Summary
MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes (CWTP)
Email Cathy Simeon, Academic Coordinator cathy.simeon@metanoia.ac.uk
A part-time Masters taught at weekends (7 live online and 3 in person in Bristol UK per year)
To register for an Introductory Workshop & Information session held each month between February and July. If you are applying outside these months please email fiona.hamilton@metanoia.ac.uk for further information
Frequently asked questions
What is Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes?
An interactive reflexive practice based on creative writing process that combines creative writing and reflection to understand, communicate and explore human story.
Its therapeutic purposes include developing healthy and aware relationships with self, each other in society and with the more-than-human world and extend to attending to wider social narratives and ways of reframing them.
It employs a range of forms and genres and is not restricted to pen on page but includes multimodal artforms, spoken word, and the body. It draws on literary and psychological therapies’ theories and encourages interdisciplinary exploration.
Journalling, bibliotherapy, poetry therapy, autoethnography, forms and perspectives, narratives approaches are among the strands of this practice.
What will I do on the course?
This course is for people fascinated by writing and its many applications. You will write in diverse forms, engage in conversations, learn theory, make creative portfolios, write essays, participate in reflexive discussions, and complete a dissertation.
What will I gain from doing this course?
You will develop as a creative writer, practitioner and researcher, acquire a sound understanding of the practice and theories underpinning CWTP, gain skills and confidence to design and facilitate sessions for diverse needs, learn and grow alongside others in a stimulating participatory group.
A reflexive, exploratory and sometimes playful approach to exploring the possibilities of ‘writing’ and ‘therapeutic’ in individual, group and social contexts.
What does the course content comprise?
Here is a summary of the modules. Further information is provided in our Introductory Workshops and at interview
YEAR ONE
Module 1 – Introduction to Creative Writing and its Therapeutic Applications
Day 1 Introduction to the Working Alliance and Ways of working
Day 2 The Journal and the Journey
Day 3 What is a Writer/Writing? Day 4 Sharing Creative Writing Day 5 Autobiographical Fiction
Day 6 Introduction to Building Relationships and the Creative Process
Day 7 Preparation for Counselling, Reflective Practice, Support and Supervision Day 8 The Field of CWTP
Module 2- Reflective Personal Writing
Day 1 Telling Our Stories Day 2 Form and Content
Day 3 Poetry Therapy Workshop Day 4 Making New Wholes
Day 5 Characters and Voices
Day 6 Creative Reflective Work and Findings
Module 3 - Therapeutic Settings and Established Theories
Day 1 Working with Mental Health
Day 2 Whole Person Healthcare
Day 3 Belonging and Identity
Day 4 Compassion and recovery
Day 5 Body, Mind, Nature
Day 6 Findings and Endings
YEAR TWO
Module 4 – Facilitating Therapeutic Groups
Day 1 The Journey and Groupwork
Day 2 Roles in Groups
Day 3 The Therapeutic Relationship and Groups
Day 4 Power and Control in Groups
Day 5 Student Presentations & Methods of Communication in Groups
Day 6 Student Presentations & Risk and Safety in Groups
Day 7 Groupwork Day
Day 8 Introduction to Research Methodologies
Module 5 – Preparing to Research a Topic of Curiosity in CWTP
Day 1 Phenomenological Research Approaches
Day 2 Using Narrative in Research
Day 3 Preparing to Research a Topic of Curiosity in CWTP
Day 4 Being a Writer/Being a Researcher
Day 5 Student Presentations on a topic of personal interest
Day 6 Student Presentations on a topic of personal interest
Module 6 - Research Methodologies for Therapeutic Settings
Day 1 Research Methodologies – Autoethnography
Day 2 Research Methodologies – Case Studies and Action Research
Day 3 Student Presentations on potential research topic
Day 4 Student Presentations on potential research topic
Day 5 Practicality / Dissertation
Day 6 Finding and Endings
YEAR THREE
Module 7: Dissertation
Students’ independent guided research exploring a topic of interest to the student in a dissertation of 15K words.
Please email Academic Coordinator Cathy Simeon cathy.simeon@metanoia.ac.uk for further information.