opportunities and how we cope with change in our lives. We will practice trying something new and start to think about how we might make longer term changes. The course will be delivered across two sessions.

Coping at Christmas

Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. Our Coping at Christmas course aims to explore ways that we can cope during this time. We will recognise some of the challenges and discuss ways that we can look after ourselves through self-compassion and self-management.

Early Warning Signs

Being able to identify our early warning signs can help us to manage our own mental health. This one session course will describe what they are and why they are important. We will start to identify possible early warning signs alongside thinking about what helps.

Exploring Emotions

This course provides an introduction to identifying our emotions which helps us to begin to understand more about how to manage them. Session one looks at the 9 basic emotions, exploring definitions and information about how and why we experience these emotions and the impact they can have on our wellbeing. Students will have an opportunity after this session to explore how they personally experience certain emotions with the accompanying workbook. Session two will continue to build on understanding emotions and will explore some coping skills.

Introducing Mindfulness

What is Mindfulness and how can it help with recovery? This single session course will bust the myths, explore the potential, and address any questions you have about this approach. You will have the opportunity to try some everyday mindfulness practices and find out how to learn more.

Introducing Pain Management

Persistent pain affects approximately 1 in 3 of the UK adult population. This course will explore the complexity of personal experience with persistent pain and its impact on daily life. Recognising the physical and emotional challenges of living with daily pain and sharing experiences can build confidence to use in self management. The information is aimed at anyone who is affected by persistent pain, for example, carers, professionals and those living with the condition. The trainers are unable to provide a diagnosis or answers about individual treatments. This course is delivered in one session.

Managing Mood

The managing mood course is delivered across two sessions. Many people experience changes in their mood which in turn has an effect on their day to day routines and wellbeing. We explore mood and discuss how identifying anchor points can connect us with helpful coping strategies and build resilience when things feel more challenging.

Mindful Living

Have you ever wondered how we can bring mindfulness into our everyday lives? This four session course gives lots of opportunities to understand what it means to be mindful. We will try different practices and help you find what’s supportive for you.

Self-Management

This one session course aims to explore what we mean by self-management, and why and how we might do it. We will explore identity, the importance of building a routine, and self-advocacy and how they can enable us to self-manage. We will start to think about building a toolbox of skills and coping strategies.

Sleep

During this one session course we will share ideas about what might help us get a better night’s sleep. We will look at why sleep is important and what may get in the way, noticing some of the difficulties around sleep and what might cause them.

Courses that support living with and understanding mental health:

Anxiety

This one session course starts by asking what we mean by anxiety and how it feels. We go on to think about what we might know already about how to manage it and why it can feel hard to do sometimes. Together we will explore the importance of what is in and out of our control, what it means to ‘step out of our comfort zone’ and finally to look at some more techniques to manage anxiety.

Depression

This one session course aims to explore depression and enable us to share our experiences. We will discuss symptoms and experiences of depression and how they impact on us. We identify strategies that may help including recognising the importance of connections and self-care.

Dissociation

This course aims to raise awareness and encourage discussion about dissociative conditions and experiences. We will introduce concepts about the origins and symptoms of dissociation as well as exploring barriers to diagnosis and common myths about dissociative disorders. We will also start to explore some basic tools to help self manage dissociative symptoms. This course is delivered face to face.

Introduction to Bipolar

This one session course aims to support individuals, families, and supporters to understand a bipolar diagnosis. We will discuss some experiences of high and low mood whilst exploring the impact this may have on daily living. We will start to identify what recovery and wellbeing might look like.

Exploring Bipolar

Living with Bipolar can sometimes feel like you're on a rollercoaster with little control. You can lose sight of who you are, your connections and what is important to you. The course builds on our Introduction to Bipolar course and aims, over four sessions, to explore how we can live well with Bipolar, reconnecting with ourselves and our wellbeing. It includes exploring mood, early warning signs, coping, wellbeing, recovery, communication, supporters and moving forward. 

Please note this course is only accessible to students who have a diagnosis of Bipolar.

Making Sense of Grief

Grief is a normal human response to loss of many kinds, however people can find themselves stuck in grief and it can impact their mental health. This course aims to explore the various dimensions of grief and the affect it can have on our lives: emotional, physical and social. We will look at ways we can cope during the process of grieving and suggest some tools for managing grief. This course is delive red across two sessions.

Understanding 'Personality Disorder' Diagnosis and Complex Trauma

This introductory course provides space to consider different perspectives on ‘personality disorder’ diagnosis and complex trauma, over three sessions. The first session considers emotional pain and distress and the window of tolerance as a tool for making sense of our experiences. The second session considers the role of trauma and the resources that can anchor us in wider living. The third session explores what humans need to feel safe and how we negotiate this in order to live rather than survive.

Unusual Experiences

Psychosis, Hearing Voices, Paranoia and other unusual experiences

This course explores possible unusual experiences and our own understanding of them. We will look at the impact stress has on them and our wellbeing, and start to identify things that can help us to manage.

Understanding Unusual Experiences

Unusual experiences can mean a lot of different things. We think of experiences such as hearing voices or seeing things other people can’t see, as well as feeling suspicious and paranoid. These experiences can be part of a diagnosis like psychosis. On this course, we will talk about how we can build an understanding of unusual experiences, as well as ways to move towards the things in life that are important to us. We look at the reasons why we can have these experiences, as well as things like warning sign s when things are getting worse, coping skills and strategies, the bigger picture of change and living a life that is meaningful to you. We also look at things like the cycle of change and acceptance, sleep and other factors that can make a big difference to our overall wellbeing. We think about things from the biological side, the psychological side and also the social side of life.

The course runs for 8 weeks online and is hosted by the Recovery Education Centre. It has been co produced and will be co fa cilitated by the Dorset Mental Health Forum and local psychology services. Please note this course is only accessible to students who have lived experience of unusual experiences. 

Window of Tolerance

If you would like to explore the window of tolerance model, this is included in our new Our Mental Health course. 

Printable PDF version of course descriptions

Discovery Project Courses

Working alongside the Discovery Project, who work with young people under the age of 25, we are joint hosting the following courses:

Understanding Young Person’s Recovery - A Course for Supporters of Young People

This one session course is for parents, carers and supporters of young people . It aims to share and explore an understanding on young people's mental health, the challenges they face, how the concept of Recovery can translate to them with an opportunity to start exploring how supporting a young person can affect sup porter’s wellbeing and ways to look after ourselves.

Young Adult's Community and Belonging (18-25 Years)

Join us for an inspiring three part course designed specifically for young adults aged 18-25. This series, offered by the Discovery Project, will guide you on a journey of empowerment, connection, and self-discovery. Through interactive sessions, engaging discussions, and practical exercises, you will explore the following themes...

Part 1: Community and Belonging

Dsicover the power of community and the importance of finding your place within it. This session will help you understand how to build meaningful connections, foster a sense of belonging, and contribute positively to your community. Learn about the impact of support networks and how to create and sustain them. 

Part 2: Social Justice

Explore the concepts of social justice and equality and understand their relevance in today's world. This part of the course will delve into the principles or fairness, human rights, and advocacy. You will gain tools and strategies to actively participate in promoting social justice within your community and beyond. 

Part 3: Finding Yourself

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. This session focuses on understanding your values, strengths and passions. Learn techniques for self-reflection, goal setting, and overcoming challenges. By the end of this part, you will have a clearer sense of who you are and the direction you want your life to take. 

Young Adult's Discovery (18-25 Years)

This three part course is aimed at young adults aged 18 – 25. Part 1 aims to explore what mental health and wellbeing means for you. Delving into the concept of 'discovery' in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Part 2 focuses on our sensory experiences and how they impact our day to day lives, we consider our individual sensory profiles and explore activities that can assist us in calming or alerting our sensory systems. Part 3 the focus is on 'identity', and we consider what shapes and constructs our identity and how the strengths and assets of our identities can be used to support personal recovery. 

Join us for an opportunity to learn more about skills, strengths, values and shared experiences alongside Discovery NHS Trainers and Young Person’s Peer Specialists.

Follow the link to find out more about the Discovery Project.